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  • #1

    Help with selecting a cam...

    I'm looking into getting a cam for my car (96 3.8 Y87, intake/exhaust - specifics in signature), but as of now I have very little knowledge about cams.. I did a search of this forum but it seems like all the posts I found were discussion among people who knew what they were talking about..

    I read the article on camshafts at howstuffworks.com, so I have a very basic understanding... I know that these are the measurements on the cam from looking at the tech database page on it, and here are my assumptins/guesses at what they mean.. Could someone please correct me or help me out with the understanding?

    Intake Duration: How long the intake valve is open, measured in degrees...
    Exhaust Duration: How long the exhaust valve is open, measured in degrees...
    Intake Lift: How far the intake valve is opened?
    Exhuast Lift: How far the exhaust valve is opened?
    (On these I'm guessing the more it's lifted the more airflow and therefore the more power?)
    Lobe Separation: How long between when the intake valve closes and the exhaust valve opens?
    Intake Centerline: Not a clue...
    Lifter:
    Rocker Arm Ratio: I know what the rocker arm is, but how does this ratio relate to everything?
    Intake lift: How far the intake valve is opened measured in inches?
    Exhaust Lift: How far the exhaust valve is opened measured in inches?

    OK.. Now how does each of these affect overall performance? I really need help in picking something out that won't kill the top end, but will give me as much improvement as possible in acceleration... It also seems to me that a torque converter might help maximize improvements from a camshaft, is this correct? (I am thinking that if the camshaft is best from 4000 RPMs to redline, and you can stall at 3400 instead of the lower stock stall, it would help to improve the benefits of the cam).

    I greatly appreciate any help, whether it's personally explaining it or giving me a good link or anything at all.. I really want to understand this but there doesn't seem to be a whole lot out there, especially in relation to our cars...

    Also, about how much is a cam gonna run me pricewise, and how much installation wise, assuming I don't take it on myself... And we have single overhead cams right? Not dual..

    Thanks so much, I really appreciate all the help I'm hopefully going to get...
    1996 Camaro Z28 M6<br />Red, T-tops, 5.7L LT1<br />Borla Cat-Back, SLP PP/Clutch
    Tags: None
  • #2
    hey!

    someone knowledgable answer this guy.. I wanna know to!!
    ~The Guru\'s Guru~<br />1999 Camaro,K&N,!MAF<br />!airsilencer,3.08s,<br />NGK-TR6\'s,Taylor Blue 8mm wires,FRAM,A4,Catco Cat, Magnaflow 3 inch catback,transgo shift kit<br />Waiting: RK sport headers, custom y pipe electric cutout<br /><a href=\"http://www.cardomain.com/id/divinejc\" target=\"_blank\">www.cardomain.com/id/divinejc</a>

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    • #3
      same here!, I havent a damn clue about cams, but over the winter I would like to get one...please...help us out my F body brothers! [img]smile.gif[/img]

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      • #4
        Hey I am not very knowledgable about what they mean, but I did find some stock specs on our cams.

        Duration: Intake/Exhaust 182/190
        Lift: I/E .258/.255
        Lobe Sep.: 115
        Intake Centerline: 111
        Rocker Ratio: 1.6
        Valve Lift I/E: .413/.408

        Now mainly what you are worried about improving is your duration, lift and valve lift. (Mostly duration) Your right about the definitions on lift and duration.
        Now these are some specs on 3 cams you can buy from supersixmotorsports.com

        Duration I/E: 214/214, 220/224, 210/214
        Lift I/E: .51/.51*, .51/.51*, .45/.45*
        Seperation: 110, 114, 112
        *Probably referring to valve lift.

        The 210/214 cam is said to be good for stock heads. The 214/214 is good for all combinations of mods, and the 220/224 is said to be good for nitrous or gears. If I were getting one, I would get the 220/224. NOW, the only one they have just for sale (u can find it in their online catalog) is the 210/214. They sell the other ones with their cylinder head package (which you should check out, very good stuff). You may be able to purchase them seperate, but I'm not sure. Now for prices. The 210/214 Cam sells here for $300, with a $40 core refund. The install will be quite pricey as well. Probably about $200-250. You can try and tackle it yourself, but unless you have extensive knowledge, I would not suggest it. Also we do not have Overhead Cam OR dual overhead cam. We have pushrod engines. That means the cam is down deeper than overhead cam engines... So there you have it!
        1996 CamaroRS <br />15.5 @ 86<br />Sold<br /><br />2000 Z28 Convertible 3700lbs<br />Lid, Cutout, yank 3600 Stall, built trans, snall cam, NX Wet kit.<br />11.3 @ 118<br />Best 60\' is 1.58<br />497 RWHP 475 RWTQ

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        • #5
          Also you are right about the stall convertor. It will help the performance of your cam overall.
          1996 CamaroRS <br />15.5 @ 86<br />Sold<br /><br />2000 Z28 Convertible 3700lbs<br />Lid, Cutout, yank 3600 Stall, built trans, snall cam, NX Wet kit.<br />11.3 @ 118<br />Best 60\' is 1.58<br />497 RWHP 475 RWTQ

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