Larger cam vs smaller cam what do you lose?
05-20-2018, 09:11 PM
#1
Larger cam vs smaller cam what do you lose?
First of all I’m not young and wanting to race the world etc, hell I don’t even race anymore. I’m tryin to choose a camshaft I want. Either the AHP 116, 112 or the BTR Stage 3. My car is daily driven. Yes sir I wrench on it on the weekends and get it ready on Monday 
. Honestly, I borrow my friends corolla if need be and I pay him fee for it if my intalls take time. Anyhoot, if the cam is too large for instance what features of the car would I lose? Cruising in 6th gear?
I want the most cam I can get but not lose to much of the drivability if that is possible. I want the car reliable and able to drive long distance also. My heads are done. Car would already have the intake and TB ported and some exhaust mods. What would I lose? Your input appreciated.
. Honestly, I borrow my friends corolla if need be and I pay him fee for it if my intalls take time. Anyhoot, if the cam is too large for instance what features of the car would I lose? Cruising in 6th gear? I want the most cam I can get but not lose to much of the drivability if that is possible. I want the car reliable and able to drive long distance also. My heads are done. Car would already have the intake and TB ported and some exhaust mods. What would I lose? Your input appreciated.
05-20-2018, 09:19 PM
#2
Drifting
Bought my car with a big cam and now it has a Katech 116. I have race cars for that big cam BS, didn't need that on the street. Stop and go freeway traffic was near having me sell the car. Much happier now!
Steve
Steve
05-20-2018, 09:46 PM
#3
I keep hearing responses like this for those who drive their Z more than others. Thanks for the input. I can always go small and then want to go bigger down the road.
05-21-2018, 12:27 AM
#4
Personally, after going with the 116 cam, I'd go slightly bigger. I would spec something between the 116 and BTR 2 cam.
If you're married to the 116 cam specs, ask Kohle to spec it on a 114 LSA.
If you're married to the 116 cam specs, ask Kohle to spec it on a 114 LSA.
05-21-2018, 05:22 AM
#5
Le Mans Master
I would pick the BTR 2 - my custom grind very close to it and personally would not want more - mine drives great
05-21-2018, 06:01 AM
#6
You don’t need a big cam to make power. Small cams and great heads will beat up on cars all day long with good heads and a big cam.
invest in some really nice heads and the cam choice can be smaller, drive better, and have a way faster car
invest in some really nice heads and the cam choice can be smaller, drive better, and have a way faster car
05-21-2018, 08:20 AM
#8
Race Director
Member Since: Mar 2006
Location: Everywhere and Nowhere at all
Posts: 15,357
Received 1,679 Likes
on
1,135 Posts
Consider VR Kaotic cam... Its what I run and perfect for me.
05-21-2018, 08:48 AM
#9
Drifting
I ended up with a cam similar to BTR 2 with low lift (.634/.634) that has excellent driving manners. Very slight bucking at lower RPMs and speeds (crawling around lots - just need to modulate clutch slip) but otherwise drives excellent in all ways.
Anything bigger than that, without a good tune, will not drive as smoothly and may be more annoying than you're looking for.
Good luck.
EDIT: With supporting mods, I made almost 560rwhp with my little cam.
Last edited by Must_Have_Z; 05-21-2018 at 08:50 AM.
05-21-2018, 08:53 AM
#10
Drifting
Very slight bucking at lower RPMs and speeds (crawling around lots - just need to modulate clutch slip) but otherwise drives excellent in all ways.
And that's the rub I wasn't willing to sacrifice. Now, 6th gear at 1,200 RPM is fine and parking lots, well BRING THEM ON! Mine drives like a real car now, not a weekend toy. If I was 18 again would be really cool.......
Steve
And that's the rub I wasn't willing to sacrifice. Now, 6th gear at 1,200 RPM is fine and parking lots, well BRING THEM ON! Mine drives like a real car now, not a weekend toy. If I was 18 again would be really cool.......
Steve
05-21-2018, 09:38 AM
#11
Le Mans Master
I had the BTR Stage 3 and I thought it drove great. I daily drove the car for a year with that cam. Beat plenty of cars on the street but lost up top to larger cam cars. Ended up going with something bigger. If I could do it again, I would have stuck with the BTR Stage 4 that I originally bought for the car. I know a few people that went from the 3 to the 4 and they say nothing changed, drivability wise but got more top end power.
05-21-2018, 12:06 PM
#12
Racer
love my BTR stage 2....has great sound, good power and drives very well still.... parking lots require a little clutch play, bucks a tiny bit around 1300 RPM if I'm lugging it around which I try not to for personal preference....basic H/C headers on 91 octane and it put down 545/495....if ur not willing to sacrifice any of the stuff mentioned above (which isn't bad at all) then a cam swap prolly isn't for u.
