Selecting a cam
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Westfield Ma.
Selecting a cam
I KNOW THERE ARE ALOT OF CAMS OUT THERE PLUS A DRASTIC PRICE RANGE. WHAT CAMS ARE THE BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK.I HAVE A 2005 VETE WITH HEADERS AND A AIR INTAKE SYSTEM. THANKS RICH
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 145
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I have not seen the "DRASTIC" price range your talking about. Most cams are prices similar and you need to pick the one that fits your goals for the car rather than pick it by manufacturer.
What HP are you shooting for? What RPM will you spend most of your time in? Do you care more about peak HP numbers or will forgo some of that for area under the curve? Do you mind some shake at idle? Do you mind a high idle? Do you currently have any cooling issues? How frequently are you willing to change springs? etc, etc, etc.
Once you know all these things, (and probably some I forgot) you will be ready to pick the duration, lift, and LSA to shoot for. That is when you can see who makes cams in the size you are looking for.
What HP are you shooting for? What RPM will you spend most of your time in? Do you care more about peak HP numbers or will forgo some of that for area under the curve? Do you mind some shake at idle? Do you mind a high idle? Do you currently have any cooling issues? How frequently are you willing to change springs? etc, etc, etc.
Once you know all these things, (and probably some I forgot) you will be ready to pick the duration, lift, and LSA to shoot for. That is when you can see who makes cams in the size you are looking for.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
As a freindly warning, go for a ride in a car with the cam you want before you get one. Better yet would be to drive a car with the cam you are interested in. Far too many people buy a cam based on peak HP numbers only to find out that thew biggest isnt always the best. Driveability and manners may be greatly improved by getting the next size down that makes 10HP less and drives close to stock in manners.
As an example only a 234 cam may only make 10HP more than a 230 intake duration in an LS3 or LS2. More often than not, the smaller cam is the equal in all other RPM's below 6000rpms.
My last bit of advice is to get the cam from the guy who is going to install it. If you select the cam, anything disliked about how it drives will be blamed on anything but the installer's work. If you get the cam from the guy who installs it and he says it will drive like stock, you have a basis for disliking manners after the fact.
Goos luck with the mod.
As an example only a 234 cam may only make 10HP more than a 230 intake duration in an LS3 or LS2. More often than not, the smaller cam is the equal in all other RPM's below 6000rpms.
My last bit of advice is to get the cam from the guy who is going to install it. If you select the cam, anything disliked about how it drives will be blamed on anything but the installer's work. If you get the cam from the guy who installs it and he says it will drive like stock, you have a basis for disliking manners after the fact.
Goos luck with the mod.
