Best cam for mid 12s on stock heads?
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 378
From: San Jose
there NO REAL way to port match heads for a cam.If the cam is large the only real thing you can do is enlarge the ports, since bigger cams breathe better up top (duration). Obviously you can do other stuff when you port (blending the bowls and such). Also the Hot Cam works well with the stock heads because the stock heads pretty much flow good enough for about 400HP and that cam will make about that much HP on stock heads,you can go bigger and lose some driveability/rougher idle and youll gain some HP but the gains will be pretty minimal cuz stock heads really cant support too much more HP NA (dont flow enough air). Allso the LT1 heads have basically the same size ports (170cc) and valves (1.94I/1.5E) as most other standard issue SBC heads.The difference is the angle at which the intake ports are design at.But stock LT1 heads (aluminum) dont flow much better than regulr SBC heads (about 20X CFM).
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 695
From: Hennepin, Illinois
I'm sure stock injectors would be fine to run on a Hotcam setup as well? If not, I'm definitely sure 30# would be fine. But I also can't help but think the stockers are enough. Anyone care to clarify this?
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,626
From: Baylor University - TX
Originally posted by MauriSSio
there NO REAL way to port match heads for a cam.If the cam is large the only real thing you can do is enlarge the ports, since bigger cams breathe better up top (duration). Obviously you can do other stuff when you port (blending the bowls and such). Also the Hot Cam works well with the stock heads because the stock heads pretty much flow good enough for about 400HP and that cam will make about that much HP on stock heads,you can go bigger and lose some driveability/rougher idle and youll gain some HP but the gains will be pretty minimal cuz stock heads really cant support too much more HP NA (dont flow enough air). Allso the LT1 heads have basically the same size ports (170cc) and valves (1.94I/1.5E) as most other standard issue SBC heads.The difference is the angle at which the intake ports are design at.But stock LT1 heads (aluminum) dont flow much better than regulr SBC heads (about 20X CFM).
there NO REAL way to port match heads for a cam.If the cam is large the only real thing you can do is enlarge the ports, since bigger cams breathe better up top (duration). Obviously you can do other stuff when you port (blending the bowls and such). Also the Hot Cam works well with the stock heads because the stock heads pretty much flow good enough for about 400HP and that cam will make about that much HP on stock heads,you can go bigger and lose some driveability/rougher idle and youll gain some HP but the gains will be pretty minimal cuz stock heads really cant support too much more HP NA (dont flow enough air). Allso the LT1 heads have basically the same size ports (170cc) and valves (1.94I/1.5E) as most other standard issue SBC heads.The difference is the angle at which the intake ports are design at.But stock LT1 heads (aluminum) dont flow much better than regulr SBC heads (about 20X CFM).
Yes it can be done...not an EXACT match but better than just "portin' the hell" out of a pair of LT1 heads...
Registered User
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 415
From: Raleigh, NC
Hmmmm....not much variation on what people think in this thread.
A buddy of mine (z28ke on here) just finished a cam install on his stock headed '93 Z last week. Car is an M6 with CAI, Hooker LT's, cutout, and airfoil.
We took it to get dyno tuned at Carolina Auto Masters in Durham. With the cutout closed running through a Flowmaster AT catback, the car made 342 rwhp and something like 334 rwtq.
Opened the cutout, and it did: 354.6 rwhp and 343 rwtq.
Still stock heads and ~60k mile stock shortblock, and here's the kicker: we had 3 degrees of timing pulled because he also runs a 150 shot. Also, the car was burning oil and smoking bad on the dyno because of a bad valve seal.
The cam was a custom grind spec'd by Jeff at www.carolinaautomasters.com
With Jeff's tuning, it drives pretty much like its still stock.
A buddy of mine (z28ke on here) just finished a cam install on his stock headed '93 Z last week. Car is an M6 with CAI, Hooker LT's, cutout, and airfoil.
We took it to get dyno tuned at Carolina Auto Masters in Durham. With the cutout closed running through a Flowmaster AT catback, the car made 342 rwhp and something like 334 rwtq.
Opened the cutout, and it did: 354.6 rwhp and 343 rwtq.
Still stock heads and ~60k mile stock shortblock, and here's the kicker: we had 3 degrees of timing pulled because he also runs a 150 shot. Also, the car was burning oil and smoking bad on the dyno because of a bad valve seal.
The cam was a custom grind spec'd by Jeff at www.carolinaautomasters.com
With Jeff's tuning, it drives pretty much like its still stock.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 378
From: San Jose
any idiot who knows anything about or knows how to port heads KNOWS that increasing flow throughout the WHOLE lift range is important,reguardless of which cam is going in.OBVIOUSLY increasing flow @ .600 is pointless. The XE230 aint the only cam with below .600" lift.THATS what i was getting at.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,626
From: Baylor University - TX
Originally posted by MauriSSio
any idiot who knows anything about or knows how to port heads KNOWS that increasing flow throughout the WHOLE lift range is important,reguardless of which cam is going in.OBVIOUSLY increasing flow @ .600 is pointless. The XE230 aint the only cam with below .600" lift.THATS what i was getting at.
any idiot who knows anything about or knows how to port heads KNOWS that increasing flow throughout the WHOLE lift range is important,reguardless of which cam is going in.OBVIOUSLY increasing flow @ .600 is pointless. The XE230 aint the only cam with below .600" lift.THATS what i was getting at.
You wouldn't need as much gains in certain RPM ranges if your cam isn't putting out at that range, so maximize where it IS putting out...
That's MY point...
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 378
From: San Jose
Also,cams are hitting their max lifts at every RPM and every RPM point which is why youd want flow numbers to be increased throughout the whole cam lift range,so that you get power accross the board.Since LT1 heads have small (170cc) runners,then they are pretty much gonna be the restriction point (in terms of increasing power @ high RPMs) the best way to increase the RPM's is to enlarge the ports themselves. IMO 170cc heads ported that flow 250cfm will get you a much stouter powerband than 200cc heads that flow 265cfm. <-----just an example
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,009
From: so close I can taste it...
Originally posted by LS1_03
I'm sure stock injectors would be fine to run on a Hotcam setup as well? If not, I'm definitely sure 30# would be fine. But I also can't help but think the stockers are enough. Anyone care to clarify this?
I'm sure stock injectors would be fine to run on a Hotcam setup as well? If not, I'm definitely sure 30# would be fine. But I also can't help but think the stockers are enough. Anyone care to clarify this?
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,035
From: Houston, TX
Originally posted by MauriSSio
IMO 170cc heads ported that flow 250cfm will get you a much stouter powerband than 200cc heads that flow 265cfm.
IMO 170cc heads ported that flow 250cfm will get you a much stouter powerband than 200cc heads that flow 265cfm.