I have read many of the cam posts, but did not find this question asked:

I am interested in getting more out of my LT1 with the use of a cam. However, one thing I am not willing to give up is my flat torque curve.

You can see my sig, but what it doesn't tell you is that I have at or over 310 RWTQ from 2200 to 5250 RPM. This is something I would like to stay. Essentially, if I am going to be missing out on my low end torque, this mod does not interest me.

Peaky torque and HP is not what I want. Usable torque/HP area "under the curve" is critical. If I lose at the low end only to make it up on the high end with the same area under the curve resulting, I say nope!

Is it possible to get a cam (such as the CC XE or 305/306 series) that will give me more torque throughout my whole powerband?

Everyone says you lose torque at the lower end. Is this true, or is the increase just not as much at the lower end than the high? If the latter is true, then I am interested.

All other issues regarding cams are already resolved for me (emissions, springs, lift, $, etc., etc.) so they are not being considered here.

Thanks all,
Ben

 

well i put the cc 305 cam in my car and WOW Thats a bad bitch! she makes power from 1500-6500 rpms. just imagine what ur torque would be with a cc 306 cam

Also while ur puttin a cam in put in an electric W/P, rduce cam drag, run the car cooler and it'll give u significant top end!

 

Rob,

It sounds like you have had a SOTP experience! Did you see a torque increase even at the lower 1500 RPM range compared to your stock cam?

Ben

 

I run a 230/236-112 cam in a stock short block with well ported LT1 heads. The torque curve for the engine is reall pretty flat and peaks at 375 ft-lbs around 4900 rpm. It's hard to say where it peaks, since either side of the peak point is just about flat. In fact, the engine makes over 300 ft-lbs all the way from 2000 to the 6400 rpm redline.

BRAD

 

Based upon what I gather from this board and advanced tech staying with an XE grind is preferred for the "flat curve" and at 112LSA it should be pretty sweet. I have been told by CMotorsports that a 224/230 grind is perfect for a M6 with 3.42 rear that does not want to rev over 6200 (which I won't with the stock bottom end) weather you have ported or unported heads.

 

It would help to know what cam you have. But in general, you are a good candidate for a cam with the same duration and LSA but with more lift (ie, steeper lobes). Provided you have the springs, pushrods, and rockers to complement the cam there is very little downside. In the range we are talking, you probably don't need to be too concerned with spring life. So, as I said, it's almost a win-win, except of course for the $$$ involved.

Rich Krause

 

Brad,

You got it right that I still want the flat curve and I plan on not going over 6200 RPM. So that is helpful for me.

Mr. Krause,

I have the stock cam, but when I had my heads done, they set set up the springs / pushrods to handle a high lift cam.

So you suggest going with the same LSA and duration but just more lift and this will keep me in the same flat torque curve? Say like just add 30 RWTQ at all points along the curve from 2000 up to over 5500?

Ben

 

w3rd!

 

You have the right idea about what accelerates you car!

Rich Krause is correct about what the cam needs to do. Adding a magic 30 lb-ft everywhere isn't easy, and without ALL of your engine specs, head flows, exhaust, etc., specing a cam would be a crap shoot. It's probably doable, however.

As has been said here before, a couple of folks who design and build engines can help, but it takes their time which isn't free.

You don't always get what you pay for but you rarely get something worthwhile that you don't pay for." ---Maverick's Pappy

Bret Bauer (SStrokerAce) could do it. That's exactly the kind of torque curve he got on 96Z's budget 383 stroker, with 420 max rwtorque. Here's the thread.

http://web.camaross.com/forums/showt...=bauer+AND+383

 

i second that for sure talk to bret about cam selection. he's helped me understand a lot of things about cams. rich's info is always good too never seen him make a post about cams that i disagreed with in general. btw rich how did your springs hold up on that 214* intake lobe? and which ones did you run?

 

The intake lobe wasn't the problem, it's the same one I used on the exhaust side last year (CC XE #3192) with the CC #986 spring. I was concerned about the exhaust lobe (CC XE #3196) which is 236 degrees @ 0.050" and .585" lift with 1.5 rockers. So, it's a steep lobe. I went with CC #987 springs installed at 1.850". The seat pressure was ~110psi and the open pressure ~300psi. Works fine up to 6,500rpm, which is as high as I go with this motor. IOW, it's just enough but not too much spring, which is what I wanted.

Rich Krause

 

The CC305 will give you a good gain in mid-range/top-end while maintaining a relatively flat torque curve. I had my 305 ground on a 112 LSA because I wanted a meaner idle. With the "standard" 114 LSA, you will have a slightly broader power curve than my 112 LSA.

My car held over 300 rwtq from 2k-5.5k on the dyno and peaked at 335 rwhp and 346 rwtq on 100% stock tuning. Below is a pic. of the dyno graph w/the CC305:

http://www.public.asu.edu/~dbump/dyno.JPG

 

i've been thinking about using that 214 lobe with 1.65's for a little n/a project of mine. but it sounds to me like you dont think its that severe i think a 214 with ~.584" (1.65rr) is really a drastic amount of lift for that small of a lobe. oh yeah another thing are you running comp r lifters?

 

Hey thanks there Arizona Man!

I see the curve and I like it. You peak at HP about 2-300 RPM farther out than I do so I like that...not too far.

Hmmm so you say with a 114 LSA, it would be even flatter? I need to look into this a bit more. I understand that no one can tell me what TQ improvements I will see, but what type of improvements did you see? do you have a before and after mod dyno or an idea?

Thanks all!!!

Ben

 

You will definitely need more spring to use the CC XE #3192 with a 1.65 rocker. I'd say try the #978 spring, or even #977 if you plan on high revs, if you want to stay with Comp. Keep in mind, I am using 1.5 rockers. Yes, I am using the "R" rockers this year.

BTW: a cam I think would work great for an NA street car, but haven't tried, is the CC XE #3190/3192 in a 110 or 111LSA. These are the lobes I used last year, but with a narrower LSA, I was using 114 for my blower car. 214/224 with .530/.567" (1.5).

Rich Krause