Let's talk about cams...

[99FiveOh]

I did some searching here and found about 2 or 3 hours of good reading and answered a bunch of questions in my head. But I still have a few concerns.

Tax season is around the corner and the motor in my car is tired and I've decided to use a fresh-ish Exploder short block that I have sitting in my shop. It's super clean and came out of a perfect running vehicle. I've already sold the heads off it a while back, but I still have a GT40 style intake to throw on it.

The heads I want to go with are the Edelbrock E-street heads. That said, are there any good off the shelf cams that will work with my combo? I really wanted a Steeda 19 cam, but I just checked their site and WHOAH!! Those things are expensive..270.00 bucks! I think I'd be getting close to custom grind territory with that price.

If a custom grind is best, who do you guys recommend and about how much do they run (for those who have used them). If I can make 280 to the tires I'll be satisfied. Thanks guys!!

 

[BlackVert]

probably a tfs 2 would get you where you are looking to go.

also, i'm a fan of the Comp XE line of cams

there's a couple of pennies for you

 

[PoppyMod]

I did some searching here and found about 2 or 3 hours of good reading and answered a bunch of questions in my head. But I still have a few concerns.

Tax season is around the corner and the motor in my car is tired and I've decided to use a fresh-ish Exploder short block that I have sitting in my shop. It's super clean and came out of a perfect running vehicle. I've already sold the heads off it a while back, but I still have a GT40 style intake to throw on it.

The heads I want to go with are the Edelbrock E-street heads. That said, are there any good off the shelf cams that will work with my combo? I really wanted a Steeda 19 cam, but I just checked their site and WHOAH!! Those things are expensive..270.00 bucks! I think I'd be getting close to custom grind territory with that price.

If a custom grind is best, who do you guys recommend and about how much do they run (for those who have used them). If I can make 280 to the tires I'll be satisfied. Thanks guys!!

Well, I'm a big fan of custom cam grinders. I've had two and would not return to the bog box stores ever. With a custom grinder, you develop a one on one relationship where you discuss your goals and share your engine specs. From there you begin to assemble a total package. Your planned use of the engine is the first step, followed by heads, cam, valve train, intake and carb, and headers.
I choose CI (custom innovations) as my grinder. For many there is a personality issue, for many there are big rewards.
With Jay's help, we designed a package( heads, cam, valve train) which together, with a ProSystem holly, helped me make 392 RWHP from my 333 and 400 RWTQ at 4400, all the while, idling at 8-900 with 17" Hgs. I blue printed and documented my own assembly along the way.
Am I biased, yes. Why not?
You just don't get the personal interaction from a big box store.
Happy Motoring!

 

[nmcgrawj]

A tfs 2 for a gt40 intake and estreet heads? On a 302?


That doesnt seem like a matched package. The TFS 1 is what trickflow "matches" to their twisted wedge/street heat combo.


But im not a cam guru!


I've dealt with Ed and Jay. You cant go wrong with either. Your parts dont necessarily match Jay's "big parts" mentality he is known for, but im sure he can get it pulled together for ya.

 

[BlackVert]

nate ... i know, but he said WHOA about the price for a steeda 19. so that meant to me he probably wants something that costs less. either that, or a custom grind i guess. don't forget, he is only asking for 280 at the wheels.

but mark, for a custom grind, sure ... ed curtis at FTI, or Jay Allen at CI can set you up right.

 

[final5-0]

You don't wanna skimp on the cam

I will boil it down to this based upon looking at M A N Y
HP/TQ curves

A cam cut to specifics based upon a broad tq curve for a street
motor which I have seen on quite a few FTI combos have a curve
that starts sooner, is wider, and usually is broader than most of
the other combos

For the street that is what you want
and
IMHO more desirable than peak power

I've been very happy with my FTI cam

You get a custom cam cut to obtain the goals of your desires
You get tech advice based upon many proven combos

The additional amount you spend is so small when you look at all you get

This is for sure one of those deals where ...

You get a good bang for the buck you spend :Word:

Grady

 

[nmcgrawj]

Yea that's true, the TFS cams are cheap.


I have no experience running/choosing cams. I took the easy way out and went custom every time.


I'd search for 95Snoozer posts. Years ago he had a gt40 set up with some comp cams cam that made great power.

IIRC.

 

[99FiveOh]

Thanks for all the great advice guys! It would seem that Steeda finally found someone else to grind their cams because the old business went under (or something like that). I guess the new company is probably charging more to do it. But at the 270$ price tag it's not to far off from a custom grind, so it's really a no brainer. And yes, I will rarely see a drag strip if never, so it will be a street/show car.

 

[revhead347]

Thanks for all the great advice guys! It would seem that Steeda finally found someone else to grind their cams because the old business went under (or something like that). I guess the new company is probably charging more to do it. But at the 270$ price tag it's not to far off from a custom grind, so it's really a no brainer. And yes, I will rarely see a drag strip if never, so it will be a street/show car.

Crane Cams in Daytona used to grind the T/F cams. They actually weren't ground to and specific specs by Trick Flow, they were just off the shelf Crane grinds that were rebranded. If you got the same cam from Crane it was about $327. No wonder they went out of business. They got bought out by S&S, and now the facility is used to make motorcycle parts. I agree with the above, the Trick Flow 2 cam will be too big. Maybe a Trick Flow 1. Might want to call Edelbrock, and see if they have a specific cam they sell at a good price for that head.

Kurt

 

[Rick 91GT]

I suggest a COMP 35-552-8 but its $288 or 35-349-8 also $288.... The old Crane 2031 is also a good choice, which you can still find. However they are even more since the crane by out, not sure who is actually making them right now.

The biggest thing is keeping the SN computer happy, and I assume you dont want to have to upgrade valve springs.

Or we could go custom Im a huge custom promoter and do it for most of my customers builds however for what you have, a shelf grind will work and meet your goals.. IMO

 

[hollywoodstang]

SERIOUSLY, I went through this too, you gonna get big headache looking for which OTS cam is best for your combo or your car, You will be searching for hours and get too many different opinions.

Do yourself a favor and get your cam custom ground from respectable company.

Think about it, ALL the engine performance comes from heads and cam, and custom ground cam is not that more then normal OTS cam these days. If you don't want to spend $350 for custom cam right now and have only $150 to spend on cam, SAVE another 2 weeks and get custom cam

Good luck

 

[PoppyMod]

+1 for the custom grind. Also, don't skimp on the valve train hardware, as well.
Happy Motoring!