Spinmonster Cam Torque Converter?
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Joined: Feb 2017
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From: Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Spinmonster Cam Torque Converter?
Hello all,
I have a 2009 A6 Z51 with a few mods on it already and I'm finally coming around to the idea of doing a cam.
I'm debating between a tx speed stage 1 and the spinmonster cam. I've read a bit about and to me (someone who understands almost nothing about cams lol) it looks good. I haven't been able to find out if that cam would require a new torque converter for the car too and if so, what stall?
I'm also seeing mixed things about porting the heads, I see a lot say the heads are more than fine the way they are but I just feel like maybe I'm leaving stuff on the table to not port them.
Any suggestions and answers are greatly appreciated! Thanks!
I have a 2009 A6 Z51 with a few mods on it already and I'm finally coming around to the idea of doing a cam.
I'm debating between a tx speed stage 1 and the spinmonster cam. I've read a bit about and to me (someone who understands almost nothing about cams lol) it looks good. I haven't been able to find out if that cam would require a new torque converter for the car too and if so, what stall?
I'm also seeing mixed things about porting the heads, I see a lot say the heads are more than fine the way they are but I just feel like maybe I'm leaving stuff on the table to not port them.
Any suggestions and answers are greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 13,262
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From: SW Florida
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
A 'Stage 1' cam more than likely will not require a high stall torque converter, but if you do install lets say a 2,800 stall converter, the car won't pull so hard while idling at traffic lights ... the 'road manners' will be improved and to be honest, the converter will more than likely give you better straight line drag racing performance than just the mild aftermarket cam.
Up to you ... but if you opt for a high stall converter, don't go crazy on the stall speed ... A 2,800 stall will be more than enough.
BTW ... The stall on the stock converter is only about 1,700 rpm, so even a 2,800 stall converter will make a pretty big difference.
Up to you ... but if you opt for a high stall converter, don't go crazy on the stall speed ... A 2,800 stall will be more than enough.
BTW ... The stall on the stock converter is only about 1,700 rpm, so even a 2,800 stall converter will make a pretty big difference.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,291
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From: Phoenix, AZ to Quakertown, PA.
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I agree with Turbo6TA.
I’m running a TSP stage 1 with a stock converter and I’ve had no issues. Maybe in the future I might bump the converter up, but it really does fine with the stock one. I don’t race or track the car just aggressive driving….
I’m running a TSP stage 1 with a stock converter and I’ve had no issues. Maybe in the future I might bump the converter up, but it really does fine with the stock one. I don’t race or track the car just aggressive driving….
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
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From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I first went with a 3200 stall Yank. It was so smooth, yet quick. I wondered why it didn't come OEM that way. Fuel economy of course.
Then swapped to a 3600, and it got even quicker. Finally,went to a 4000 and ran 10's in the 1/4 with only simple bolt-ons.
I drove the car cross-country and for 40K miles with the 4000 stall, since the converter lock-up still got 30+ mpg or the road and 22+ in town.
Nothing else makes that much difference for twice the price.
Then swapped to a 3600, and it got even quicker. Finally,went to a 4000 and ran 10's in the 1/4 with only simple bolt-ons.
I drove the car cross-country and for 40K miles with the 4000 stall, since the converter lock-up still got 30+ mpg or the road and 22+ in town.
Nothing else makes that much difference for twice the price.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,999
Likes: 1,685
From: Southeast TX
Comparing the two cams, Spins should make more power from maybe 3750rpm on up. Tx Speed cam would probably have a little advantage below that. The Tx speed cam would probably work a little better with a stock converter. It's going to have a higher DCR which will help low rpm power. It will probably have a rougher idle due to the higher DCR vs Spin's cam even though the overlap is lower. You wouldn't go far wrong with either one.
I wouldn't pull the heads just for port work. If the heads had to come off anyway, say for a lifter swap, I'd send them off to Tx Speed for port work, milling, and a valve job. You get completely reworked, ported, milled if you want, and assembled heads for about $800. They look new when you get them back. And contrary to internet lore, you lose nothing down low with ported LS3 heads when you combine them with a mild cam. I wouldn't mill the heads other than a "clean up" mill if using the Tx Speed cam. I would mill the heads if using Spin's cam. I'd use a .040 head gasket either way.
