Hey i need some help here. i need an auto shop project and want to put a diff cam in my car and maybe have the heads ported. Would i still make good power without having the heads ported? I have about $500 dollars saved up and i dont want to spend it on headers with winter comming up so i want to do a cam first, is this a good idea? I want to go with a comp or gm cam that isnt to mild, but doesnt kill my mid range torque, which one should i go with? Also what all will i need to do the change(new lifters, pushrods, springs ect...)? Yes i will be selling the hypercrap and getting a tune from madz or pcmforless. thanks for all your help guys.

James

 

With about $500, a hotcam kit is your best choice. It makes good power and it won't kill your midrange torque. Anything else and you will not fit in your budget unless you got it all used and you will still be over $500.

 

how much power do you think i would get with the hot cam kit and a tune and nothing else? I have heard the hot cam kit is not the best is this true?
thanks

James

 

Well it depends on how you look at it. Personally, I think it's the best kit you can get for the money.

Of course, "best" is a very relative term and it depends on the person. Some people are looking for the sound of a big cam and they will go with the biggest cam they can get just for that reason, while a hotcam will do close to the same job, only for less money, especially since we're talking unported heads here.

With a hotcam kit, tune and stock manifolds, I think you will see about 30-35 RWHP, maybe more. You will need to do headers eventually if you want to get some decent power out of it. With long tube headers it is capable of ~345-350 RWHP in an M6 through a cutout, which is just about 7-8 RWHP shy of what some of the bigger cams do.

 

will i need new lifters, timing chain and pushrods , the car has 114k on it?
thanks for all your help madwolf ... ill be getting a mad z tune. how much do they run for my car?

 

I'd definetely get a new chain and new sprockets. I suppose you could reuse your lifters and pushrods, but I would inspect everything carefully just to make sure they are ok.

A tune for a 94-95 is $80 + $13 shipping.

 

yikes $245 for a timing chain and sprocket from summit
o well need to keep saving ...

 

A GM stock replacement will be just fine. I think they are like $60 for the sprocket and chain.

EDIT: here are some good deals.

 

If your not in a hurry....money can be saved if you shop around and wait!!! For sale section on this board as well as other boards and ebay. Here's what I spent on my cam change several months ago. Everything has worked PERFECTLY with no problems, no leaks and huge gains:

CC XE224/230 camshaft - new - $150.00
1.6SA roller rockers out of a hotcam kit - new - $175.00
Crane 10308-1 spring kit - used - $50.00
Gaskets and Misc. ( I only replaced my chain, used sotck lifters and pushrods 83,000 mile car) - $75.00
plus a tune $120

total $570 or so.
A little more than the hotcam kit but IMO a better cam and stronger springs.

 

what do you guys thing of the hot cam... i just want to buy it to save hassles... but the comp xe 224/230 intrests me alot... is it really that much better than the hot cam?

 

I think the cc503 is the best cam for stock heads. Just get a set of lt4 valve springs and you can reuse your retianers. With that cam and a exhaust I went 13.1@107...Its also under $300 for both if you do it your self, OR have me do it for ya.