Most people here want aggressive cam lobes. Why? Because someone told them they are better. So what is an aggressive cam lobe? To take the most advantage of the LS Chevy engine design the cam lobe must be smooth and stable. Generally in this LS Chevy engine, the smoother and more stable the cam lobe, the more power and RPM capability the engine will have. So generally the less aggressive lobe will make for the most aggressive (powerful) engine.

There is no need in having 8 different lobe styles or variations for the LS Chevy hydraulic cams. Most of the engine combinations I see on here run from idle to 6500 RPM with a valve lift from .550” to .650” lift and with spring seat pressure 130lbs to155lbs with 350lbs to 400lbs open pressure. The measurable differences in these lobes are very slight, the real difference is that some of them operate very well and others do not. The “hard” or “aggressive” lobes may make a small amount more vacuum at idle and may show a two pound gain in torque at 4000RPM but will cause more valve noise and float the valves sooner plus having a destructive affect on valve train parts and valve seat sealing. The “softer” lobes will have a little less vacuum at idle but provide quite valve train operation and extend the valve “float” RPM 300-500 RPM and do not destroy valve train components.

What do you call “aggressive? Is it high acceleration or high velocity? Which is harder on the valve train? The cam with higher lifter acceleration rates will be harder on the valve train.

Let us compare technical data on two lobes both with 230 degrees duration at .050” with .350” lobe lift. One lobe we’ll call “hard” the other “soft” even though I don’t like to use the word “soft”, but it is soft compared to the hard lobe. I prefer to call it the correct lobe for your engine.

Compare:

HARD SOFT

MAX ACCELERATION: .00037 .000323

MAX VELOCITY: .0073 .00775

NOSE ACCELERATION: .00023 .000212



So which one is more “aggressive”? The soft one moves the valve FASTER or higher speed. So what is aggressive? One of the reasons the hard lobe floats the valve sooner is because it has higher “nose” acceleration, which is negative acceleration at the top of the lobe.

 

Not too sure what you're getting at. Personally, I don't like an aggressive cam lobe because someone told me it's better, but because I simply like the sound. Just as I prefer the sound of a corvette to a prius or a civic with a fart can exhaust. Cams have some quality proven gains in both torque and horsepower across the board according to before/after dyno graphs posted all over this forum for both the ls2 and ls3...

 

Do you make cams for Kalitta Motorsports or Allen Johnson? I spent 20 weekends with them this year.....

Looks like you make them For DSR based on your website, is that accurate?

 

We made cams for Kalitta when Dick Lahay was crew chief. We make cam for one DSR Top Fuel and one Funny car.

 

Interesting! I did not realize that Don lets the teams pick their own cams. I know that each Kalitta crew chief has his own ideas on what to do, but AJR supplies most, if not all of the parts, including catering lunch for the team!

 

I just installed a 227/243 .614/.624 113+2 in my 2013 LS3 GS A6 and I'm unhappy with it. I'll be stepping it up next spring!

..............it's still a free country regardless of what the OBAMANATION PROCLAMATION tries to make us choke on. :-(

 

I have a very similar cam would this be consider an aggressive cam lope.

 

so here is my cam card. is this considered a hard or soft cam.

 

I would call that Hard. That cam has 50 degrees from .006 to .050 our are much softer than that. Lobes like this can cause lifter noise. I can make lobes like that but we do not.

 

I do have some ticking noise similar to a sewing machine but its not very loud at all. the noise actually became more noticeable when I put the fast 102 on. Its more so like loud injectors but I assume it had to do with the cam. When I got the car done I told the builder guy I wanted a weekend toy that I can drive during the week if needed and go to the track every now then. I also heard numerous vettes sound just like mine with similar mods so I assumed it was normal.

it makes good power 500rwhp + ,460 rwtq+ and does high 10s at the track its fun to drive. With the exhaust I have on it hides most of the noise any who lol.

 

You'll be fine!

............very similar to mine and I love my exhaust now.........A6 car with headers + off road x + NPP's = BLISS!