cam question?

[smokinss]

Ok so here is the deal. My buddy is giving me his cam out of his motor. Now keep in mind this is a mild cam for his setup and was DD it. Now I know in my car its going to be more aggressive but that doesnt bother me.

His cam which cam out of a 408. 236/240 600/600 on a 113 plus 4. Now my plan is to try to get a set of patriot 5.3 heads and bump the compression up to 10.75 or 11.0. And if I cant get the heads right away I will swap in a set of his low milage dual gold valvesprings good for 660 lift.

So do you guys think this thing will work out all right and what should I expect. I do plan on getting a FAST setup eventually too.

The car now has a 224/224 563/563 112 with a ls6 intake and pacesetter longtubes and a 4.11 gear.

Maybe Don, you can chime in on this. I know bigger isnt always better, but this might be the kick my motor needs.

[Batman]

I think the 224 is a better choice for you. A set of patriot 5.3's are good but not really up to pushing a cam that big. They would however make a nice upgrade to the 224 cam you are running now. The power band on that bigger cam is going to be way up in the RPM range, that is a cam more fitted for a big displacement engine, I'm guessing he has a 408 or something of that nature?

[smokinss]

yeah he has the 408.

[My84Z]

get the heads and get a cam to match them not a cam that fits a 408. with 5.3 heads a low to mis 230's cam would be great

[Batman]

even the 224 cam will wake up a bit with heads....

[ILuvPizzaTimes10]

i honestly dont see that cam having that Huge of an RPM range. it will also be depending on what hes got for a top end. yes ported 5.3 heads make power. but they do have there limitations. i say the car will peak around 65-6700 Kinda high on a stock bottom, end maybe. but that cam will make great mid range and torque. id say go with it. a 236 cam is hardly huge.

[Batman]

236 is about as high as I would be willing to go on the intake side of a 346 and it is going to be peaky, I mean the Trex was only 6 degrees more (if memory serves) on the intake and it didn't start making power until 4500-5000RPM so I say you will have nothing until well over 3500RPM with that cam and the 5.3 heads are better built for less revs then that. That is def designed for bigger engines and IMO would be a waste on a small bore 346. It would make alot of HP but it is gonna be way up in the RPM range. I also really don't see you gaining a huge amount with a low 23X cam over your 224 cam, you'll gain some up top but it is going to start pushing up the power band also. For a street engine the 224/224 cam is a tough one to beat. So if you want a street demon I'd stick with the 224 and maybe go with the 5.3 heads, if the 1/4 mile is more important then go to a 230-232 and think about TFS or AFR heads. Only downside to the 224 cam is you really want a bit more exhaust duration on spray.

[smokinss]

Yeah Ill probably end up putting it in and see what happens. Wont be for awhile though.

[Slowhawk]

I think your gay.

I told you there were better Cams out there when you put in your used 224. That Cam isn't it and it probly won't even fit without cutting the pistons.

[Slowhawk]

And definitely DO NOT use Patriot heads. Those heads are only good as a paperweight.

[smokinss]

That was one of my concerns, considering his pistions have valve reliefs already in them.

The patriot heads are that bad? Seems like people tend to make decent power with them or the PRC versions too.

Not to mention def cant spend 2400 on a set of heads. Might be able score a set of used TFS or AFRs but even then there near 2000 most of the time.

[Batman]

The 5.3's are still limited by their casting, you get most of the power from the compression bump. You would probably get almost as much from a stock LS6 casting for 1/2 the price

[Slowhawk]

5.3's are not limited by the casting. They can be ported the same as the other heads.

Patriot heads are a POS.The castings are GM blemish,alot of them leak coolant.Alot make 0 hp,some make 20-30hp. crap shoot.

We all know you need the shortblock freshened up.Doing more work/$$ on the topend makes little sence till the lowerend is taken care of.

I would say. Rebuilt shortblock at minimum, TSP 5.3L heads,high 220 cam.

Or keep it the way it is and enjoy it.

[smokinss]

Point well taken Don.

Just hate to pass up a free cam/valvesprings, but if will only hurt me and wont work with heads and a FAST setup then I probably wont even bother then.

[Slowhawk]

Take the free parts. Sell the cam and your existing cam. I will spec you a Cam that will work with the springs. Leave the stock heads/intake.

[smokinss]

Doesnt sound like a bad idea. He just had his 2nd child yesterday, so once we get his car back up and going, I will talk to him about maybe just getting the valvesprings from his because he already told me he will let me have the cam only if I use it. But I can still sell my 224 and have you spec me one out.

What about the tune in my car? My buddie said he can pull it for me and e-mail it to you so you could tweak it if need be and just email it back to him.

[Slowhawk]

If he has EFI live we can go back/forth and tune it in.

I will be in Sarasota in Febuary.

[smokinss]

He has Hp tuners unfortunatly, but if your in Sarasota in February then that gives me time to get something going and maybe we can hook up or something then.

I might be starting to work my father-in-law making some good money, but our first job is up in Baltimore and it starts Wednesday. I will be in touch with ya.