Could someone help me understand this concept.
I know its important to proper cam selection but I just can't wrap my mind around it.

A link to read up on it would be great.
Thanks for the help.

 

The idea of sellecting a camshaft that will maximize the "area under the curve" refers to maximizing the average usable power for your engine. Imagine a typical horsepower/torque diagram, if one cam produces over 300ft/lb of torque from 2200 to 4200 rpm with peak of 350ft/lb at 2600rpm and another produces it from 2600 to 4400 with a peak of 360ft/lb at 3200 rpm
then althogh the second cam would produce more peak torque, the first has a broader range and higher average (hence more power under the curve)
This may be an oversimplified abstract of the conept but hopefully it will help.
It's not so important what your peak horsepower or torque are as much as how early and for how long you make it. Also cam selection should take into account your gear selection so that you can get into and stay within your powerband longer. Typically if you are geared lower (3.73-4.11) then you will want a cam that makes power at higher rpm's then if you have (2.73-3.42) where you will be more dependent on low end torque.
The tech support lines at the cam companies are excelent for helping you pick the right cam based on your current (or planned) configuration (gear, intake, heads, exhaust ...)

 

Any calc 1 book explains it in detail. It's really just the average hp and torque the engine makes throughout the rpm range. Fictional example: If a cam adds 10hp from 1000rpm to 5000 rpm and 50hp from 5000 to 6000rpm it would have less area than a cam that makes 40hp from 1000rpm to 6000 rpm. The one with more area makes less peak hp but makes more average hp though the rpm range and would be considered a better cam.

Jeff D/