Thoughts on Boosting a NA Only Cam - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

VanquisherSS · 08-23-2012, 03:43 PM

Just as the title says, anyone boost a NA only cam? Looking to push low boost maybe 5-7lbs. Please don't suggest any blower cams just want to know if someone has done this. Thanks all.

Higgs Boson · 08-23-2012, 03:58 PM

well what cam? a stock cam is not a "blower cam" but it can be used.... it's all about the specs.....

u ru wondering if someone "has done this." all the time......

Pro Stock John · 08-23-2012, 04:09 PM

You can easily do this. If you do some searching you can find articles by Richard Holdener writing mostly for Hot Rod where he's tested an NA combo and then added a blower or a turbo. I personally think it's no big deal for a blower, but for a turbo the LSA might give up some power.

SC2150 · 08-23-2012, 06:05 PM

We build budget 5.3 motors with take out C5 Z06 cams and turbo 12-18# boost...everything else bone stock except fuel inj, fuel pump, and use a LS6 IM and see 600-800 whp.

VanquisherSS · 08-23-2012, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Higgs Boson

well what cam? a stock cam is not a "blower cam" but it can be used.... it's all about the specs.....

u ru wondering if someone "has done this." all the time......

No cam in particular only ones that are na only and not classified as a blower cam like g6x3

Higgs Boson · 08-23-2012, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VanquisherSS

No cam in particular only ones that are na only and not classified as a blower cam like g6x3

some you can but the more overlap you have the less ideal it will be.

any cam will work. some cams will work much much better than others.

a cam with positive overlap will still make power but you will be blowing a lot of combustible mixture and boost right out the open exhaust valve and not meet the potential of your combination.

as Chris Rock once said, you can drive with your feet if you want to, that don't make it a good f'n idea.....

Smoky10 · 08-23-2012, 09:15 PM

How would a 231/236 TSP cam work? Would it cause problems?

Higgs Boson · 08-23-2012, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smoky10

How would a 231/236 TSP cam work? Would it cause problems?

what lsa? you will need a lsa of 117 to avoid positive overlap. then you may run into piston to valve clearance issues. you can probably run that on a 114 and be ok. get down into the 110 and lower range and I would recommend against it. it's all a grey as when it comes to cams. it's gradual shifts not a hard line of right or wrong.

Smoky10 · 08-23-2012, 09:29 PM

I am running a 112 LSA, and I am wanting to S/C my car...but was thinking that I would have to change out my cam. But ya'll are saying that it wouldn't hurt to run my particular cam?

Higgs Boson · 08-23-2012, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smoky10

I am running a 112 LSA, and I am wanting to S/C my car...but was thinking that I would have to change out my cam. But ya'll are saying that it wouldn't hurt to run my particular cam?

you can do it but it won't be optimal. it's not that big of a deal. blower cams are for when you have a blower or know for sure you are getting one. if you have a smallish cam and then later decide you want a blower, it's not the end of the world.

overlap bleeds off cylinder pressure and when you absolutely need to have more dynamic compression, you carefully match your camshaft to your purposes. buying a named cam is ballpark. true custom cams don't have names. that cam is just the one that is ideal for your exact combination.

dare I say the difference between a custom tune and a handheld tune in a can (can of tune-a?), sort of the same conceptual difference.

Smoky10 · 08-23-2012, 09:54 PM

Ok, so you are saying the cam will run...but if wouldn't be the best cam to use. But that if I had a good tuner they may be able to play with it a bit?

Higgs Boson · 08-23-2012, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smoky10

Ok, so you are saying the cam will run...but if wouldn't be the best cam to use. But that if I had a good tuner they may be able to play with it a bit?

oh yeah it will run for sure. the only issue is it might not make as much power as a proper cam. how much power difference is all theory until a cam swap takes place and is retuned and dynod. proven theory, mind you.

Pro Stock John · 08-23-2012, 10:15 PM

If I had a 231/236//112 TSP cam I would leave it in if I was doing a blower.

