New cam...good investment?

[MingisDew31186]

I am looking for some more hps...for under 1,000. I just read a post that a new cam can give you about 30-40 more hps! That kinda cought my eye. Would a new cam be a good investment? What kinda problems would I be runnign into? The one I am looking at is http://www.zzperformance.com/zzp/pro...tition_cam.htm
The VS cam. Thanks

[Arctc Wolf]

that would be a good cam. I'm lookin at the other 1 for right now, cuz I can't afford getting the head work done that I want. If u get that cam, get valvesprings and retianers while ur at it, just so everything's taken care of up top so u don't get ne valve float or broken springs or nething.

[Sean37]

Yeah that's probably the best thing you can do besides a supercharger kit or custom turbo setup. Any idea about how much it costs to get it installed at a shop?

[Sean37]

I know there's some people on here that have aftermarket cams. What kinda HP gains did you see and, more importantly, what kinda times/speeds do you run now?

[Beastly TA]

Seams like a fairly mild cam. I cant speak for V6's and most likely wont be any help at all but LS1's with small cams (ie: LS6 cam) are only getting about 15 rwhp with headers. But for a V6 its probably totally different.

Gerry

[Dominic]

the VS cam, or any really with 115LS, won't do you much good at all. Stick with the comp recommended grind of 206/212 113LS if you cannot decide and want a trouble free way to get more power. I know for a fact Min on this board put down 212rwhp with this cam, full intake/full exhaust. There are many secrets to installing a cam though to make it do more with smaller lobes, I'll leave this up to you to find.

[Arctc Wolf]

For a naturally aspirated application(no sc/turbo), u'll want a camshaft with a smaller lobe separation angle. this helps the engine breathe better at higher rpm's. However, u will see gains from the VS cam because it has a larger duration and more lift, allowing the engine 2 breathe better. the wider lobe separation angle helps out nitrous and forced induction cars because it keeps the charge air in the cylinder longer, allowing more power 2 be made, and on NA cars, the big lobe separation will help out low-end and mid-range power. Personally, I like both the cam's they have, but the choice is up 2 u. if u want a cam that will help out ur top end more, get 1 with a smaller lobe separation, I suggest 113 or 114 just because u won't give up 2 much low-end and will gain some top-end w/ it.

[MingisDew31186]

What type of re-programming would i be looking at if i got that cam?

[Bird_Of_Prey]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Dominic:
the VS cam, or any really with 115LS, won't do you much good at all. Stick with the comp recommended grind of 206/212 113LS if you cannot decide and want a trouble free way to get more power. I know for a fact Min on this board put down 212rwhp with this cam, full intake/full exhaust. There are many secrets to installing a cam though to make it do more with smaller lobes, I'll leave this up to you to find.<hr></blockquote>


That's pretty retarded, if you have information, why not share?

[Arctc Wolf]

if you were 2 advance the camshaft a few degrees, and make more power, that indicates that a larger cam can be used if u want more power. if you gain more power when u retart cam timing, you will want 2 go w/ a smaller cam. don't ask me how, this is just what i have heard.

[HAZ-Matt]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Arctc Wolf:
For a naturally aspirated application(no sc/turbo), u'll want a camshaft with a smaller lobe separation angle.<hr></blockquote>

This statement is true.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>this helps the engine breathe better at higher rpm's.<hr></blockquote>

This statement is false. Smaller lobe separation angle, which is a measurement of the distance between the peaks of the two lobes, means increased overlap, which in turn means peak torque at lower rpm. As one increases the LSA, the torque peak moves to higher rpm, and you may find that the power curve peak is past the rev limiter if you select too high an LSA.

[Dominic]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Bird_Of_Prey:



That's pretty retarded, if you have information, why not share?<hr></blockquote>

Because I don't wanna... :(

Actually its because I have information that I am not sure is true or false and I don't want to throw it out in the open until I figure it out. It basically deals with retarding/advancing the cam, but its not simple to figure out since its easy to over retard/advance any cam and cause valve slap (eww).

The nice thing about dealing with degreeing a cam over lobe size, LS, etc, is you don't affect the driveability and only stand to gain or lose horsepower. Usually retarding the cam a bit is what is necessary to make a smaller lobed than optimal cam stay driveable but increase the upper end power (opens the intake sooner, not longer, not higher, just sooner...)

I won't speak more til I find out more k?

[y87inside]

i emailed zzperformance in regards to a question with the vs cam and one of there performance packages and this is the response i got about a GT grind cam that they dont have on there website yet. I dunno the specs on it, but it may be worth lookin into.

In a message dated 11/17/2002 8:07:28 PM Eastern Standard Time, Ttopcamaro90@aol.com writes:


Can you use the VS cam and the stage L36 performance package on a N/A 3800 series II with stock heads (96 camaro)? Will it not be too much lift? And if known...will the combo be cpu friendly for a daily driver.


ZZPERFORMANCE REPLIED&gt;:
This combo would be fine except for the fact that you can't run a cam and the rockers. I recommed our GT grind cam for your if you are leaving it naturally aspirated. combine that with our UD pulleys, HV TB and fan switch and you will have a winning combo.

[Dominic]

Zoomer is correct. GT Grind = 206/212 [img]smile.gif[/img]

[pvtschultz]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr> quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
this helps the engine breathe better at higher rpm's.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This statement is false. Smaller lobe separation angle, which is a measurement of the distance between the peaks of the two lobes, means increased overlap, which in turn means peak torque at lower rpm. As one increases the LSA, the torque peak moves to higher rpm, and you may find that the power curve peak is past the rev limiter if you select too high an LSA.
<hr></blockquote>

When you decrease the lobe separation, the exhaust valve will be open for part of the intake stroke and will allow for scavenging of the cylinders bringing in a larger air/fuel charge, but will create a rougher idle and sacrifice low end torqu because compression will be drained off by the overlap. Just the opposite for larger lobe separtation angles.