Looking at cams

So, I'm looking at cams and the two choices I am considering right now are from Futral Motorsports.

They have their FM7 which is 224/230 581/591 114 LSA.

Also, their FM5 spec'd at 224/228 586/581 114 LSA.

Either would work fine with my stall, IMO. Both are well suited to NA and for a blower, the FM7 being better slightly. Both should not be too hard on springs (as they are not massive cams), but both will require definite tuning for an A4. Allan at Futral is convinced that with my objective of a strong blower cam that can be tuned to pass emissions, the FM7 is the best choice. He has not had the FM7 fail emissions yet with a good tune.

:(

Of course, the key phrase is a "good tune" which may be beyond my patience (or ability) to come up with. These are the times when you wish you had a good speed shop familiar with tuning engines for emissions/hp on a dyno... and who have done it a 100 times. Still, I figure I can do a temporary tune for emissions with the idle bumped up and the ign adv taken back a little.

That is one reason why I am leaning to the slightly smaller cam, FM5, as it will require less tinkering. But if I've learned one thing, it is always go as BIG as you can from the start, because if you go small, you eventually want more later... :D

So, I'm mucking around the options right now. I'll try and make a decision in the next 2 weeks or so. But any opinions are very welcomed.

heh, im looking to buy a cam also..

im prolly gonna go with an LS6 cam..

Very safe decision Amit. Can't go wrong there in terms of emissions, valvetrain wear, etc... not massive gains for a 2000 or older vehicle, but solid top end stuff.

yeah i dont plan on modifying my car heavily.
just lid and catback (which should be here next week).
i think i will be happy with exhaust, cam, and lid.


but with the ls6 cam i think i might have to raise the rev limiter?
it makes all its power after 4k.


have you thought of the TR 224/224 cam? that seems to be a popular choice.

Very good cam any of the 224/224's are. Give great numbers, minimal tuning, good on emissions, etc.. But I want something more suited for a blower and the 224 is more of a general cam.

The 224 will work, but I would be leaving a little hp on the table and I want to optimize the final result. Granted, I don't think the 224/224 cams would hurt me too much in the long run, but I think it makes sense to go with something a little more customized if I'm going to build a specific vehicle.

Trouble is, fewer people have done the more custom cams on the LS1s. Everyone has either a basic 224/224 cam or else something real massive (for LS1s) like a 232/236 (or bigger), with little testing with cams in between that range.

You could probably take advantage of another 400-600 rpm with the 02 LS6 cam as most of its gain is in the top end. Virtually no change low end.

I wouldnt run either of those cams with a blower.

With a centrifugal blower, the powerband is shifted so high already that those big blower grinds are a waste. For a blower cam I would stay below 220 on the intake and run 218-224 exhaust duration on a 114-116 LSA.

Look at it this way - when runing a blower, let the blower fill in the top end, and pick a cam to buff up the low end TQ.

Amit, remember that if you do the LS6 cam you still need to change out the valvesprings. I would go straight to a Comp 918 or greater spring since the LS6 springs are designed for lightweight valves only. And you are correct, up to 4k rpm there is almost no difference between the 02 and newer LS6 cam and your LS1 cam.

Those are points I've been considering Craig, in that there is no point in shifting the powerband to a level which is 1) impractical on the street, and 2) hard on valvetrain. No matter what the manufacturer says, with close to a 600 lift, using 918's is slightly running a risk. However, the combo will still make great power and be driveable.

Having a higher stall convertor does help in that low end torque is strong as is and is more than can be handled except in real sticky conditions. So I don't mind pushing the powerband up a little to sacrafice low end tq.

But, I have considered a 218/224 560/560 114 cam. Also LPE's 207/220 573/580 at 118.5. Going with a higher LSA is certainly beneficial to the blower and keeps idle nice.

I appreciate your thoughts as I know you are heading in a similar direction. I still haven't made the final decision and you may persuade me to go a different route.

