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Thinking of a Cam upgrade...

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Old 01-27-2014, 08:36 PM
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Thinking of a Cam upgrade...

Bought my Camaro with motor work done to it already. While it runs fine, I would like more chop at idle along with a better torque range. No plans on hitting the track to break any records just want a street able cam that produces that Oldschool shake at the stop lights.

Here is my mod list

1974 350 SBC four bolt mains, standard
fully polish OEM crankshaft and rods( balance assembly)
SLP flat top pistons 4 valves reliefs 9.72-1 with 64cc heads (we got 58cc)
Clevite H series main and rod bearings
SLP sure seal rings
Melling high volume oil pump
Comp cams t thumpr 12-600-4 camshaft and lifters
Procomp aluminum heads 210cc runners 58 cc chamber, 202/1.6 valves
Comp cams roller tip rocker arms
Comp cams solid pushrods
Eldelbrock intake manifold and dress up
Holley 670cm street avenger carburator
MSD ignition system
Hooker comp Headers and Y pipe
Flowmaster muffler and tips
Heavy duty two one inch row aluminum radiator
2400 B&M converter
9 bolt borg-warner rear end, posi with 3.45 gears and disc brakes

I am still trying to familiarize myself with this new setup and would appreciate any feedback from guys that have already done this...


Thanks
Adrian

Last edited by FLWhite92RS; 01-28-2014 at 12:04 AM.
Old 01-28-2014, 12:51 AM
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Re: Thinking of a Cam upgrade...

sounds like a nice set-up!
you have a difficult request, "more chop at idle along with better torque"

the mother thumper line is already a chopy idleing cam.

the problem is as you add more duration/overlap, your bleeding off that bottom end torque, IMO.
i suppose you could go with a "bigger" cam and make up for the loss of low end torque by adding a steeper rear gear.

might sound silly, but have you tried turning your idle down to get that "chop" sound?

everybody wants that nasty lope sound of a big cam with great street manors, lol.

one thing you could try is a set of rhoads lifters. they bleed off a little lift at low RPM's to restore some bottom end grunt.
http://www.rhoadslifters.com/
Old 01-28-2014, 07:37 AM
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Car: '86 Bird, 96 ImpalaSS, 98 C1500XCab
Engine: LG4, LT1, L31
Transmission: 700R4, 4L60E, 4L60E
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Re: Thinking of a Cam upgrade...

As ******* implied, that particular cam has a LOT of overlap. At a reasonable idle speed, it should be sounding pretty nasty.
If you're at all interested in low rpm torque, I wouldn't go bigger.

Last edited by 86LG4Bird; 01-28-2014 at 11:58 AM. Reason: lol!.....the e-police doesn't like r*dn*ck!
Old 01-28-2014, 09:19 AM
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Re: Thinking of a Cam upgrade...

A big part of you low end issues are your heads + that cam. That cam has a fairly low lift 480 and 465. Those heads have big 210cc intake ports and flow worse than 170cc vortecs below 500 lift. Big runners with a bad cross section combined with poor flow and a cam that is not designed to perform under 2000 rpm is not a good way to get low end.

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Old 01-28-2014, 07:29 PM
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Re: Thinking of a Cam upgrade...

Originally Posted by redneckjoe
sounds like a nice set-up!
you have a difficult request, "more chop at idle along with better torque"

the mother thumper line is already a chopy idleing cam.

the problem is as you add more duration/overlap, your bleeding off that bottom end torque, IMO.
i suppose you could go with a "bigger" cam and make up for the loss of low end torque by adding a steeper rear gear.

might sound silly, but have you tried turning your idle down to get that "chop" sound?

everybody wants that nasty lope sound of a big cam with great street manors, lol.

one thing you could try is a set of rhoads lifters. they bleed off a little lift at low RPM's to restore some bottom end grunt.
http://www.rhoadslifters.com/
Originally Posted by 86LG4Bird
As ******* implied, that particular cam has a LOT of overlap. At a reasonable idle speed, it should be sounding pretty nasty.
If you're at all interested in low rpm torque, I wouldn't go bigger.
Originally Posted by midias
A big part of you low end issues are your heads + that cam. That cam has a fairly low lift 480 and 465. Those heads have big 210cc intake ports and flow worse than 170cc vortecs below 500 lift. Big runners with a bad cross section combined with poor flow and a cam that is not designed to perform under 2000 rpm is not a good way to get low end.


Thank you for your feedback. I'm gonna have a local guy go over my tune, maybe it's just too safe for my liking or just not tuned properly. If that's not enough than I will mod a few things...
Old 01-28-2014, 07:32 PM
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Re: Thinking of a Cam upgrade...

Originally Posted by FLWhite92RS
Thank you for your feedback. I'm gonna have a local guy go over my tune, maybe it's just too safe for my liking or just not tuned properly. If that's not enough than I will mod a few things...
I am doubting a tune will make the diffrence but good luck.
Old 01-28-2014, 08:00 PM
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Re: Thinking of a Cam upgrade...

Originally Posted by midias


I am doubting a tune will make the diffrence but good luck.
It could make all the difference in the world if his A/F or timing curve is way off.
Or, did you mean just the "chop" he's looking for?
Old 01-29-2014, 07:41 AM
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Re: Thinking of a Cam upgrade...

I'm pretty sure the chop I want isn't going to be there with my current cam. But I'm sure a tune will get the car running up to speed right now it kinda falls on it's face when you punch it, I believe the previous owner tuned the car himself so who knows what he might have left on the table.
Old 01-29-2014, 07:57 AM
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Re: Thinking of a Cam upgrade...

Originally Posted by 86LG4Bird
It could make all the difference in the world if his A/F or timing curve is way off.
Or, did you mean just the "chop" he's looking for?
Yes it probably wont affect chop. Hopefully it helps his low end.
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