05-21-2018, 01:21 PM
#14
Il look into it but I think you have a more aggressive setup. Your car made some serious powa
Exactly the same experience for me. Talk to a cam expert like Pat Guerra. For $25 you fill out a form and he custom specs a cam to suit your needs. He uses Cam Motion cams which have lobes that are easier on the LS7 valvetrain too - that's an important factor as well - the lobes and "engine friendliness" of the cam.
I ended up with a cam similar to BTR 2 with low lift (.634/.634) that has excellent driving manners. Very slight bucking at lower RPMs and speeds (crawling around lots - just need to modulate clutch slip) but otherwise drives excellent in all ways.
Anything bigger than that, without a good tune, will not drive as smoothly and may be more annoying than you're looking for.
Good luck.
EDIT: With supporting mods, I made almost 560rwhp with my little cam.
I ended up with a cam similar to BTR 2 with low lift (.634/.634) that has excellent driving manners. Very slight bucking at lower RPMs and speeds (crawling around lots - just need to modulate clutch slip) but otherwise drives excellent in all ways.
Anything bigger than that, without a good tune, will not drive as smoothly and may be more annoying than you're looking for.
Good luck.
EDIT: With supporting mods, I made almost 560rwhp with my little cam.
love my BTR stage 2....has great sound, good power and drives very well still.... parking lots require a little clutch play, bucks a tiny bit around 1300 RPM if I'm lugging it around which I try not to for personal preference....basic H/C headers on 91 octane and it put down 545/495....if ur not willing to sacrifice any of the stuff mentioned above (which isn't bad at all) then a cam swap prolly isn't for u.
05-21-2018, 10:16 PM
#16
Drifting
OP, what supporting mods specifically are you going with or already have? What specifically did you have done to the heads and who did the work?
These details will help. I would recommend the BTR 2 or 3 based on your answers to the above.
These details will help. I would recommend the BTR 2 or 3 based on your answers to the above.
05-21-2018, 11:31 PM
#17
I already have the heads milled .020 heads, Moldstar 90 guides, street ported heads, btr duals. Heads are from AHP. I’m shopping for a oem Intake, TB and cats. The cats will be gutted and the other parts ported by either AHP or Tony M. I’m not lookin to takeover the streets nor do I want the Z super loud. I can tolerate a little feathering of the clutch here and there. Let’s say I’m willing to give up 8-10% max on drivability if any. Don’t want to lose my comfort of 6th gear or ability to grandpa drive if I want decent mileage, Don’t stone me lol! I think the btr 2 is looking more like it. The btr 3 would be awesome but I think more suited for msd intake and headers. I believe the btr 2 is a little more aggressive than AHP 116 but less wild than their 112. What ya think
05-22-2018, 12:27 AM
#18
I already have the heads milled .020 heads, Moldstar 90 guides, street ported heads, btr duals. Heads are from AHP. I’m shopping for a oem Intake, TB and cats. The cats will be gutted and the other parts ported by either AHP or Tony M. I’m not lookin to takeover the streets nor do I want the Z super loud. I can tolerate a little feathering of the clutch here and there. Let’s say I’m willing to give up 8-10% max on drivability if any. Don’t want to lose my comfort of 6th gear or ability to grandpa drive if I want decent mileage, Don’t stone me lol! I think the btr 2 is looking more like it. The btr 3 would be awesome but I think more suited for msd intake and headers. I believe the btr 2 is a little more aggressive than AHP 116 but less wild than their 112. What ya think
228/244 .648/.652 115+3 LSA
05-22-2018, 11:15 AM
#19
In general the smaller cams will make good torque and have great drivability at the expense of top end HP. The Larger cams will trade off some low end power for top end and that will have an effect on sub 2500 rpm drivability. With good tuning the larger cams can be tamed to be drivable in traffic in a 427 but for guy that daily drive a small to medium size cam may be the ticket.
05-22-2018, 11:55 AM
#20
Team Owner
Custom specing is a great way to go, to get exactly what you want.
I saw someone say cam motion lobes are softer, and that is not true. What lobes? Both comp, cam motion, etc etc etc all have tons of lobes. Comp has some very very gentle lobes, and they have new stuff that has come out in the last 6 months that is totally different than previous. I ran comp LXL lobes which are nice soft lobes, but even those are out of date compared to their new stuff. So making a blanket statement about lobes is not usefull.
Part of working with a cam expert, is to scope something exactly for your setup, including selecting lobes. It is not just selecting duration, lift, and LSA. That is just part of it.
I saw someone say cam motion lobes are softer, and that is not true. What lobes? Both comp, cam motion, etc etc etc all have tons of lobes. Comp has some very very gentle lobes, and they have new stuff that has come out in the last 6 months that is totally different than previous. I ran comp LXL lobes which are nice soft lobes, but even those are out of date compared to their new stuff. So making a blanket statement about lobes is not usefull.
Part of working with a cam expert, is to scope something exactly for your setup, including selecting lobes. It is not just selecting duration, lift, and LSA. That is just part of it.