Choosing cam
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 411
Likes: 1
From: Newhall CA
Choosing cam
Okay, so I gave in and my new goal is 370rwhp.... instead of 385BHP. I am at the point where I need to select my cam.
My requirements are:
1 - CLOSE to stock idle with or without programming
2 - Pass smog (see #1:D)
3 - Close to stock sound (see #1 :D)
So far, I have:
1 - 02+ Z06 airlid w/K&N
2 - MMS Stage II LS1 Heads (something about a NEW porting style)
3 - 4" MAF (stock)
4 - LS6 intake (stock)
So I have narrowed my choices to:
1 - Thunder Racing Old Man Cam (215/220/.600/.523/115LSA)
2 - Thunder Racing Cam (220/220/.553/.553/114LSA)
3 - MMS 218 CAM (218/218/.561/.561/114LSA)
4 - Bone stock LS6 Cam (207/217/.525/.525/LSA116)
Anyone out there that has had experience with any of these?
What do you guys think of MMS in general?
Thanks!
- C5B
My requirements are:
1 - CLOSE to stock idle with or without programming
2 - Pass smog (see #1:D)
3 - Close to stock sound (see #1 :D)
So far, I have:
1 - 02+ Z06 airlid w/K&N
2 - MMS Stage II LS1 Heads (something about a NEW porting style)
3 - 4" MAF (stock)
4 - LS6 intake (stock)
So I have narrowed my choices to:
1 - Thunder Racing Old Man Cam (215/220/.600/.523/115LSA)
2 - Thunder Racing Cam (220/220/.553/.553/114LSA)
3 - MMS 218 CAM (218/218/.561/.561/114LSA)
4 - Bone stock LS6 Cam (207/217/.525/.525/LSA116)
Anyone out there that has had experience with any of these?
What do you guys think of MMS in general?
Thanks!
- C5B
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Re: Choosing cam (C5B)
#1 will feel better everywhere to you at part throttle with the tad bit wider separation. However that thing is gonna be hell on lifter bores and pushrods compared to the other 3; more lift and less duration = steeper ramp.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
From: BayArea CA
Re: Choosing cam (14car)
Check my sig. I love the cam, but I thought that it was going to lope harder. So maybe it would be a good choice for you. I dont think that a z06 cam would be worth your time or money. good luck
sean
sean
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 31,976
Likes: 487
From: Guinness Its whats for B'fast JAWGA
CI 3-4-5-9 Veteran
Re: Choosing cam (Sean03)
The TR were on sale and have a very good reputation. :yesnod: I'm not a big fan of LPE heads and cam packages but they do offer good power, idle, and are usually 50 state legal.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,372
Likes: 51
From: New Milford CT
Re: Choosing cam (C5B)
1 - Thunder Racing Old Man Cam (215/220/.600/.523/115LSA)
2 - Thunder Racing Cam (220/220/.553/.553/114LSA)
3 - MMS 218 CAM (218/218/.561/.561/114LSA)
4 - Bone stock LS6 Cam (207/217/.525/.525/LSA116)
1.- Seems like a nice mild cam except for that .600 lift on the intake, looks unbalanced to me. Why risk a valve or spring for that big lift on an other wise mild cam?
2.- I have this one and it idles, torgues, revs and sounds really nice with stock LS1 PCM.
3.- This is as good or better than #2, I would get it in a minute
4.- That spec is for the 2001 Z06 cam the 2002 version is much better at 204/218/551/547/117.5, but again why bother, if you are going in there do the #2 or #3 or like the other poster said, 224/563/114 but emissions may be a problem unless well tuned
2 - Thunder Racing Cam (220/220/.553/.553/114LSA)
3 - MMS 218 CAM (218/218/.561/.561/114LSA)
4 - Bone stock LS6 Cam (207/217/.525/.525/LSA116)
1.- Seems like a nice mild cam except for that .600 lift on the intake, looks unbalanced to me. Why risk a valve or spring for that big lift on an other wise mild cam?
2.- I have this one and it idles, torgues, revs and sounds really nice with stock LS1 PCM.
3.- This is as good or better than #2, I would get it in a minute
4.- That spec is for the 2001 Z06 cam the 2002 version is much better at 204/218/551/547/117.5, but again why bother, if you are going in there do the #2 or #3 or like the other poster said, 224/563/114 but emissions may be a problem unless well tuned
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,161
Likes: 17
Re: Choosing cam (C5B)
Thunder racing 220 cam all the way!! I make 380 rwhp and 374 rwtq with this baby cam (with no tuning on stock LS1 heads thru cats)......the torque is amazing in lower and upper rpm's....
[Modified by OliverM5, 8:04 PM 3/6/2003]
[Modified by OliverM5, 8:04 PM 3/6/2003]
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 411
Likes: 1
From: Newhall CA
Re: Choosing cam (CJS)
Okay, so now I am leaning this way (in order):
1 - Thunder Racing Cam (220/220/.553/.553/114LSA)
2 - MMS 218 CAM (218/218/.561/.561/114LSA)
3 - Bone stock 02+ LS6 Cam (204/218/.551/.547/117.5LSA)
NO on the Thunder Racing Old Man Cam (215/220/.600/.523/115LSA). The .600" lift for the Old Man cam sounds like something I am going to stay away from..... I don't wanna change the springs any more frequently than I have to.... which is why the TR 220 cam is in #1 place.
