Holley Stealth Ram cam choices? Mine was wrong. Why?

First let me start by saying, "No, I don't know exactly what my heads or intake runners flow." On the other hand I can tell you many of the specs and aspects of them based on other peoples experiences.

Setup: 350 .030 over, AFR 195 heads, Holley Stealth Ram intake, 10.0:1 CR.

All other components aside that is my setup.

The AFR 195 heads flow 265cfm per their website, mine are 64cc chambers after milling, not sure if that matters.

The Holley Stealth Ram has "D" shaped runners that are 6" long @ 2.337in^2. They flow 275cfm each. The intake tract to the combustion chamber measures out to 12.26", or exactly 1/2 the length of a stock TPI.

My cam specs were as follows: 228*/234* .529" .522" 112*LSA (tell me if more info needed)

As was mentioned to me this week, this manifold is an EFI Tunnel Ram. My cam was too small to support this intake setup.

My dyno numbers showed me 312 ft lbs (flywheel) at 4600rpm. The manifold is scheduled to make peak torque at 4700. I made 290hp (flywheel) at 5100rpm. The intake is scheduled to make peak hp between 5650 and 6200 if memory serves me correctly.

How can this cam be so wrong? My buddy with a very close setup pulled 392RWHP with this cam. Major differences, he had an LT1 intake and Long tubes. I guess I am just asking why this motor makes so little power. The motor runs like a top, doesn't leak anything, doesn't burn anything, and idles with very little shake and no surge at 800rpm thanks to a lot of tuning. From what I hear about Tunnel Rams they like a whole lot of duration and lift numbers (head accordingly) in the higher 500 range. A lot of the guys with this intake are pretty secretive about their cam specs when they make big power, but conversely they are usually using a minimum of a 383ci motor. Just looking for direction or free wisdom. :) Yes I know what free advice is worth ;)

TIA

I don't really see anything wrong with your cam, my set up is similar to yours, I have a 383 with 190 AFR heads, HSR intake, 10.4:1 CR. My cam is like 234*/ 240* .544 .537 112 LSA.

I never tried it on the dyno but went to the track and my MPH is in the 113-115 range (was also short shifting at 5800 rpm thanks to lifters pumping up at 6100 rpm). So this should translate to around 407 HP at the rear wheel

Who is tuning your engine ? and do you have the MAF or MAP set up on your car? What size are you injectors ? How do your timing table look like? Do you know your AFR at WOT? Size of fuel pump ? Pressure of your fuel at WOT ?
Are you using the stock AFR springs with this cam ?

My belief is that something is wrong with your tune.

PAT

I was doing my tuning. My AFR at WOT was 12.5-12.7:1. My pump is a Walbro 340, injectors are 24# accels set 44psi at the rail, MAF setup, timing is set at 6* base but adjusted in the chip. My WOT timing was 36* on the dyno before I made no more power.

I ran 97mph in the 1/4 this year... last year on a non-tuned chip without the heads and custom cam I ran 100mph.

Springs are not stock AFR's, I have a set of dual coil springs set at 165 seat. Comp R lifters... the whole 9 yards. Except a forged and balanced bottom end. I dunno what else there is. Somthing is wrong.

I don't really see anything wrong with your motor combo either. On paper it looks really good. Tuning might have some effect on it. Another thing I can think of is cam timing...did you line up the dots or did you have it degreed? It could easily be off a few degrees, my guess it would be advanced a little.

FWIW, the specs on my cam are Comp Xtreme hyd roller 230/236, .544"/.555" 112 LSA (w/ 1.6 rockers).....it's actually ground for an LT1 application. The rest of the motor is similar to yours- a 350, 9.8 to 1 CR and AFR 190s with Comp 987 springs. I've never hit the dyno but I trap at 113, should be a bit faster than that with a better tune. In short- I don't think there's anything wrong with the cam you chose.

What are the Comp R's set at?

Generally they like to be set looser than a standard lifter, and you might be hanging the valve open.

Just a shot in the dark, hope you get it all figured out.

The R's were set at 1/4 turn. I've never adjusted valves myself before so I usually backed them all off and tried each of them 3 times before I was certain I got it right. Then I was informed that they don't even like that much. So now I am looking at maybe taking the valve covers off today and readjusting. Sorry to have this be a diagnosis post in advanced tech, never meant it to be really. Just wanted a "This is why your cam was wrong answer".

Conversely, the cam could have been ground wrong.
I get relatively few knock counts so I know the lifters aren't causing false knock and robbing my power.
I AM using the stock 48mm TB
I am pulling less air through the MAF than I was last year, verified by 2 different MAFs. (This is why I thought that it was the cam.)

Give me more to go on here guys, if you can pinpoint my problem I'd be greatly in your debt. May have to buy a few avatars :D

have you tried posting over at www.stealthram.com where all the guys with HSRs hide? you made 290/312 on an engine dyno? you mentioned flywheel for numbers. we have one guy over there, mike davis, using a 350 and made way more than that at the rear wheels. he uses the AFR 190 heads and the LT4 hot cam.

Your 24 lbs injectors are to small for this combo I have 30 lbs injectors and I'm around 84 % DC at 6100 RPM. But they are not your problem right now I'm sure.

Your comp R lifter should be set at .002''-.004'' preload not a 1/4 of a turn.

Did you check your compression to see if it's good ???

What kind of air intake system do you have, last year I could't rev pass 4800-5000 rpm because my intake bellows was collapsing. You may have some sort of restriction.

Did you physicaly check if your TB is open all the way when you press the pedal to the floor ??

PAT

mrr, those numbers were calculated. I will have to go register over there.

Dumb question: How do you set the preload to .002-.004? Feeler gauge?

so, then what was your rw numbers? amd what kind of dyno? mustang or dynojet?

240/262 Mustang Dyno I believe

mustang dyno is lower than a dynojet by at least 10%. my 350 motor is the dyno here http://stealthram.com/dynoresults.html . l98 heads home ported, ZZ4 cam 208/218 .474/.510, flattop pistons, 48mm tb, stock MAF, 10.3:1 228/332 on a dynojet. so, yes there is more to be had in your combo.

do a compression check to make sure things are in working order.

will do

If you have a rev bar in there I'd be lashing them as is you had a tight solid roller.
My r's like that

No Hydra Rev kit HRH. I wanted to get one... but I kept on getting screwed over on them. A few places "had" them and when I got it, it wasn't the right part... just a nightmare... twofold.

Anyway, thanks for the suggestions. I'll try them as soon as I can.

Just go to zero lash on the comp r's and tighten the set screw.

What headers do you have? Rockers? What does your dyno graph look like with a/f readings?