Cam Suggestions

[Carrotop79]

Okay. First of all I do not want a race truck. The 2001 Z06 cam sounds great and all but I need my low end torque for pulling my travel trailer. SO my question to you is....what cam do I want if towing is my main concern? Keep in mind that I do not mind spending money for new springs, rods and rockers, but not spending it would be nice!! Also keep in mind that I do not want a lopey cam that my wife will question. I need stock idle with MORE power.

Thanks all.

[txarkitekt]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Carrotop79 &#064; Mar 21 2007, 10&#58;38 AM) [snapback]86872[/snapback]</div>

Okay. First of all I do not want a race truck. The 2001 Z06 cam sounds great and all but I need my low end torque for pulling my travel trailer. SO my question to you is....what cam do I want if towing is my main concern? Keep in mind that I do not mind spending money for new springs, rods and rockers, but not spending it would be nice&#33;&#33; Also keep in mind that I do not want a lopey cam that my wife will question. I need stock idle with MORE power.

Thanks all.
[/b]

You came to the right place. I was in the same spot as you and asked these guys the same questions. I received great education on cam specs and have finally chosen my own. I will try and help as much as I can...

First things first, since you want an LSA that is the same as stock (or as close to it as possible)--~116.

You will want to spec something like this: Comp 216/220 .525/.532 114LSA. And just some quick cam knowledge: the 216/220 is the intake and exhaust duration, the .525/.532 is the lift, the 114 is the Lobe Separation Angle (idle characteristics). Another one I found that is good for low end: The "ULTRA TORQUE" cam from Vinci: Specs:210/218 .551/.551@116LSA<---idles somewhat like stock.

A couple of helpful points: generally, the lower the lift, the more low-end torque, the higher the lift, the more mid- to high-end horsepower you&#39;ll see.

Since you want a low-end power cam, you may be able to get away using your stock converter or bump up to one around 2200.

You also may want to do the pushrods, springs, retainers, etc. as you mentioned before.

And then, of course, go ahead and have a Nelson tune done once the cam is installed&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;

I would highly recommend you do a BUNCH of cam research so that you don&#39;t put in a cam that you don&#39;t like---then have to go back and do it a second time...sounds kinda like some one from NY that hangs out with this guy named Guido...

[DamnYankee]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(txarkitekt &#064; Mar 21 2007, 10&#58;59 AM) [snapback]86874[/snapback]</div>

Since you want a low-end power cam, you may be able to get away using your stock converter or bump up to one around 2200.

You also may want to do the pushrods, springs, retainers, etc. as you mentioned before.

And then, of course, go ahead and have a Nelson tune done once the cam is installed&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;

I would highly recommend you do a BUNCH of cam research so that you don&#39;t put in a cam that you don&#39;t like---then have to go back and do it a second time...sounds kinda like some one from NY that hangs out with this guy named Guido...
[/b]

If you&#39;re towing, the converter isn&#39;t really an issue - you can keep your stocker especially with a small cam. If doing the cam, you should definitely go with new springs (likely Comp 918&#39;s) and hardened pushrods. Retainers are arguable. I&#39;ve got my stockers and I don&#39;t exactly Sunday drive my truck and they&#39;re fine (now watch, they&#39;ll bust on the way home). txark....whatever (lol your name is too long, what&#39;s it mean anyway??? ) was right about the tune - get the cam and get a tune from Nelson Performance. He can custom tune it to optimize it for towing.

And for the record, I liked the first cam, it just doesn&#39;t work as well with headers. Don&#39;t make me call Guido.

[txarkitekt]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DamnYankee &#064; Mar 21 2007, 12&#58;22 PM) [snapback]86889[/snapback]</div>

txark....whatever (lol your name is too long, what&#39;s it mean anyway??? )
[/b]

Ok, ok... Guys--for the record, I am a 26 year-old Architect who works in Downtown Funky Town (Fort Worth for all you out-of-the-loop people out there). It is just a different and eccentric way to spell it. I would use a screen name that has some kind of correlation to my truck&#39;s nature, but I started using this screen name in &#39;03 after I graduated from 6 F-ING YEARS in Architecture school at UTA--and was kind of proud of my accomplishment, so I used it. I am not trying to "Out-Whataburger" anybody...just using it as a screen name. So there you have it gentlemen. I hope this is all starting to make sense...

Tyler Mannie AIAS, LEED, TAS

Ok, now back to "cam" talk...

[91_bowtie]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(txarkitekt &#064; Mar 21 2007, 02&#58;56 PM) [snapback]86912[/snapback]</div>

Ok, ok... Guys--for the record, I am a 26 year-old Architect who works in Downtown Funky Town (Fort Worth for all you out-of-the-loop people out there). It is just a different and eccentric way to spell it. I would use a screen name that has some kind of correlation to my truck&#39;s nature, but I started using this screen name in &#39;03 after I graduated from 6 F-ING YEARS in Architecture school at UTA--and was kind of proud of my accomplishment, so I used it. I am not trying to "Out-Whataburger" anybody...just using it as a screen name. So there you have it gentlemen. I hope this is all starting to make sense...

