Streetable Cam Advive
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 3,570
Likes: 3
From: Austin, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Houston, Dallas, Hong Kong, Elgin, etc.. Texas
A cam that is "streetable" to one person may not be "streetable" for another. The term "streetable" really should be avoided.
The link to the GM High Tech magazine cam comparison test I posted earlier should give you a solid idea which cam meets your criteria. They tested a pretty broad range of cams, so it should help you figure out which one fits the way you want your car to act and perform.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,168
Likes: 3
From: Dyer IN
The experts advise mild cams work equally well with both transmissions. But as overlap increases, you reach a point on the A6 where a higher stall converter would be advisable.
A cam that is "streetable" to one person may not be "streetable" for another. The term "streetable" really should be avoided.
The link to the GM High Tech magazine cam comparison test I posted earlier should give you a solid idea which cam meets your criteria. They tested a pretty broad range of cams, so it should help you figure out which one fits the way you want your car to act and perform.
A cam that is "streetable" to one person may not be "streetable" for another. The term "streetable" really should be avoided.
The link to the GM High Tech magazine cam comparison test I posted earlier should give you a solid idea which cam meets your criteria. They tested a pretty broad range of cams, so it should help you figure out which one fits the way you want your car to act and perform.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
I agree with what I outlined in red in your post. But my LS7, with a stock LS7 cam, can spin the tires at will through second gear and still get 29-30 MPG cruising on the interstate at 70 MPH and idles smooth. If you have an auto behind your LS3, the smooth idle is important. Even with the manual, a lumpy cam can get old if you do much in town driving. Of course, if you're trying to impress the kiddies while crusing through Sonic, go with the lumpy cam.
Go Canes!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,975
Likes: 329
From: Boca Raton FL
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21
[QUOTE=JoesC5;1576987545]I agree with what I outlined in red in your post. But my LS7, with a stock LS7 cam, can spin the tires at will through second gear and still get 29-30 MPG cruising on the interstate at 70 MPH and idles smooth. If you have an auto behind your LS3, the smooth idle is important. Even with the manual, a lumpy cam can get old if you do much in town driving. Of course, if you're trying to impress the kiddies while crusing through Sonic, go with the lumpy cam.[/QUOTE]
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,537
Likes: 1,403
From: Bethesda MD
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 3,570
Likes: 3
From: Austin, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Houston, Dallas, Hong Kong, Elgin, etc.. Texas
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 818
Likes: 129
From: San Antonio TX
I agree with what I outlined in red in your post. But my LS7, with a stock LS7 cam, can spin the tires at will through second gear and still get 29-30 MPG cruising on the interstate at 70 MPH and idles smooth. If you have an auto behind your LS3, the smooth idle is important. Even with the manual, a lumpy cam can get old if you do much in town driving. Of course, if you're trying to impress the kiddies while crusing through Sonic, go with the lumpy cam.
You guys make it sound like your car is going to be like a bucking bronco in a rodeo post cam install
Last edited by csnow; Mar 7, 2011 at 03:39 PM.
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Louisville Kentucky
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,479
Likes: 42
From: Dallas / Ft. Worth The Republic of TEXAS
A6 3200 TC 224/236 115+4 on XFI lobes (I am about to install in mine with a Yank 3200 and Kooks 1-7/8" headers)
No reason to go bigger IMO these cams make big power with great bottom end and midrange
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,999
Likes: 1,685
From: Southeast TX
What value do you put on the big exhaust lobes on those cams? I always thought something like a 224/228 115 would make good power and have excellent street manners. Never thought of going that big on the exhaust side....unless f/i was in the plan.
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,479
Likes: 42
From: Dallas / Ft. Worth The Republic of TEXAS
This will always be debated just like header primary size, but for the LS3 it seems clear that you don't need big duration but a 10-12* split is preferred. XFI lobes work very well hence the two cams mentioned above - and don't forget 1-7/8" headers to go with the cam
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,367
Likes: 2,900
From: Fort Worth, Texas
Here's a link to a cam of ours for an LS3 that has less overlap than the 21st century cam, as it idles at 650rpm. The gains are strictly from the cam, since the car came tuned from them with bolt-ons. We'll install it for $1599, just give me a call at the shop. Chris, 817-750-2000
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...p-28ftlbs.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...p-28ftlbs.html
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,999
Likes: 1,685
From: Southeast TX
Here's a link to a cam of ours for an LS3 that has less overlap than the 21st century cam, as it idles at 650rpm. The gains are strictly from the cam, since the car came tuned from them with bolt-ons. We'll install it for $1599, just give me a call at the shop. Chris, 817-750-2000
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...p-28ftlbs.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...p-28ftlbs.html
. I know there are folks that would buy a cam without knowing the specs....but quite a few won't....me included.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,999
Likes: 1,685
From: Southeast TX
On the LS3 a 224/236 will beat a 224/228 or 224/230 across the board for hp and torque. Plus the cams I recommended on XFI lobes work better on the new heads - as where it was common to use XE-R lobes for the older style cathedral port heads for on the old LS1/2 engines. Someone on the board I know went from a 230/234 to a 227/239 and picked up a boatload of power with both setups tuned before dynoing. The thread is posted if you search the title only for "century" you can find it.
This will always be debated just like header primary size, but for the LS3 it seems clear that you don't need big duration but a 10-12* split is preferred. XFI lobes work very well hence the two cams mentioned above - and don't forget 1-7/8" headers to go with the cam
This will always be debated just like header primary size, but for the LS3 it seems clear that you don't need big duration but a 10-12* split is preferred. XFI lobes work very well hence the two cams mentioned above - and don't forget 1-7/8" headers to go with the cam
The XFI lobes all have more lift than the XER lobes (of similar duration). Would that explain the power increase with the different lobes or is there more to it than that?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 995
Likes: 2
From: Virginia Beach VA
Curious
Finally, forgive all the ?s, what are the total mods & did they stay the same when you swapped sticks?
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,479
Likes: 42
From: Dallas / Ft. Worth The Republic of TEXAS
Assuming similar intake lobes, lift, and LSA, have you done any testing to quantify how much power you're losing by going milder on the ex lobe? I can see where a 224/236 could do better than a 224/228, but I wonder how much better and is it worth it?
The XFI lobes all have more lift than the XER lobes (of similar duration). Would that explain the power increase with the different lobes or is there more to it than that?
The XFI lobes all have more lift than the XER lobes (of similar duration). Would that explain the power increase with the different lobes or is there more to it than that?
Not to say that other cams outside of this won't produce good gains, but just that in my opinion there are better choices. I saw a car with the 218/230 cam pickup 37rwhp over the stock LS3 cam and it idled near stock at 650rpm. Now the 223/236 Thunder TruTorq3 that I am putting in my A6 with Yank 3200 should be good for about a 50rwhp gain. Hoping to run very close to 11.0 on stock tires with headers, cam, and stall in my A6 GS
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,367
Likes: 2,900
From: Fort Worth, Texas
How 'bout some specs? 21st Cent, spin, and others have gotten specific. It's hard to debate/discuss relative merits when there are "?'s" where numbers belong. I know there are folks that would buy a cam without knowing the specs....but quite a few won't....me included.
. I know there are folks that would buy a cam without knowing the specs....but quite a few won't....me included.Last edited by PRE-Z06; Mar 9, 2011 at 11:07 AM.