What is considered a big cam?

When someone refers to a "big cam," they mean it has longer duration, not higher Lift. Manufacturers often list 2 different duration values: Advertised Duration is the degrees of crankshaft rotation that the lifter is raised more than a predetermined amount. This predetermined amount varies between manufacturers.

What is considered a mild cam?

An RV or towing camshaft, which is considered a mild performance or an economy cam, will often have a narrower LSA, between 112 and 114 degrees. Hot street camshafts usually have 110- to 112-degree LSA, while high performance and racing camshafts will often run between 105 and 108 degrees.

What is a good cam duration?

Performance cams typically have durations ranging from 220 up to 280 degrees or more. The longer the duration, the rougher the idle and the higher the cam's power range on the rpm scale. A cam with a duration of 240 degrees of higher will typically produce the most power from 3,500 to 7,000 rpm.

What makes a cam aggressive?

In other words 'intensity' described how quickly the cam opened and closed from lower lift points to his standard lift point of 0.050”; the smaller the intensity, the more aggressive the opening and closing.

What's an aggressive cam?

In summary, an aggressive cam is one with large acceleration (both positive and negative), jerk and ramp velocity. An aggressive cam will open and close quickly, i.e. will have low Intensity.

Speed Secrets: Is A Bigger Cam Always Better?

What is considered a Stage 2 cam?

A Stage 2 performance upgrade is a cam change upgrade. In any engine, the cam drives the valves and the valves open to allow air in for combustion. The kits for improved lift, duration and timing focus on either torque or power upgrades. The Stage 2 upgrade delivers up to 30% more horsepower and 10% more torque.

What makes a cam sound choppy?

Generally its because the aftermarket camshaft (s) are lobed to change the power band of the engine. Valves may stay open longer, close quicker than the stock cam was designed for. This is why idle may sound “choppier" and run rough at idle.

What does an oversized cam do?

A bigger cam will open the intake valve wider, allowing more fuel and air into the cylinder. The larger the cam, the more fuel that is let in.

What does Stage 3 cam mean?

The Stage 3 LS1 camshaft is the largest camshaft that we recommend with the stock torque converter. This Cam Motion hydraulic roller cam delivers mild performance idle, excellent low end torque, and extended RPM capabilities over the stock camshaft.

How much HP does a mild cam add?

A quality camshaft can increase your car's horsepower by 10 to 20 times, depending on the camshaft you opt for.

Can a cam be too big?

Yes, a cam can be too big, especially if the rest of the engine isn't designed to take advantage of the cam design. Generally when people talk "big" cams, they are talking about higher revving cams.

How do I know if my cam is advanced?

There is a very easy way to tell if the camshaft has been advanced by the cam company when the cam was machined. Look at the cam timing card and compare the lobe separation angle (LSA) with the intake centerline number. If the numbers are the same, then the camshaft has not been advanced.

How important is degreeing a cam?

Pit Stop with Marlan Davis: Degreeing a custom cam ensures its maximum performance, helps prevent piston-to-valve contact, and protects against assembly error.

How much play should a cam have?

Generally, the recommended amount of end play is between 0.003 in. and 0.010 in. Always follow the camshaft manufacturer's instructions when measuring and adjusting.

What is a full cam?

The Full Carbon Accounting Model is a calculation tool for modelling Australia's greenhouse gas emissions from the land sector. FullCAM is used in Australia's National Greenhouse Gas Accounts for the land use, land use change and forestry sectors.

What are Stage 3 cam specs?

Specs: 231/244 .630"/.615" 112.5+2.5

The BTR Stage 3 N/A Camshaft (LS1/LS2/LS6) is the go to for people desiring an aggresive idle matched with a powerband that will stretch into the 450+ whp range around 6000 RPM when paired with quality supporting modifications.

What does Stage 4 cam do?

The Stage 4 grind is a popular choice for those looking to delete DOD/AFM, or just add some pep to your trucks step. With great power gains and driving characteristics, this camshaft works well with 2800-3200 stall torque converters. NO SPRINGS REQUIRED!

How much HP does a Stage 4 cam have?

This camshaft is designed for all-out power and shows gains over the stock camshaft beginning at 3,100 RPM. The cam will pull really hard from 4,500 RPM up to the 6,600 RPM HP peak.

Is there a stage 5 cam?

Developed in-house using BTR designed lobes, the new Stage 5 cam is the latest offering in the LS3 line up which has culminated from extensive in-house Spintron testing, coupled with thorough vetting on our Superflow Engine Dynamometer. This cam is not for the weak at heart.

How much HP does a Cammed 5.3 make?

Run with the stock cam, the mildy modified (TBSS intake, headers and 92-mm TB) 5.3L produced 359 hp at 5,300 rpm and 384 lb-ft of torque at 4,200 rpm. After installation of the COMP 54-454-11 cam, the peak numbers jumped to 467 hp at 6,600 rpm and 418 lb-ft of torque at 4,900 rpm. The cam swap was worth 108 hp!

Does a bigger cam need more timing?

The bigger the camshaft, the more it really needs part-throttle timing at low engine speeds.

Is a 228 cam big?

The 228R camshaft is large enough that we recommend a larger than stock stall converter in automatic cars. Tuning will also be required in both automatic & manual applications.

Does cam affect rpm?

Generally, cams with smaller duration numbers make peak horsepower at lower rpm. These cams are often used for stock replacement, daily driver, and towing applications. As you increase the duration, you increase the peak power the engine can make. However, you also move the power curve higher in the rpm range.

Is there such a thing as a 3 4 race cam?

The original 3/4 race cams are the forerunners of today's street-performance grinds. The term likely originated in the '50s as the burgeoning hot-rod industry was modifying Ford Flatheads to drag race on airport runways and attempt top-speed runs on dry lake beds.