Please read this before you choose a cam!
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,614
From: Charlotte, NC
Re: Please read this before you choose a cam!
I agree with what Ion is saying.. Sometimes people just thing bigger is better when something reasonable will get the car there and at the same time let it drive, idle, pass emmissions, and not REQUIRE a healthy stall to run decent.
I used to turn my stock shortblock to 6300-6600 with a nice set of heads Just to keep it under the curve
I used to turn my stock shortblock to 6300-6600 with a nice set of heads Just to keep it under the curve
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 137
From: Minneapolis, Mn.
Re: Please read this before you choose a cam!
Amen Madwolf...I agree that a smaller cam will out perform a big one and provide better driveability overall if you are only going to rev 6200. My hot cam pulls great and is still going when I shift at 6200. I experiance some cam surge in first and second holding the throttle stead under 1800. Under a load accelerating its steady from 1200 up. The larger cams must really buck and surge at low rpm light throttle conditions. 
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 165
Re: Please read this before you choose a cam!
Originally Posted by 1 Nasty Bird
So just how fast can you spin a HEALTHY, STOCK, LT1 shortblock. Just the shortblock, not talking about the valvtrain etc. Just the shortblock.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 165
Re: Please read this before you choose a cam!
Originally Posted by cat1055man
Amen Madwolf...I agree that a smaller cam will out perform a big one and provide better driveability overall if you are only going to rev 6200. My hot cam pulls great and is still going when I shift at 6200. I experiance some cam surge in first and second holding the throttle stead under 1800. Under a load accelerating its steady from 1200 up. The larger cams must really buck and surge at low rpm light throttle conditions.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,475
From: Garland, tx
Re: Please read this before you choose a cam!
so if you have an 847 with mildly ported stock heads...with a good fresh stock bottomend...and you want to rev to say...6800 to shift and have the rev limitor at 7000 what kinda valve springs do yall use??? im planin on this soon
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,577
From: DeKalb, IL
Re: Please read this before you choose a cam!
Originally Posted by Mindgame
I don't think you realize the can of worms you're opening here.
The "rev limit" is not solely dependent on the camshaft duration. What about the cylinder head port? What about the valvetrain??
If I were to take two identical LT1's, one with stock heads, the other with a set of AFR 200's (for comparisons sake), both with identical camshafts and valvetrain components. Think they're gonna shut off at the same rpm?
There are a lot of factors that will determine "where" peak power occurs, the camshaft is only 1 variable in that equation.
BTW, I like the new doo.
-Mindgame
The "rev limit" is not solely dependent on the camshaft duration. What about the cylinder head port? What about the valvetrain??
If I were to take two identical LT1's, one with stock heads, the other with a set of AFR 200's (for comparisons sake), both with identical camshafts and valvetrain components. Think they're gonna shut off at the same rpm?
There are a lot of factors that will determine "where" peak power occurs, the camshaft is only 1 variable in that equation.
BTW, I like the new doo.
-Mindgame
criticism for this post. Just to clarify, this was meant for people you see posting here every day. Stock heads, motor, etc and they want to get a 306, 847, or whichever idles "meaner".
I did a program for a 24x/25x hydraulic roller on stock heads not too long ago. Why would someone want a cam like that on stock heads, is beyond me.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 616
From: Piscataway, NJ USA
Re: Please read this before you choose a cam!
I have my rev limiter at 6500 on the stock tach, but I use a shiftlight set to go off at 6300. I was getting killed by the stock tach when I was supposedly shifting at 6500, but it was prob more like 6400 or even lower. Once that problem was solved I was trapping almost 4-5 mph more.
Advanced Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,874
From: Under The Hood
Re: Please read this before you choose a cam!
"And the bearings spun all around all around....and the bearings spun all around....and the guy with the Camaro went WTF! WTF! WTF!...all the way to the deeeaaaaleeeeer.."
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 45
From: Louisville Kentucky
Re: Please read this before you choose a cam!
Hey Ion, I set my rev limiter low also, but just because I think I'm floating a valve or valves at about 6K . As soon as I get new springs I will send PCM back to you to change. Can I just delete stock rev. limiter and use the one on my H-I6 ?
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,931
From: Upstate NY
Re: Please read this before you choose a cam!
Originally Posted by madwolf
I knew I was going to get some old timer criticism for this post.
I resemble that remark.
Just to clarify, this was meant for people you see posting here every day. Stock heads, motor, etc and they want to get a 306, 847, or whichever idles "meaner".
I did a program for a 24x/25x hydraulic roller on stock heads not too long ago. Why would someone want a cam like that on stock heads, is beyond me.
Why a reputable engine designer/builder would sell a cam like that for a basically stock application is beyond me.
criticism for this post. I resemble that remark.
Just to clarify, this was meant for people you see posting here every day. Stock heads, motor, etc and they want to get a 306, 847, or whichever idles "meaner".
I did a program for a 24x/25x hydraulic roller on stock heads not too long ago. Why would someone want a cam like that on stock heads, is beyond me.
Why a reputable engine designer/builder would sell a cam like that for a basically stock application is beyond me.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,152
From: Wyoming
Re: Please read this before you choose a cam!
Hey Ion did you read my post on page one of this thread?
Also i think that the 230/236 is still kinda big even on ported heads...even though i sometimes wish that i had gone with the cc306.
Also i think that the 230/236 is still kinda big even on ported heads...even though i sometimes wish that i had gone with the cc306.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,245
From: Ocala, Florida
Re: Please read this before you choose a cam!
And don't think small cam's can't make any power. I still trapped 115.1 with my tiney 210/224 cam with a few bugs to work out. Thats full weight and no skinny's bogging out of the whole. I have no doubt I could hit 117mph with this cam at a 3600lb race weight. 
Last edited by speed_demon24; Apr 10, 2005 at 11:33 AM.