Now, how often am I going to have to change my REV Duals if I go with a .553" lift cam? I really would rather not have to change them every year (which is what I have been told so far regarding the .561" lift 218 cam). Does this sound right?
Thanks for all the help!
- C5B
1 - Thunder Racing Cam (220/220/.553/.553/114LSA)
2 - MMS 218 CAM (218/218/.561/.561/114LSA)
3 - Bone stock 02+ LS6 Cam (204/218/.551/.547/117.5LSA)
NO on the Thunder Racing Old Man Cam (215/220/.600/.523/115LSA). The .600" lift for the Old Man cam sounds like something I am going to stay away from..... I don't wanna change the springs any more frequently than I have to.... which is why the TR 220 cam is in #1 place.
Now, how often am I going to have to change my REV Duals if I go with a .553" lift cam? I really would rather not have to change them every year (which is what I have been told so far regarding the .561" lift 218 cam). Does this sound right?
Thanks for all the help!
- C5B
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,372
Likes: 51
From: New Milford CT
Re: Choosing cam (C5B)
"how often am I going to have to change my REV Duals if I go with a .553" lift cam?"
I am using the 220/553/114 cam with stock 2002 Z06 heads and stock 2002 Z06 valve springs. Since the stock Z06 cam lift is 551 and mine is 553 that is an insignificant difference. The duration and lobe seperation do not affect the springs.
Think about it, GM does not call for a valve spring swap out once a year on Z06's do they? That is the number one reason I picked my cam and springs. Reliability and no maintenance. But you must have the hollow, lightweight 2002 Z06 valves to make this work. If you use stock, heavy valves with this, your results may vary.
To me using those Rev springs on this small 553 "stock lift" cam is more spring than is necessary . Sure they will work great, and are super safe against valve float, but then you are faced with changing the springs once a year or every 20,000 miles.
Cam decisions are tough! I chose mine right when all the 918 springs were failing and crunching motors right and left. That affected my cam choice for sure! Tell us what you decide.
I am using the 220/553/114 cam with stock 2002 Z06 heads and stock 2002 Z06 valve springs. Since the stock Z06 cam lift is 551 and mine is 553 that is an insignificant difference. The duration and lobe seperation do not affect the springs.
Think about it, GM does not call for a valve spring swap out once a year on Z06's do they? That is the number one reason I picked my cam and springs. Reliability and no maintenance. But you must have the hollow, lightweight 2002 Z06 valves to make this work. If you use stock, heavy valves with this, your results may vary.
To me using those Rev springs on this small 553 "stock lift" cam is more spring than is necessary . Sure they will work great, and are super safe against valve float, but then you are faced with changing the springs once a year or every 20,000 miles.
Cam decisions are tough! I chose mine right when all the 918 springs were failing and crunching motors right and left. That affected my cam choice for sure! Tell us what you decide.
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Safety Car
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,827
Likes: 351
From: Albuquerque NM
Re: Choosing cam (C5B)
I can't comment on the TR cam, but I have been driving my MMS Stage II with the 218 cam for about a year, and love it. Near stock idle, great power, passed smog sniffer with ease, better than stock gas mileage. Runs neck and neck with my bud's MMS Stage II with the 224/.569"/114 cam. Some say this cam is too mild, but I think it's cool when I blow their doors off in a stock sounding top down convertible! :thumbs: MMS treated me well, and seems to put out good products. :cheers:
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 125
From: laguna niguel ca
Re: Choosing cam (C5B)
I have a 2002. I went with the TR 220/.553/114, comp cams 918 blue stripe springs, stock heads,Blackwing, large air bridge ASP under drive pully, B&B TriFlow headers, MagnaFlow X- pipe & cat back, 160 Thermo,MSD 8.5 wires, and Z-Indurtries tunning.
My dyno numbers are: 380 RWHP/ 363 RWTQ. HOPES THIS INFO HELPS
My dyno numbers are: 380 RWHP/ 363 RWTQ. HOPES THIS INFO HELPS
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 5,005
Likes: 38
From: jackson nj
Re: Choosing cam (C5B)
I would recommend calling Cartek, as their "mild" cam in my car ran 11.7's and passed the IM240 testing with plenty of room to spare. I use my car as a daily driver, over 80 K currently on it, and with only the TPIS headers, 2900 ProTorque converter & 3.42's my car did these ET's going thru the factory cats. The idle was almost stock rpm (may have been 100rpm higher) and everybody commented on the fact they couldn't believe it had a cam at all !! By the way this netted 392 rwhp also, so it would be well within your guidelines, don't you think ??
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 411
Likes: 1
From: Newhall CA
Re: Choosing cam (Red98C5)
Well, I did it. I bought the Thunder Racing 220/220/.553/.553/114LSA cam today. It won't really have a close to stock idle without programming, but it'll run half ways decent.
Now have to get a gasket set, ARP head studs and a few other incidentals so I can do the swap.
Thanks for all of your help!
:cheers:
- C5B
[Modified by C5B, 3:01 AM 3/18/2003]
Now have to get a gasket set, ARP head studs and a few other incidentals so I can do the swap.
Thanks for all of your help!
:cheers:
- C5B
[Modified by C5B, 3:01 AM 3/18/2003]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,372
Likes: 51
From: New Milford CT
Re: Choosing cam (C5B)
Good for you! Nice choices! You will be very happy with your new, very fast Vette! I think you will be pleasently surprised with how nice that cam idles, with regard to how hard it pulls, all though the rev range!
