Cams and Drivability

[bluetorp]

Driveability wise, big cams tend to have problems with hunting for idle, hot/cold starting, low RPM surging, and idle run-on and coast-down. These can really be marginalized with a good tune with all but the biggest of cams, but you won't eliminate them entirely. When you have a big cam, you learn to "drive around" these issues by staying out of operating conditions in which they occur.

My LS1 was a big cam NA setup. My LS3 is FI. My LS3 has loads more power, and drives like stock. My LS1 definitely sounded cooler, and got a lot more attention. And was plenty fast, in it's own right.

It all depends on what you're after. If money is no object, do both!

[jcollins91106]

this is the jre 470, and is a rough idle blower cam...relatively big cam, but drives great, very little bucking at all!

[brantley847]

Originally Posted by Dr Jkel

Here is a clip of mine.



It is called a stage II cam and has great manners as far as drivability. Anytime you change something it will affect another thing. The more cam you have the less drivable it will be at lower rpms.

There is alot that goes into it, gearing etc....the only difference I can see in mine is that below 1800 rpms in 6th gear it MAY surge just a bit but then again who drives at 1800 rpms...LOL

the cut outs sound incredible... just did a cam as well, the only holding me back is the cut outs eventual failure. I have seen two cases where the motor was damage or completely torn off and the door was left in the open position. I cannot imagine driving with a cam with the door open.

[tkrupinski]

Originally Posted by clayton006

So I've been reading about topics on cams and so forth. I know down the road I'm probably going to do heads/cam/maggie (and probably forged bottom end and so forth). I've heard about people talk about large cams and drivability. I know your idle gets choppy with a low lsa (like 112 or something), but what makes the car more difficult to drive? Is the idle so choppy that is rattles your teeth? Sorry for the nub question, just trying to get a better idea of how aggresive I want the car to be in the future.

Maybe I need to let someone at IPS take me for a spin in a cammed or supercharged car to feel the power

I don't mind getting schooled in this topic...

I live in Marysville and you are more than welcome to stop and go for a ride. Maggie, 114lsa,230's/240's, 600 lift. LS3.

[jcollins91106]

I broke off a cutout motor, 40 bucks fr a new motor ad I'm good to go! I'm in NYC and only one pothole motor break issue

[NC-V]

Originally Posted by bluetorp

Driveability wise, big cams tend to have problems with hunting for idle, hot/cold starting, low RPM surging, and idle run-on and coast-down. These can really be marginalized with a good tune with all but the biggest of cams, but you won't eliminate them entirely. When you have a big cam, you learn to "drive around" these issues by staying out of operating conditions in which they occur.

My LS1 was a big cam NA setup. My LS3 is FI. My LS3 has loads more power, and drives like stock. My LS1 definitely sounded cooler, and got a lot more attention. And was plenty fast, in it's own right.

It all depends on what you're after. If money is no object, do both!

^what he said.
Currently we are running a fairly rough cam in our LSx 454 test Camaro with 38* overlap on a 108 LSA. A lot of the bad manners can be tuned out, but no matter what with a large cam there will be some driveability differences. As long as you are willing to make some changes in driving style and have a decent tuner, you will be happy! Automatics will make it much less noticeable.

[honeybucket99]

only real issues I have found that irks was getting into a parking space as coasting in neutral is my preferred method when travelling parking lot lanes. The bucking/surging below 1800 was tuned out by John Lee--he said he removed a little timing and it is, now, golden.

Since everybody is posting vids, here is mine



love my lope

[brantley847]

I got spec-ed out at 224/236 .114... any body have something similar?

I am curious how the drive ability is with this cam on an auto with a stall. I have been told it is a mildly aggressive cam for street. I cannot seem to find anything as far as videos or other users who can attest to drive ability

OP, sorry I hijacked. I guess I should just relax, I will know soon enough!

Originally Posted by jcollins91106

I broke off a cutout motor, 40 bucks fr a new motor ad I'm good to go! I'm in NYC and only one pothole motor break issue

How was it driving around town with the motor off and the cut out open lol?

[JamesNoBrakes]

Originally Posted by Dr Jkel

There is alot that goes into it, gearing etc....the only difference I can see in mine is that below 1800 rpms in 6th gear it MAY surge just a bit but then again who drives at 1800 rpms...LOL

Um, unless you are accelerating, why wouldn't you drive at 1800rpms and 70-whatever mph?

[jcollins91106]

How was it driving around town with the motor off and the cut out open lol?[/QUOTE]
needless to say the neighbors now hate me!...it got to the point where I put a small ball pin hammer in the car to tap the shutout closed at 430 in the morning when I would leave for work, lol.

[Lethal Racing]

Originally Posted by brantley847

I got spec-ed out at 224/236 .114... any body have something similar?

I am curious how the drive ability is with this cam on an auto with a stall. I have been told it is a mildly aggressive cam for street. I cannot seem to find anything as far as videos or other users who can attest to drive ability

OP, sorry I hijacked. I guess I should just relax, I will know soon enough!





How was it driving around town with the motor off and the cut out open lol?

Close to the same cam I have in my personal car. Drives great. I had it in before the converter and its a good cam to have with a charger. I like it with my yank 3400 too.

Shawn

[Lethal Racing]

I am about to put our Night Fury Cam in it!!! That should be loads of fun.

Shawn

[Dr Jkel]

Originally Posted by Wakemaker89

wow the change in sound from the cutoffs is fantastic!

Thanks

Originally Posted by ssmike

Dr Jkel, that sounds great! Especially with the cut outs open!

I absolutely love my cutouts.

Originally Posted by brantley847

the cut outs sound incredible... just did a cam as well, the only holding me back is the cut outs eventual failure. I have seen two cases where the motor was damage or completely torn off and the door was left in the open position. I cannot imagine driving with a cam with the door open.

I completely understand your point on the cutouts....Here is the way I kinda look at it...if I worried about things breaking I would never buy anything.With that being said...mine actually broke, I think I fried the motor, so one worked and the other was about halfway open...I simply pushed it shut once it was cool.

Then DMH replaced it free of charge....So No problem.

Originally Posted by JamesNoBrakes

Um, unless you are accelerating, why wouldn't you drive at 1800rpms and 70-whatever mph?

Well the great folks in the state of Alabama kinda changed the spped limit to 65 on most Interstates and 55 in some areas on the interstate.....Mainly around 1800 rpms at around 65 to 70......or when you come up behind someone and try to coast ( draft, LOL ) you MAY get a little surging and I mean MAY, not always.

[brantley847]

Just finished my 224/236 114 - LS3 conversion.. I believe would be classified as a larger stage II. Put 436 to the wheels with basic bolt ons the first run, should get it up around 440-445 here in a sec...

I cannot speak for the M6, I did an auto with a stall. These cars are absolutely drivable with a cam. I drove mine last night with a baseline tune just to get it to the dyno this morning and even then I could handle it fine (coming from a guy who never drove a cammed car). There absolutely is a bit of shake at red lights, but it almost feels like someone sitting on your car on both sides, just a mild shake side to side... I imagine with this size cam with a manual you may have a lil bit of surging forward... but the stall took care of that for me. Once the car is moving, it runs beautifully. No surging, bucking, no issues in parking lots.. once you give it gas, it is like the same car with better power and an awesome lope.... again, can only speak for the auto.