Here's what I did to my LS3 a while back. I know the regulars get tired of me referencing it, but I haven't seen a build I'd rather have for the money. If I had to do it over, I wouldn't change a thing.
TxSpeed heads and mild cam build - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion
I wouldn't pull the heads just for port work. If the heads had to come off anyway, say for a lifter swap, I'd send them off to Tx Speed for port work, milling, and a valve job. You get completely reworked, ported, milled if you want, and assembled heads for about $800. They look new when you get them back. And contrary to internet lore, you lose nothing down low with ported LS3 heads when you combine them with a mild cam. I wouldn't mill the heads other than a "clean up" mill if using the Tx Speed cam. I would mill the heads if using Spin's cam. I'd use a .040 head gasket either way.
Here's what I did to my LS3 a while back. I know the regulars get tired of me referencing it, but I haven't seen a build I'd rather have for the money. If I had to do it over, I wouldn't change a thing.
TxSpeed heads and mild cam build - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: SW Florida
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Not all converter brands feel the same for a given stall rpm. I don't like loose converters. The Spin cam will idle in most cases depending on the tuner, at 700-800rpm. If you bump compression it can be lower but I wouldn't plan on it. A 2800 is fine and will be faster off the line than a stock stall but creeping at a light will feel mushy.
This is one of those cases where I would get opinions from guys running that cam and a specific stall and copy those who are happy with their combo. A yank 3200 may feel tighter than a no-name 2800.
This is one of those cases where I would get opinions from guys running that cam and a specific stall and copy those who are happy with their combo. A yank 3200 may feel tighter than a no-name 2800.
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 13,262
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From: SW Florida
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
On my supercharged LS3 (Heartbeat SC), my cam is mild .220* / 234* . ..585" / .585" . .118* LSA +4 . .-9* Overlap
Smooth idle at 800 rpm using a Circle-D 2,800 stall billet converter ... and car don't try to 'push forward' against the brakes at a stoplight.
Smooth idle at 800 rpm using a Circle-D 2,800 stall billet converter ... and car don't try to 'push forward' against the brakes at a stoplight.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 1,214
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From: Dallas, Tx
I have the Yank PAS 3400 and wish i would have got the PAS3800 but i got it brand new for $550 from a guy switching project directions but yea drives stock for sure woudnt do anything smaller
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Intermediate
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Southeast TX
I was contacted by a forum member that was wanting to use my cam specs. He wanted a smooth idle. I sent him an idle clip and he said it was way too rough. He was going with Spin's cam because he had heard more than a few clips and Spin's was much smoother. Spin's cam has 4 degrees of overlap vs mine having 0. With my rig having a cam with less intake duration, more advance, milled heads, and a thinner head gasket, it's going to have a DCR that's quite a bit higher. I think the Tx Speed cam would have a similar DCR as mine without any milling or thinner head gaskets.
I also ran a blower cam in my previous C6 that had similar specs as my current cam, but with less advance and a 1 degree wider LSA. Much smoother idle and a much lower DCR.
I don't know the lift on Spin's cam. Mine is .620 on both sides. If my lift is higher that could also play into the rough idle thing a bit. That Tx Speed cam had pretty high lift numbers too. That's the way I see it. I may be wrong as hell as I've been wrong as hell before....
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Higher compression improves idle quality and manners. It makes a cam act as if it is in a bigger displacement. Higher compression ratios suffer less loss of volumetric efficiency as the pressure ratio increases.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,999
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From: Southeast TX
I idled it out of town yesterday in 6th gear. 38 to 40 mph. Even up and down some mild hills. No jerking or bucking.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
It's a single data point, not what tends to happen over a dozen installs. I've seen nightmare results with a given cam that ran fine a bunch of other times. You got the tune right. On the other hand I've seen smooth running mammoth cams after a speed density tune.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2017
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From: North Myrtle Beach SC
with 3 gears of OD the tuner can lock the converter in all 3 gears at low throttle pressure. Also in 4th to get good dyno reading
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: SW Florida
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
But not needed at all in a modified higher HP 'daily driver'.
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However, WOT lockup will help for dyno HP 'bragging rights'.