It scares me people are picking camshafts based on sound not performance - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Chris1SS1LE · 03-19-2015, 10:32 PM

I keep reading on various boards and listening to people in person at car events and they are basing there camshaft decisions based on sound. This is nuts, yes it sounds like a 1980's battle of the bands at idle, but your stock clutch or converter, tall gears, and scarier people who use stock valve springs

. Give me a long LSA to make the 376 act more like 396, high tension beehives to zap that valve back asap so the piston doesn't hit the valve if I miss a gear, and a sleeper stealth idle that sounds stock, but will leave jaws hanging. Rather then a a choppy idle, with a powerband range like a Honda (4500-6000), and a broken set of valve springs with some piston damage.

derklug · 03-19-2015, 10:40 PM

To each his own, there are numerous exhaust systems that all give the same performance with sound from grumble to roar. Now, putting in a cam without the proper supporting hardware is ridiculous. My car has a completely fake choppy idle generated by my choice of ignition key, it's pure hokum, but I like it.

DsCamaro1 · 03-19-2015, 11:03 PM

My knowledge of this subject is limited. My understanding is a Cam shaft is to allow the drive shaft to turn more freely and hence give more power to the motor. How would you choose the best Cam for my car? And whats the difference between sizes of cams?

patternpilot · 03-19-2015, 11:09 PM

There is a demographic out there that is all show and no go. To me having a car you can stick a key into and fake that cam sound is just being a poser. Cams are meant for performance, not social testosterone.

BubbaSS · 03-19-2015, 11:40 PM

Not every person is a gear head and the sound is usually what draws people into the insanity. They will learn a lot about the true value of a cam, once they have one.

2013 ZL1 #7860 · 03-20-2015, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DsCamaro1

My knowledge of this subject is limited. My understanding is a Cam shaft is to allow the drive shaft to turn more freely and hence give more power to the motor. How would you choose the best Cam for my car? And whats the difference between sizes of cams?

Dave@Sturgiscamarorally · 03-20-2015, 02:50 PM

Not everyone is a gear head and some just want the sound. Me personally I want the best of both. Sound great and work well with my combination. And future combination.

fif_gen_powa · 03-20-2015, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DsCamaro1

My knowledge of this subject is limited. My understanding is a Cam shaft is to allow the drive shaft to turn more freely and hence give more power to the motor. How would you choose the best Cam for my car? And whats the difference between sizes of cams?

Post of the year, thank you for the laugh

Angrybird 12 · 03-20-2015, 03:11 PM

Funny cam story, a friend of mine took the advice of a guy that proclaimed himself an expert in engine building and installed a high lift cam in his small block chevy... The outcome was not pretty, bent pushrods and valves were the result...
Some people, believe it or not, don't know what the hell they are talking about. With the Internet it makes it even worse, many people want you to believe they are experts on here but really don't know any more than that guy did.

Just beware who you take advice from...

RockerBox · 03-20-2015, 04:05 PM

I chose for both. There's no harm in choosing a nice clean sounding cam. Some sound like garbage.

Bretts · 03-20-2015, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derklug

To each his own, there are numerous exhaust systems that all give the same performance with sound from grumble to roar. Now, putting in a cam without the proper supporting hardware is ridiculous. My car has a completely fake choppy idle generated by my choice of ignition key, it's pure hokum, but I like it.

so the second key is a sound effect?

just · 03-20-2015, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DsCamaro1

My knowledge of this subject is limited. My understanding is a Cam shaft is to allow the drive shaft to turn more freely and hence give more power to the motor. How would you choose the best Cam for my car? And whats the difference between sizes of cams?

I bet you heard that from a "reputable" tuner or member on here lmao

LOBBS · 03-20-2015, 04:31 PM

So glad that I'm not the only one that doesn't understand why people buy the cams they do. The other thing that I've been wondering about since I got back into the hobby is when did all these projects get ridiculous quasi-badass nicknames?

whan · 03-20-2015, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DsCamaro1

My knowledge of this subject is limited. My understanding is a Cam shaft is to allow the drive shaft to turn more freely and hence give more power to the motor. How would you choose the best Cam for my car? And whats the difference between sizes of cams?

03-19-2015, 10:32 PM	#1
Chris1SS1LE Drives: 2014 Camaro Red Hot 1LE NPP Recaro Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Indiana Posts: 639	It scares me people are picking camshafts based on sound not performance I keep reading on various boards and listening to people in person at car events and they are basing there camshaft decisions based on sound. This is nuts, yes it sounds like a 1980's battle of the bands at idle, but your stock clutch or converter, tall gears, and scarier people who use stock valve springs . Give me a long LSA to make the 376 act more like 396, high tension beehives to zap that valve back asap so the piston doesn't hit the valve if I miss a gear, and a sleeper stealth idle that sounds stock, but will leave jaws hanging. Rather then a a choppy idle, with a powerband range like a Honda (4500-6000), and a broken set of valve springs with some piston damage.

