Best way to pick a cam

[Lilchief]

What is the best way to pick a cam? Should I know the head flow rates or characteristics. Along with intake type and exhaust. What is the best approach or copy a proven combination? Does EFI like long duration or short and high lift or low, close LSA (10 or wide (114). From what I have read EFI engines like short duration and high lift, what's your thoughts? I'm thinking of building a 3500 N/A 300whp ,w/NOS 150hp, streetable. Probably will be on the edge.

[Superdave]

you won't need a 150 shot to make 300 WHP on a 3500..


If you are planning on running nitrous, you'll want a cam with less overlap so go with something over 112 LSA.. maybe 270 advertised duration and a bit over .500 lift. That's all if you want to keep it streetable. Just my opnion there.

[skinrock]

I'm pretty sure he means 300 whp before the NOS.

[Lilchief]

That's right skinrock. 300 whp before nos 450whp after. I looked in the store and found 3 I like from mild to wild 1612,1487,1560. But after looking at superdaves cam profile comparing to the 1612, he's got more duration with less lift and still shy the 300whp mark.

[3100 MPFI]

The best way to pic a cam is go to a cam orchard. You want one that is ripe, which will be a nice glossy silver colour, but if it has started turning red, then it is too ripe, and is bad (rusted).

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

[Superdave]

That's right skinrock. 300 whp before nos 450whp after. I looked in the store and found 3 I like from mild to wild 1612,1487,1560. But after looking at superdaves cam profile comparing to the 1612, he's got more duration with less lift and still shy the 300whp mark.

mine is in no way streetable.. Hence why i only put 800 miles on it last year...


If you can figure out a way to up the SCR and still keep enough valve clearance for a large cam then you might make it with a cam that's a bit taller than mine. To do it right you'll need some good porting on the heads and some measured flow numbers to pick the right cam for the job.

You'll also need tuned headers, larger than 65mm TB, fully ported UIM/LIM and alot of tuning.

I'm still shooting for 300 WHP with mine, this winter i've done alot more porting.. i ended up dropping the SCR back to stock 9.8:1 but with the added flow in the top end and new exhaust/intake setup i think i'll end up very close to 300 WHP.

[Lilchief]

My other thought was to use a blower , 1900cc series (117cu in ). Would that be too big?