Cam choice? How do i look...?
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Austin, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Houston, Dallas, Hong Kong, Elgin, etc.. Texas
Boy, the Hot Rod comparison test of 11 heads is a real eye opener.
Here are a couple of things it showed.
By the way, the TEA ported LS6 stage 2 heads did well.
This was on a 402 with a petty healthy cam.
Here are a couple of things it showed.
- Most heads tested so close to say the difference was immaterial.
- The heads with the smallest intake port made the most peak horsepower.
- The heads with the highest CFM did not make the most power.
- The heads with the most intake volume made the most peak torque.
- The lowest priced heads were not the lowest in power.
- The highest priced heads did not make the most power.
By the way, the TEA ported LS6 stage 2 heads did well.
This was on a 402 with a petty healthy cam.
Last edited by Mez; Oct 22, 2010 at 06:57 AM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 701
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From: Lewisville TX
Well the LS2/LS6 Stage2 Heads ill stick with for now. Bang for buck ill take them to keep things in budget.
I am worried the MS3 cam will be a bit much for a daily driver, but the 402 should help with that some. I feel if i am a bit worried i should look towards the 233/239. Just wondering with that seperation what i lose as opposed the duations being closer in number.
I am worried the MS3 cam will be a bit much for a daily driver, but the 402 should help with that some. I feel if i am a bit worried i should look towards the 233/239. Just wondering with that seperation what i lose as opposed the duations being closer in number.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 3,570
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From: Austin, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Houston, Dallas, Hong Kong, Elgin, etc.. Texas
If you are that concerned about driveability more than maximum horsepower on the dyno, then you probably will be happy with the smaller cam. The additional power will show up mostly in the very top RPM range anyway.
Spinmonster posted on this forum many times about the cams he has installed and dyno'd. I believe he is currently recommends a 231/234 cam custom grind from Comp Cam but I thought it was on a stock LS3 displacement. You may want to do a search and see his results. He says there is little benefit with the large split duration like you have listed.
Spinmonster posted on this forum many times about the cams he has installed and dyno'd. I believe he is currently recommends a 231/234 cam custom grind from Comp Cam but I thought it was on a stock LS3 displacement. You may want to do a search and see his results. He says there is little benefit with the large split duration like you have listed.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,999
Likes: 1,685
From: Southeast TX
I used the cam you mentioned in post 1 with a 112LSA. In my LS3, it peaked at 5800 rpm. With your stroker motor, peak would be just after pulling out of the garage.
Might work for you with a wider LSA though.
I mentioned the above mindless BS to say this.....Get in touch with Pat G, send him 25 bucks, get the cam specs you need, and order it through a forum vendor. BAM, done, right the first time. You'll get a cam speced for your exact rig with your exact set of driving parameters.
Might work for you with a wider LSA though. I mentioned the above mindless BS to say this.....Get in touch with Pat G, send him 25 bucks, get the cam specs you need, and order it through a forum vendor. BAM, done, right the first time. You'll get a cam speced for your exact rig with your exact set of driving parameters.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 14
Boy, the Hot Rod comparison test of 11 heads is a real eye opener.
Here are a couple of things it showed.
By the way, the TEA ported LS6 stage 2 heads did well.
This was on a 402 with a petty healthy cam.
Here are a couple of things it showed.
- Most heads tested so close to say the difference was immaterial.
- The heads with the smallest intake port made the most peak horsepower.
- The heads with the highest CFM did not make the most power.
- The heads with the most intake volume made the most peak torque.
- The lowest priced heads were not the lowest in power.
- The highest priced heads did not make the most power.
By the way, the TEA ported LS6 stage 2 heads did well.
This was on a 402 with a petty healthy cam.
Did it mention the cam spec? I went to 4 places last night looking for a Hot Rod.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 701
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From: Lewisville TX
My worry now seems that I may not get enough cam or the cubs will have it peak to low and die off when i am really looking for power in the top of the gear. Its RoadRacing but I still use the mid-top end of the power band.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 3,570
Likes: 3
From: Austin, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Houston, Dallas, Hong Kong, Elgin, etc.. Texas
Have you thought about calling Comp Cam and get their input? They know more about cams than anyone here especially ME.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 14
Thank you sir 
Exactly why you should contact Pat G for a custome cam. You are looking at off the shelf cams, not a bad thing but they can all be tailored to you/us.
For what it's worth, in my LS2 I am about to run a 234/239ish or a 237/241ish. (not exact but close)
In a 402, I would (personally) go pretty large, 24x/24x but I would get the specs from Pat.
For what it's worth, in my LS2 I am about to run a 234/239ish or a 237/241ish. (not exact but close)
In a 402, I would (personally) go pretty large, 24x/24x but I would get the specs from Pat.
Last edited by JayplaySS2; Oct 22, 2010 at 02:02 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 14
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,999
Likes: 1,685
From: Southeast TX
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 3,570
Likes: 3
From: Austin, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Houston, Dallas, Hong Kong, Elgin, etc.. Texas
Everyone should read this article in Hot Rod.
Bigger is not always better and higher bench flow numbers don't necessarily translate to more power. Bench flow numbers don't account for velocity and other factors such as intake manifold, headers, cylinder size, bore diameter, valve size, and cam all have an affect.
The difference between the head with the highest and lowest peak horsepower was ~3% and many were less than 1%. Average horsepower and torque were very close to one another.
The second cheapest aftermarket head made the most peak horsepower but did not make the highest peak torque or average horsepower.
You would expect the head with the smallest port to make the most peak torque but it was the head with the biggest intake port.
Bigger is not always better and higher bench flow numbers don't necessarily translate to more power. Bench flow numbers don't account for velocity and other factors such as intake manifold, headers, cylinder size, bore diameter, valve size, and cam all have an affect.
The difference between the head with the highest and lowest peak horsepower was ~3% and many were less than 1%. Average horsepower and torque were very close to one another.
The second cheapest aftermarket head made the most peak horsepower but did not make the highest peak torque or average horsepower.
You would expect the head with the smallest port to make the most peak torque but it was the head with the biggest intake port.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 343
Likes: 1
Just finished a similar build that you will be doing, just a little larger cubic inches(412 vs 402). Ported ls2 heads, large cam, etc.. I daily drive my car a few hundred miles a week and no drive-ability issues whatsoever, it's all in the tune. If you have any questions you think I could help with shoot me a pm and I'll be happy to answer. GL on the build, always like seeing a nice all motor setup. 
Greg
Greg
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 14
Just finished a similar build that you will be doing, just a little larger cubic inches(412 vs 402). Ported ls2 heads, large cam, etc.. I daily drive my car a few hundred miles a week and no drive-ability issues whatsoever, it's all in the tune. If you have any questions you think I could help with shoot me a pm and I'll be happy to answer. GL on the build, always like seeing a nice all motor setup.
Greg
Greg
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 343
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 701
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From: Lewisville TX
Thats a huge duration, or at least it seems that way, maybe the MS3 isn't such a bad idea with a good tune.
a bit smaller with a bit less cubes. 233/239 may be my safest bet for both power and drivability.
njgreg - What is your lift and LSA?
a bit smaller with a bit less cubes. 233/239 may be my safest bet for both power and drivability.
njgreg - What is your lift and LSA?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 14
I can tell you that the 233/239 is too small. I ran that for 3 years in a 346 (LS1) with excellent manners. I'd skip that one personally. There are guys on the truck forums that run the 233/239 in 5.3's-
Pat could spec you exactly what you want very similar to the MS3, exactly what I'm doing for the 364 (6.0L). The cam in the Hot Rod test looks pretty nice for a 402 actually-