Tyler Mannie AIAS, LEED, TAS

Ok, now back to "cam" talk...
[/b]

I don&#39;t blame you for being proud of it. I graduated from the LA program at Kansas State in 03. If only people understood how difficult these programs really are.

[txarkitekt]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(91_bowtie &#064; Mar 22 2007, 01&#58;38 PM) [snapback]87021[/snapback]</div>

I don&#39;t blame you for being proud of it. I graduated from the LA program at Kansas State in 03.
[/b]

LA? Cool. I was having a hard time deciding if I was going to do the LA route or just do Arch. I had a pretty successful lawn mowing/landscape/irrigation business when I was in high school. I ended up getting a soccer scholarship right out of high school to go play at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, TX---forcing me to sell most of my business of to local Landscape companies in the Arlington/Ft. Worth area. After I did the whole Div.1 soccer thing for 2 years, I transferred back to UTA Architecture---and I had kept a few long term customers to myself so I&#39;d have extra &#036;&#036;&#036; on the side while I was still in school back in Arlington. Even though I am no longer active in Landscape, I am still very intersted in it...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(91_bowtie &#064; Mar 22 2007, 01&#58;38 PM) [snapback]87021[/snapback]</div>

If only people understood how difficult these programs really are.
[/b]

Yes, I do agree&#33; I spent 78 hrs. a day up at studio. I had my fair share of sleepless nights--sometimes 2-3 in a row---all in order to get certain projects done&#33; But now that everything is said and done, I wouldn&#39;t trade it for the world...

Sorry for the off-topic post... I will try and keep them to a minimum...

[Carrotop79]

So where does one find this Vinci Cam?

Nevermind I found it by searching Ultra Torque on Google. It didn&#39;t recognize Vinci. Thanks again.

[txarkitekt]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Carrotop79 &#064; Mar 21 2007, 09&#58;17 PM) [snapback]86955[/snapback]</div>

So where does one find this Vinci Cam?

Nevermind I found it by searching Ultra Torque on Google. It didn&#39;t recognize Vinci. Thanks again.
[/b]

Here&#39;s a link if you still have questions. The "Ultra Torque" is the 080. You may be able to have it custom ground to accomodate the smooth idle for what you are wanting. It also does not require a tune, but I would highly recommend a Nelson tune once you get your mods installed. I am sure you will be impressed what gains you feel after the tune.

[Carrotop79]

So the cam is around &#036;400. Do I go with the cam or the rockers from SLP for &#036;600? Which one produces more power?

[txarkitekt]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Carrotop79 &#064; Mar 22 2007, 07&#58;20 PM) [snapback]87053[/snapback]</div>

So the cam is around &#036;400. Do I go with the cam or the rockers from SLP for &#036;600? Which one produces more power?
[/b]

Definitely go with the cam&#33;

Well, the only reason why SLP can claim a hp increase is the fact that they are 1.85 rockers. They have a slightly (.15) higher ratio, resulting in the motor breathing better. But let me ask you this: Is 12 hp worth &#036;625?

Some people only want a mild cam--which does not require them to replace pushrods, springs, retainers, rockers, etc. But depending on what cam you do, you need to replace your pushrods, springs, and retainers. There are a lot of factors to consider: mileage of motor, future mods--i.e.N/A or F.I., your own wants/desires from the motor, driveline strength, etc. Many websites offer spring and retainer packages--and some discount items further if you buy everything from them. So check out many different websites to get the best deal on cam accessory packages.

If you have a heavy SUV with a beefed up motor who pulls trailers with a stock 4L60E, you are begging for that thing to blow up. Well, let me rephrase that: It WILL blow up. You fall into the category as the rest of us: We catch the performance bug, modify our motors, then shove the gas pedal through the floorboard. Once you do this cam, your right foot will be stuck in it a lot. And the stock 4L60E can&#39;t handle it---especially once you start putting weight behind it. What gears do you have? Are they appropriate for towing?

If I were you, I would take that &#036;625 and put it into my tranny. That money will be worth wayyyyy more inside that tranny than in some rockers. If you are going to do a cam---and that will be the extent of your mods, contact Oregon Performance Transmission. Others recommended them to me--and since I have been in contact with them, I will in return recommend them to you. Call or email them and tell them what you have and what you want to do with your tranny. They know what they are doing&#33; You can also view their products on their Ebay store.

BUT if you plan on modding your motor more than just the cam, you will need to build your tranny. PM Danny (Sprayed99) and talk with him about having your 4L60E built. He has the contacts to have it done right for a decent price.