Did anyone lose any low end with this cam. Where does the power band start. Ive read almost every thread and no one talks about where the power band starts.

I dont want to have to wait to 3500 rpms to make power. Also is their much cam surge, can a computer tune take care of that?

Everyone says to run the 218/224 with stock heads, but Combination is recomending the 224/230. I cant decide.

 

They're not really going to be drastically different. If low end is a concern, the 218 would probably be the way to go. I just took a look at my dyno sheet, it doesn't start until 3600 rpm... not of much use to you.

Going by seat of the pants, the car feels about the same as before the cam up to about 2700 - 3k rpms. After that the cam really starts to make itself known.

They may be recommending the 224 because these XE cams are notorious for falling off pretty bad in the upper rpm's. In order to help deal with this, going a little bigger and moving the powerband up may help. Dunno, I could be wrong... just taking a stab at why they recommended the 224.

However, at the end of the day, it's an off the shelf cam and is a compromise. Your best bet is a custom grind. The price isn't a heck of a lot more than the off the shelf cam - if you go with someone like Bret. Plus you'll get a cam designed to do what you want instead of guessing at it by looking at a catalog.

 

where do you have your shift points set, how high do you rev?

Are you using the stock heads? What were the peak dyno numbers?

 

I'm not sure, I just had Bryan @ pcmforless raise them as he saw fit with the cam. I don't go to the track, so I never really paid attention.
?
About 6200-6300
At the time, yes. Lloyd has them now though.
Peak #'s were 326/318 SAE. Nothing outrageous, but not bad for an A4 with a full exhaust, stall, and 3.73's.

 

Alot would have to do with your gears, stall size, vehicle weight, future plans, etc. but the 218/224 would be OK in a HEAVY, fully loaded convertible with stock gears and converter.

If you have 3.42's or better and a 2400 stall or 6 speed, the 224/230 on a 114 LSA would NOT be too big. Tuning will have alot to do with the idle and when the RPM range starts.

As mentioned, they are VERY similar but with the same tuning, mods, etc, the 224/230 should start 200-300 RPM later and pull to 200-300 later. With stock heads, good valve springs and GOOD tuning, it would probably have an RPM range of 2400 to 6200 RPM or so.

Lloyd Elliott
NightTrain66@msn.com

 

If you get the 224/230 atleast get it on 114 LSA. I hate the dead spot mine has below about 3000 RPMs.


It feels like a forced induction thing building boost, dead until a certain RPM, then runs like a bat outta hell

Remember, HP sells cars, Torque wins races.

Im going to swap out my 224/230 for a custom cam that makes better low end (not to mention high end ) when i do my heads.

 

Is there much cam surge with this cam? Some people say it has good low end, some say it doesnt. I still dont know if i will go with the 218/224 or the 224/230 on the 112 lsa.

 

I didn't have any surging with the 224/230.

It's a tough call between these cams, but understand there isn't going to be a big difference between the two. You sound concerned about low end, driveability, etc. Sounds to me like the 218 would be the choice between the two.

However, I still say a custom grind is worth looking into with stock heads. Give Bret a call or shoot him an email (sstrokerace on this board) and talk it over. It certainly wouldn't hurt anything and any time you get to discuss something like this with a pro, you're bound to learn something even if you don't wind up spending a dime with him. He gave me some great advice on a budget 355 rebuild and valve springs components - I spent no $ with him!

 

I have some cam surge, tuning got rid of most of it tho. It really killed my gas mileage, since i have a 6speed, i have to drive it in 5th gear now because it just dosent have the power at around 2000 RPMs to go in 6th, which would be ~65-70mph.

 

Ive got surging with this cam and I have a pcmforless tune that didnt help it to much. I need to get her on a dyno to see whats really going on.

 

How is your low end power, are experiancing the same problem as Valkyn71.

I thought i had decided on the 224/230 but now i dont know again.

I think a custom cam is a little out of my budget, I want to get in on the cam GP combination motorsports has going right now.

 

Actually Im not having the same problems as him. My gas mileage is still decent and my low end power is good to. I have a 6spd with 3.73 gears and can light them up from a 25mph roll with no prolbem at all. I say 25mph because that is 1st gear and somewhere around 2500-3k rpms. I can also cruise in 6th gear at 65-70mph with no problems at all. Youre not supposed to be making alot of power in 6th at that speed. Its for crusing and better gas mileage so Im not sure what he expects!

 

I just built a 383 stroker and used the 224/230 cam. In this motor I think it is awesome. The vehicle was over 4000 pnds and has so much bottom end iI have to be careful at a stop light. How ever I had my heads ported and longtubes installed. Also get the pcm reprogrammed when you do it. I ran it for a month with the stock tune and thought it was fast before. When I got the computer back it felt like I had bolted on a supercharger. I am very happy with the cam.

Shawn

 

I get around 15 MPG, i expect/need better. I have 3.42s and it just dosent have the power to do 65-70 in 6th if there are any inclines whatsoever. Im not expecting to have tons of power and stuff, just enough to cruise and get decent milage.

I cant break the tires loose from a roll without a clutch drop, so you must be running a little better than me...are you on stock heads?

 

My heads have never been touched and Im on 295/50/15 street tires. From a 25-35mph roll in 1st I can nail the gas peddal and just blow the tires off all the way through 2nd with no problem. Im not saying its a good thing cause now I have to race like most ricers, from a 50 roll. HAHAHA Im getting some drag radials soon so that will take care of that problem.