Cam selection

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

slowburb

all motor
Joined
Mar 26, 2011
Messages
1,632
Reaction score
676
Location
Louisiana
Yes, they can. We've been over this before. My red truck is a '97, Black Bear tuned it.

They just don't do in person tuning or scan cable tuning on them. Standard mail order tunes only.


****. I must have a memory block or something.
 

89GMCJOHN

I'm Awesome
Joined
Jun 16, 2017
Messages
426
Reaction score
444
Location
Clermont Fl
You could also use the GM 395 cam which will run on a stock tune, give you some cam sound and keep great low end torque for towing. Also works with the stock stall converter. Same cam used in the 350 ramjet.

Check valve spring pressures and if they check out your good. If not grab a set. Check pushrods and if good reuse. Same goes for the lifters. Grab a new timing cover and gear/chain set.

Not a whole lot involved with a basic cam only swap.


The 395 cam sounds like a stocker and idles with about 19 inches of vacuum and has great off idle torque .....I run one in my Camaro ,,,so if its sound you are after I wouldnt suggest the 395 at all ...my experience has been if you want slight sound you need at least a 260 degree duration cam FWIW .
 

big_mike

I'm Awesome
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
857
Reaction score
162
Location
Skiatook, Ok
The 395 cam sounds like a stocker and idles with about 19 inches of vacuum and has great off idle torque .....I run one in my Camaro ,,,so if its sound you are after I wouldnt suggest the 395 at all ...my experience has been if you want slight sound you need at least a 260 degree duration cam FWIW .

LSA has more effect on idle chop. I had a 224/224 .581/.581 114 cam in my 5.7L LS and it had a very noticeable idle. Exhaust will also effect the sound you hear. Stock exhaust can hide a cam sometimes where as with full aftermarket exhaust even a stock cam can sound healthier.

Words of wisdom I learned long ago though, never pick a cam for sound. Pick a cam for your desired performance and exhaust for the sound your after. The combo will perform much better with a properly picked cam.

I saw WAY too many LS guys buying the biggest cams advertised only to be disappointed. Alot goes into picking the right cam for those who build for specific results. Took me personally about 2yrs to pick my LS combo in my WS6. Sure I could have grabbed a advertised H/C combo from a vendor, but I needed something different.
 

89GMCJOHN

I'm Awesome
Joined
Jun 16, 2017
Messages
426
Reaction score
444
Location
Clermont Fl
LSA has more effect on idle chop. I had a 224/224 .581/.581 114 cam in my 5.7L LS and it had a very noticeable idle. Exhaust will also effect the sound you hear. Stock exhaust can hide a cam sometimes where as with full aftermarket exhaust even a stock cam can sound healthier.

Words of wisdom I learned long ago though, never pick a cam for sound. Pick a cam for your desired performance and exhaust for the sound your after. The combo will perform much better with a properly picked cam.

I saw WAY too many LS guys buying the biggest cams advertised only to be disappointed. Alot goes into picking the right cam for those who build for specific results. Took me personally about 2yrs to pick my LS combo in my WS6. Sure I could have grabbed a advertised H/C combo from a vendor, but I needed something different.

The LSA on the 395 cam is 109 and it purrs at idle -no chop whatsoever .... you can throw headers , mufflers ,pipe diameter at it and its not going to change a thing with that cam ...its simply just too mild a grind to have a performance sound - I know because I did it ....... I ran it with manifolds first and a turbo crossflow muffler ...later on I ran it with headers 2.5 " Y pipe and a dual chamber welded flowmaster crossflow due to some other changes I made on the car so while I was in there I changed it up just for the heck of it .... still mild sounding .....I agree what you say on cam selection a big lumpy cam equals usually a poor running motor on the street as most guys dont know what they are doing and they run like crap as the combos either wrong and they are setup improperly ...
 

big_mike

I'm Awesome
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
857
Reaction score
162
Location
Skiatook, Ok
Hmmm, weird cause the clips I have watched of it there was a very noticeable chop compared to stock. Were you running 100% stock tuning or were there changes made? I'm sure with tuning it'll smooth out some. The clips I have seen were on a stock tune.
 

slowburb

all motor
Joined
Mar 26, 2011
Messages
1,632
Reaction score
676
Location
Louisiana
I noticed no change in the rythym of my engine when I swapped the stock cam for the 395 cam. The pulse did become more pronounced though.


There is something to be said for building an engine for a purpose or duty and letting it sound as it will. I'd rather have stump pulling off idle torque than a choppy idle and spongy squishy turd like low end power.
 

Iowan

I'm Awesome
Joined
Feb 18, 2018
Messages
174
Reaction score
24
Location
Iowa
LSA has more effect on idle chop. I had a 224/224 .581/.581 114 cam in my 5.7L LS and it had a very noticeable idle. Exhaust will also effect the sound you hear. Stock exhaust can hide a cam sometimes where as with full aftermarket exhaust even a stock cam can sound healthier.

Words of wisdom I learned long ago though, never pick a cam for sound. Pick a cam for your desired performance and exhaust for the sound your after. The combo will perform much better with a properly picked cam.

I saw WAY too many LS guys buying the biggest cams advertised only to be disappointed. A lot goes into picking the right cam for those who build for specific results. Took me personally about 2yrs to pick my LS combo in my WS6. Sure I could have grabbed an advertised H/C combo from a vendor, but I needed something different.
I made sure the cams I was looking at fit my desired performance requirements before sound, I just want to know what it sounds like for the sake of knowing.
 
Top