which of these cams do you guys prefer? i cant decide which one i want. i'm looking for low to mid 13's with an L98 with stock iron heads, 10:1 compression, headers, full exhaust, ignition, and some suspension work. here are the cam specs:

LT4 218/228 .492/.492 112'sep.
ZZ9 212/226 .483/.520 112'sep.

 

Id do the LT4 cam if you have to do one of them! What do you think about the ZZ3 or ZZ4 cam??? I dont think the stock heads can handle any more lift than .500

 

Don't get the ZZ3-4 cam. Its great in a 305 but in a 350 the durration is weak.

PS- if the stock heads can't handle more than .500 lift then you can't use the ZZ4 anyway. Its .474 .510

 

you guys think i can run .492 lift with stock springs or should i go stiffer?

 

i would go with the lt4 hot cam with 1.6 roller rockers. the guy at scoggin dickey said he loves this cam over the zz9. give him a call and see what he says, good luck!

 

You will need stiffer springs to handle the lift.

 

ZZ9 cam is cool, but it's a rip off. LT4 cam is better and cheaper

 

LT4 is in my future!!!! I have heard good comments about the LT4 cam and with wanting to keep my stock T.P.I(porting heads and intake, 52mm T.B.) it has a big bang for the buck!!

 

I would use the hotcam if you didn't want to mod or change the springs in the heads which would be a good idea if they haven't ever been changed.

The lift on the hotcam is .492" with 1.5:1 rockers. That is still cutting it pretty close but will work. I like the zz4 cam because of the long exhaust duration compaired with the intake which would be really good with stock heads on a L98. But it has a higher lift then the hotcam.

 

I went with a Comp Xtreme 218/224 495/503 112 LSA Cam. I'd look into that one too.

 

If money is an issue, go with the LT4 HC as it is going to be the cheaper route.

Also, FYI, I know of two guys that run LT4 HCs with stock valve train (stock 1.5 stamped rockers) and untouched L98 heads. The specs on the LT4 HC are very close to the limit for use on stock stuff, but it appears to work. I wouldn't trust the stock springs at high RPMs with any kind of upgraded cam if I were you.....

 

Let me jump on the bandwagon here..
Where can one aquire this 'LT4 Hotcam?' I hear it comes in a set with 1.6 RR's and all the springs etc..would that be compatible with the L98 and stock heads? and..would porting be a good idea? Thanks in advance..

 

Definately change the springs and get some screw in studs....

 

scoggin dickey sells the cam alone for $175 which isnt bad at all, but the whole kit with rockers and springs etc. is $500 i believe.


www.sdpc2000.com


good luck!

 

do you guys think the lt4 cam would be a good match to a set of tfs 23 degree heads?

 

I bought my hotcam from gmpartsdirect.com and it was 167 - 169 i believe which with shipping is about 175...so it wasn't a bad deal at all. Just have to kill all the electrical demons plagueing my car.

 

That sounds pretty awesome to me!!!

Seriously though... The heads have moderately large intake ports (195c) and flow pretty well in the mid to high lift ranges which promotes a bit higher RPM power. And the cam is also catered to the higher RPM power (like LT1 intakes can make). So The cam is a fairly good match for the heads. The combo certainly won't set the world on fire, but it is a very good bang for the buck combo, IMHO of course, and certainly has very good potential as long as you don't slap a stock TPI setup on it - that would be a mismatch and a half!

Sauron - you can get the cam in the kit or just the camshaft itself through any GM parts department. Part numbers are:

Camshaft only: 24502586
Cam kit: 12480002

Go to www.GMpartsdirect.com and enter those numbers for pricing and availability.

Matt

 

Imagine That!

 

hahaha, but according to TPIS, the ZZ9 cam is the ultimate cam there ever was,lol

 

Well in all fairness to TPIS, there is more to a cam than the usual specs..... The ZZ-9 cam has been proven to make good power, but not much more than Hot Cam equipped cars and it is quite a bit more $$$$ than a Hot Cam. Now if you really wanted to utilize the expertise of TPIS and their experience with EFI SBCs, I would look at a ZZ-409 or maybe a ZZ-9X with a high flowing intake setup like a siamesed TPI, Superram, or Miniram.... Those cams make some awesome power. Our Minnesota F-body Club just had a little cruise this weekend and we stopped in at TPIS. We watched a dyno session with a stock bore (better parts but still a plain 350), mildly ported stock casting headed LT1 make 435HP with the ZZ-409 cam......