What exactly is the LSA mean in respects to a cam and what difference is there compared to lets say a CC306 on a 110 LSA to a CC306 on a 112 LSA or higher. how does it perfect performance and what not and what is usually the better set up More or less. Stupid question but it still puzzles me though!



THanks,
-JOhn

 

Im not sure exactly what that means but I do know that if you plan on spraying or S/C you would lean toward a cam with 114 LSA +. And on the other hand, if you're going NA, they love 112 and lower. Not sure why though, sorry ... hope this kinda gives you an idea ... Im just learning myself and would love to know!

 

An oversimplified answer is that it does two things, 1) less degrees of LSA will cause your powerband to be raised along the RPMs. (ex. a CC306 on a 114lsa might make peak hp at 6200 while a CC306 on a 110lsa might make peak hp at 6500, this is just an example not actual numbers.)
2) It will cause the quality of your idle to diminish. A stock LSA is ~116 and the idle is nice and smooth. The same cam on a 110LSA will tend to "lope" a little more.

I hope this helps

 

LSA isn't the only factor in idle quality, duration is too, take a 95 Impala SS LT1 for example, stock their cams are 190/201 around & 111lsa, but they idle smoother then our cars

LSA is Lobe Separation, its the distance between intake & exhaust lobes, on a tighter LSA 110 the exhaust is say half way closed & the intake starts to open, while on a wider LSA like 116 the Exhaust is almost fully closed & only then the intake starts to open, these are just examples

Hope that helps, Tigher LSA looses DCR (dynamic compression) at low RPM because of the valve events happening more simuntaniously as apposed to a wider LSA which looses compression at low RPM, but it also acts to help cool the intake charge & manages to fill the chamber more so fully at a higher RPM range, a tigher LSA also causes a norrow RPM range which means that at a sertain RPM range the engine will make more power then ussual as apposed to spreading it out, hence why Forced induction & tight LSA don't mix cuz you would be loosing boost at low RPM & then at a given RPM almost detonate.


etc.....

 

Awesome question, followed by even more awesome answers!

I'm glad you asked this one, because I as wondering this one too. I'm looking for a lope in my cam. But don't necessarily want to rev to 6500 for my peak. I'll stick around and see how this thread turns out