Cam Decisions...

[VR Baron]

I have a custom JDP stage one cam similar to your comp choice. 224/230, 115+4 lsa snd 600 lift. It has a slight lope to it and drivability is good, can have slight off idle bog, but that’s more clutch driver error. Idles about 700, peak tq is 4500, peak hp is 6200, car redlines at 7200. In addition I did entire valvetrain, car has had no issues for 3.5 years and car is autocrossed all year and hits limiter on occasion. Power is like stock to 2400 then starts to increase, peak tq increase is 17, peak to peak hp gain is 28. That’s cam only, with tune the total ho gain is 40.
For longevity use a top synthetic oil, Maxima or Joe Gibbs.

[FasNuf]

Originally Posted by Marknbacon

Interesting write up. I live a solid 30 minutes from my work place, and this will have to remain my daily driver so I’m definitely concerned about drivability. That being said, I don’t mind a little bit of struggle as *most* of the driving is primary road or highway, and I don’t see much traffic in the morning (not very busy around 5 am where I am.)

As for headers I’ve been pretty dead-set on the kook’s but I try to stay pretty open minded about it. They aren’t cheap but I’ll want to keep cats on them so I don’t get hassled about it too much if I get pulled over for any reason. I’m pretty sure most of the main manufacturers have a catted option so i may be looking more into it.

I also decided that I will be changing the lifters after a recommendation from a couple of mechanic friends, which with new head studs, gaskets, trays and the lifters themselves I am effectively doubling the cost of this aspect of the build, but that is a small price to pay for reliability insurance. Since I don’t plan on running past 6700 rpm I’ll be using the GM lifters with part number 12499225, which it’s my understanding these are essentially stock, which I feel will be adequate.

If anyone has others they would recommend that are similarly priced please speak up. I can get a set of these for around $200, and I’ll be ordering parts on Friday the 28th.

I’ll probably be installing around or just after Christmas time. I’m hoping to do headers at the same time as I’ll be pulling the headers off anyway when I pull the heads (might as well save myself some time and labor)

I am also pretty dead set on a trunnion upgrade. I considered the comp cam ones but I read quite a bit about failures after only 15-20k miles, while the CHE’s seem to last quite a while, plus no needles to potentially get loose and float around the motor. Of course I am open to advice on this as well so if you have had other experiences with either product please let me know. I’ve also looked at the BTR v2 trunnion upgrade as well. Has anyone used them and had negative or positive experiences with those?

Also, I posted a new thread in the tuning forum here about what do I need to adjust for a cam swap and headers, so if anyone has any knowledge/experience in that please feel free to share. I’ll try to grab the link to the thread and edit this post soon.

Thanks again all!

*edit* here’s link: https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=580779

I have almost 5000 miles without issue on the BTR V2 trunnions kit. The needles in the old style wasn’t the real problem, it was the end caps and the fact there was no positive retention to keep them in. High lift cam lobes exasperated the problem. I didn’t like the bushing style because there wasn’t an oil passage galley to oil them. They rely on oil splash so obviously will wear more because it’s harder to get oil in there. The BTR is just an improved OEM style which is more like the engineers designed. The needles have no where to go as long as the end washer and snap ring stay in place. Both the CHE and BTR, as well as others have the snap ring so that’s unlikely to fail.

https://youtu.be/PSFHAuCw9_s
My install video

[Roader]

Originally Posted by Marknbacon

Lol just out of curiosity how horrible are you talking?


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As of yesterday, 8.3mpg. Does include me running e85

[Marknbacon]

Originally Posted by FasNuf

I have almost 5000 miles without issue on the BTR V2 trunnions kit. The needles in the old style wasn’t the real problem, it was the end caps and the fact there was no positive retention to keep them in. High lift cam lobes exasperated the problem. I didn’t like the bushing style because there wasn’t an oil passage galley to oil them. They rely on oil splash so obviously will wear more because it’s harder to get oil in there. The BTR is just an improved OEM style which is more like the engineers designed. The needles have no where to go as long as the end washer and snap ring stay in place. Both the CHE and BTR, as well as others have the snap ring so that’s unlikely to fail.

https://youtu.be/PSFHAuCw9_s
My install video

Awesome to hear.

I ended up going with the BTR V2’s despite the popularity of the CHE’s. They had solid reviews and I just can’t get past the whole bushing thing. They’re probably great and either would be more than sufficient for me but ultimately I went with the bearings.

I ended up going with the SS2 cam from GPI with a 8620 core.

I wasn’t able to order the lifters, head gaskets and stud kits yet however. I’ll get those in the coming months. Lifter wise, I’ve heard Johnson or morels are the way to go, but there is a huge price difference. Are the Johnson lifters that much better?


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