Questions -- Idle with custom cam --

[Pops Fun]

Hi,
Just wondering how the idle is with custom cam. I understand that our cars don't do well with some cams. I currently have a Steeda 19 and the idle is fine. Thinking of going with a custom cam for my new 347 and wondering about driveability and dle quality. Along with a hundred things.


Steve

 

[Michael Yount]

Custom cams are all different - what makes them custom is that they are designed specifically for a given combo, and the owner's desires for that engine and its performance. How any engine idles with a custom cam is a function of what the engine was designed to do. I have a custom cam in mine and it idles almost like stock at 800 rpm. That's what I asked the cam designer for. There are racers with wild custom cams that idle at much higher rpm with lots of lope. And everything in between.

If idle speed/quality is a concern of yours, simply specify with the cam designer that you want a relatively smooth idle at a certain rpm - and they can usually make that happen. Now, that will probably have an impact on how the package performs on the top end. VERY GENERALLY for nicely matched packages - if it idles really smooth and low, it'll make more power and torque low in the rpm range, and have less peak power higher in the range. On the other end of the spectrum, if it's got a wicked lope at idle, it'll have less power/torque down low, and more peak power up top.

 

[Pops Fun]

Hi
Thanks for the reply... That is what I thought. If I asked like this...

"Street driven, good idle required, can be choppy/lopey.
Occasional track use. Looking for good mid power and torque"

Then I would get? Good low end and idle..I could like that..

Steve

 

[Rootus]

If I asked like this...

"Street driven, good idle required, can be choppy/lopey.
Occasional track use. Looking for good mid power and torque"

Then I would get? Good low end and idle..I could like that..

That is almost exactly what I asked Ed Curtis for, and he delivered. I have a nice lope, but the idle is rock steady (at 800 RPM). And I have great low-end & midrange, without really sacrificing top-end power.

Dave

 

[final5-0]

Hey Steve

I gotta agree with Michael & Dave.

Be specific when you talk to your cam guy. Heck, thats why they call it CUSTOM.

Later
Grady

 

[Joes95GT]

I've tricked a few people into believing I had a solid cam in my street car....

I also blame all my rear-end problems on Ed Curtis. Without all the power, I wouldn't have busted it up.

Joe

 

[Pops Fun]

Hi
Thanks for the input... Due to time constraints I am going to put the Steeda 19 into the stroker now and go custom this summer... Could have it up and running by Xmas?? This will also give me a nice set of dyno charts to talk about at least, before and after cams. Also will cut my cost down the wife will have a fit when she sees the bill such is life.
I am getting info from Buddy Rawlins and Ed Curtis. but I started to late, and Iam to impatient.

Steve