I think the overlap will help keep the power band down at the expense of a little peak power.

VanquisherSS · 08-23-2012, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pro Stock John

If I had a 231/236//112 TSP cam I would leave it in if I was doing a blower.

I think the overlap will help keep the power band down at the expense of a little peak power.

Agreed.

08-23-2012, 03:43 PM	#1
VanquisherSS Hasbin of Stock Bottom HP Drives: CTS-V Coupe, 04 TT Viper Join Date: May 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 2,561 View My Garage	Thoughts on Boosting a NA Only Cam Just as the title says, anyone boost a NA only cam? Looking to push low boost maybe 5-7lbs. Please don't suggest any blower cams just want to know if someone has done this. Thanks all.

08-23-2012, 04:09 PM	#3
Pro Stock John Writer Drives: 2010 SS / 1967 Camaro Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 7,216	You can easily do this. If you do some searching you can find articles by Richard Holdener writing mostly for Hot Rod where he's tested an NA combo and then added a blower or a turbo. I personally think it's no big deal for a blower, but for a turbo the LSA might give up some power. __________________ PROJECT HEAVY CHEVY Camaro Now: Mods for the Masses Part I \| Part II 13.15@106 1.95 \| 100% Stock 12.37@112 1.85 \| + Kooks Headers/Cats + 20" 555R + CAI + BW TB + UDP + Tune 12.06@113 1.70 \| + CD 3200 + 18" NT05R + RCR Intake + NE OTR + GPI Tune 11.84@115 1.59 \| + 3.91s + Race Star 17x7 Fronts 10.90@125 1.47 \| + GPI VVT Cam + BW Ported Heads + CD 3800 Last edited by Pro Stock John; 08-26-2012 at 07:46 PM.

08-23-2012, 10:15 PM	#13
Pro Stock John Writer Drives: 2010 SS / 1967 Camaro Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 7,216	If I had a 231/236//112 TSP cam I would leave it in if I was doing a blower. I think the overlap will help keep the power band down at the expense of a little peak power. __________________ PROJECT HEAVY CHEVY Camaro Now: Mods for the Masses Part I \| Part II 13.15@106 1.95 \| 100% Stock 12.37@112 1.85 \| + Kooks Headers/Cats + 20" 555R + CAI + BW TB + UDP + Tune 12.06@113 1.70 \| + CD 3200 + 18" NT05R + RCR Intake + NE OTR + GPI Tune 11.84@115 1.59 \| + 3.91s + Race Star 17x7 Fronts 10.90@125 1.47 \| + GPI VVT Cam + BW Ported Heads + CD 3800

08-23-2012, 03:58 PM	#2
Higgs Boson Perpetual Order Drives: indeed Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Texas Hill Country Posts: 1,277	well what cam? a stock cam is not a "blower cam" but it can be used.... it's all about the specs..... u ru wondering if someone "has done this." all the time......

08-23-2012, 06:05 PM	#4
SC2150 Account Suspended Drives: 2012 Camaro RS, RX supercharged Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 6,063	We build budget 5.3 motors with take out C5 Z06 cams and turbo 12-18# boost...everything else bone stock except fuel inj, fuel pump, and use a LS6 IM and see 600-800 whp.

08-23-2012, 09:15 PM	#7
Smoky10 Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Navarre, FL Posts: 745	How would a 231/236 TSP cam work? Would it cause problems?

08-23-2012, 09:29 PM	#9
Smoky10 Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Navarre, FL Posts: 745	I am running a 112 LSA, and I am wanting to S/C my car...but was thinking that I would have to change out my cam. But ya'll are saying that it wouldn't hurt to run my particular cam?

08-23-2012, 09:54 PM	#11
Smoky10 Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Navarre, FL Posts: 745	Ok, so you are saying the cam will run...but if wouldn't be the best cam to use. But that if I had a good tuner they may be able to play with it a bit?