03-19-2015, 10:40 PM	#2
derklug Drives: 12 Boss 302 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Grand Rapids, Mi Posts: 1,369	To each his own, there are numerous exhaust systems that all give the same performance with sound from grumble to roar. Now, putting in a cam without the proper supporting hardware is ridiculous. My car has a completely fake choppy idle generated by my choice of ignition key, it's pure hokum, but I like it. __________________ The biggest mistakes in life come when you know exactly what you are doing.

03-19-2015, 11:09 PM	#4
patternpilot Drives: 2012 2SS/RS Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Tri-Cities WA. Posts: 928 View My Garage	There is a demographic out there that is all show and no go. To me having a car you can stick a key into and fake that cam sound is just being a poser. Cams are meant for performance, not social testosterone. __________________ There's more to life than gas mileage LS3, Whipple, Custom Comp Cam, springs, pushrods, timing set, CAI intake, Apex cold air scoop, Doug Thorley TRI-Y headers, Billet Custom Products baffled Valve covers, Mighty Mouse Catch can, ADM FPCM, ZL1 fuel pump, MSD boost-a-pump, Hex Vent hood vents, ProSport gauges(fuel pressure, AFR, Boost), Corsa, 100 cell Cats. Jannetty remote tuned, Pfadt trailing arms, all parts user installed. No Dyno yet. Manual trans. 3.45 gears.

03-19-2015, 11:40 PM	#5
BubbaSS WHAT RED LIGHT?! Drives: 2011 Black Camaro 2SS/RS M6 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 1,115	Not every person is a gear head and the sound is usually what draws people into the insanity. They will learn a lot about the true value of a cam, once they have one. __________________ 2011 2SS/RS M6 BLACK - VARARAM NO TUNE INTAKE, MODDED AND PORTED TB, PORTED INTAKE MANIFOLD, VITESSE THROTTLE CONTROLLER, DOUG THORLEY LT'S, CATLESS, X-PIPE, 25" STAINLESS WORKS RETRO CHAMBERED MUFFLERS, CUSTOM 2.5" MANDREL BENT EXHAUST, RICHMOND 4.10 GEARS, CUSTOM CAM (231/242 @ 114LSA), MUSTANG DYNO TUNED BY TORQ, 20% CERAMIC TINTS, EIBACH PROKIT SPRINGS 1" DROP, HAWK PERFORMANCE CERAMIC BRAKES, NITTO INVO TIRES, HYDROCARBON TAIL LIGHT AND FOG LIGHT BEZELS BY EMBLEMPROS, METRA DASH KIT, JVC KW-AV71BT, PHOENIX GOLD iAMP GM1, PASSPORT QI45 - 450 RWHP 415 RWTQ

03-20-2015, 03:11 PM	#9
Angrybird 12 7 year Cancer Survivor! Drives: 17 Cruze RS, 07 G6 GT, 99 Astro Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 21,547	Funny cam story, a friend of mine took the advice of a guy that proclaimed himself an expert in engine building and installed a high lift cam in his small block chevy... The outcome was not pretty, bent pushrods and valves were the result... Some people, believe it or not, don't know what the hell they are talking about. With the Internet it makes it even worse, many people want you to believe they are experts on here but really don't know any more than that guy did. Just beware who you take advice from... __________________ Cancer's a bitch! Enjoy life while you can! LIVE, LOVE, DRIVE... The Bird is the word!

03-19-2015, 11:03 PM	#3
DsCamaro1 Drives: 2011 SIM 2SS RS L99 Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Chicago Posts: 279 View My Garage	My knowledge of this subject is limited. My understanding is a Cam shaft is to allow the drive shaft to turn more freely and hence give more power to the motor. How would you choose the best Cam for my car? And whats the difference between sizes of cams?

03-20-2015, 02:50 PM	#7
Dave@Sturgiscamarorally Drives: 2010 ABM 1SS Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Dakota Posts: 199	Not everyone is a gear head and some just want the sound. Me personally I want the best of both. Sound great and work well with my combination. And future combination. __________________ 2010 Aqua Blue 1SS KWC 3pc forged, Seibon hood, ZL front end, MGW, ARH full exhaust w/ Doug Thorley axle back, BTR4, Roto-fab, LSXR 102, NW 102, 3.91s

03-20-2015, 04:05 PM	#10
RockerBox Drives: 2010 Silverado. Stock height now Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Springfield Va Posts: 307	I chose for both. There's no harm in choosing a nice clean sounding cam. Some sound like garbage.

03-20-2015, 04:31 PM	#13
LOBBS Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Independence, MO Posts: 472 View My Garage	So glad that I'm not the only one that doesn't understand why people buy the cams they do. The other thing that I've been wondering about since I got back into the hobby is when did all these projects get ridiculous quasi-badass nicknames?