I currently have Lt4 hotcam, mac midlengths, and cai and am planning on tearing apart the front end to replace my oil pan and timing cover gaskets. I'm not really happy with the hotcam and while i have the timing cover off it seems like a good time to swap cams again. I wanted to put in the 306 but don't feel like spending the time or money on head work. Would the cca 503 produce any noticable difference over the hot cam?

 

if you have LT4 springs you'll be needing to change those out too, the hotcam is pretty much their limit.

yeah, it'd probably help some to go to the 503 and get a tune along with it.

 

I wouldnt trade in my Cobalt for a Neon if I was looking for a 400hp GTO. With that said the Hotcam, CC305, XE503 are all going to be around the same size. I say a custom grind from Bret Bauer. Although the GM847 and CC306 are larger and proven camshafts.

-Dustin-

 

This certainly would be the ultimate way to go.

 

How would the LE1 cam work with stock heads?

 

Long tubes and ported heads would give you a considerable boost. I'd get those then worry about a bigger cam, because if you go with a bigger cam mid's and stock heads will be the limiting factor on how much power you can put to the ground.

I will agree with the comment that a custom grind for your application would be the ultimate way to go though, you will see a better result with an individual grind built for your motor than an off the shelf cam.

 

Seems to be a common misconception around here that to go with a bigger cam like a 306 or a 847, you will need headwork done. Plenty of guys on here have done it pushing 350+rwhp with stockheads. Although I wouldn't go too much bigger myself than that with no headwork IMO

 

You would be happier, I think, if you did your heads, along with RRs, springs, etc. Heads are needed to get the most out of any cam. The hot cam is a good, albeit, relatively mild cam, but none the less, a proven commody for streetability.

The cost of going with a cam AND heads is high compared to staying with your hottie and just doing the upper end. JMHO

 

What is it that you don't like about the Hotcam? That will help people to recommend a cam to you.

In my opinion, the Hotcam can be a potent cam with stock heads. Guys like Gregg 97z are at 12.0x with the hotcam and stock heads, trapping 112+ mph. It's all in the setup. He's also putting down around 350 rwhp

If you want an upgrade from the Hotcam, I would point you towards ported heads first. In order to gain anything substantial over the Hotcam, heads will be needed.

Dan