Also some guys are getting decent gains out of the mti Stealth cams.
Stealth 1
220/220 .581/.581 115

Stealth 2
224/220 .576/581 116


They should suit a blower fairly nicely later and also have decent gains NA as well as should only require fairly minimal pcm adjusting even with the a4.
Just thought i would throw some more into your decision :p

Later
Mike

Ive been very impressed with the numbers Futral has been putting up. The power under the curve they can get is awesome. If Alan is recommending that cam Chris, I would seriously consider it. :cool:

Kaos, it has been Allan I've been talking to. And yeah, he has a great reputation for his cams (and incorporating them with blown cars) Definitely a reason I contacted him!

Originally posted by LT1Z28
Also some guys are getting decent gains out of the mti Stealth cams.
Stealth 1
220/220 .581/.581 115

Stealth 2
224/220 .576/581 116


They should suit a blower fairly nicely later and also have decent gains NA as well as should only require fairly minimal pcm adjusting even with the a4.
Just thought i would throw some more into your decision :p

Later
Mike

I like the Stealth II for sure. Twitch has that I think. I just wish it was a split not reverse split duration. Otherwise, it would be awesome!

Originally posted by Camaro ChriSS
I like the Stealth II for sure. Twitch has that I think. I just wish it was a split not reverse split duration. Otherwise, it would be awesome!

Yup thats mine . I took some sound clips today and will post them . It lopes hard for a "stealth cam " .

Stealth II


http://www3.telus.net/public/a7a74501/stealth2cam.mpg

Originally posted by Tw!tchb!tch
Stealth II


http://www3.telus.net/public/a7a74501/stealth2cam.mpg :eek: :bow: :thumb: :metal:

do you have any more sound clips of your car?

Originally posted by Amit
:eek: :bow: :thumb: :metal:

do you have any more sound clips of your car?

I have a couple short ones but I dont have any space to host them left .

A few things I noticed with the new setup ;

Smooth as hell inside . I think the idle is smoother than stock when it comes to the " shimey and shake " which is what I wanted to avoid the most with a bigger cam . Engine purrs .

Valve train isnt any noisier ( I think it may be quieter ) than before . I was told it would sound like a deisel or something with the 580 lift but its nice . May be due to a new combo of mobile one Im using instead of the amsoil .

Doesnt sound like a tin can . The cats seem top do a good job keeping the rasp down on the exhaust . I thought I might have to pull the loudmouth for something quieter but it seems ok .

That sounds awesome. Like a REAL musclecar. Stealth may not be the best name for it... :cool:

Originally posted by Camaro ChriSS
That sounds awesome. Like a REAL musclecar. Stealth may not be the best name for it... :cool:

You may be onto something there . . . . :think: :p

you haven't done any tuning or anything have you? and it still runs pretty good? hmm..... :)

you haven't done any tuning or anything have you? and it still runs pretty good? hmm.....

Yup tune is stock , tb hole is stock and the clip was taken only minutes after starting it up so It hasnt had a chance to learn the cam yet . Its physicaly smoother than stock and should get me close to 400rwhp before spray while still passing aircare with ease and getting good gas milage . . . muhahahaaa . :metal:

i know what i want :)

That is one nice benefit of the M6... the willingness to accept new cams so easily. :cry:

I'm still researching my cam. Its bloody well tough to find what I want.

Here this is a few minutes later after it smoothed out a bit and you can hear the engine better . Save target as :)

http://www3.telus.net/public/a7a74501/stealth2b.mpg

Real nice! I like that cam. Can't wait till you dyno. I think you can beat me now NA...

I can still hear that blasted ticking, which I assume is the mild slap, not the new cam and springs???

Lol no , thats just the sound of the valvetrain and the slurping of the open fipk . Slap / knock is different .

I still think youll kick my ass on the track :)

Originally posted by Tw!tchb!tch

I still think youll kick my ass on the track :)

I'll try, but don't blame me if I lose... :p