[SOCAL.M6.ZLE]

Originally Posted by NG329

I wish I could be more help, but I honestly don't know. How would you even test for this scientifically? Swap cams in the same car on the same day for multiple pulls? Then each cam needs tuning to get the most out of it.

You might be better off asking AI this question to see who's made the most claimed horsepower out of all the data published on the web. But even that should be scrutinized. I vaguely recall somebody claiming 1,200hp with a stage 1 cam and supporting mods. A stage 1! ....and I believe it.

In my personal experience, my Terminator 2 cam appears to be a midrange cam but Jannetty made great peak numbers. 25hp and 100ftlb more torque than a YouTube influencer's peak horsepower cam that was installed by a reputable shop here in the northeast.

So I really don't know. Every time I feel like I have cam knowledge sorted out, someone comes and defies conventional wisdom with unusual results.

If you're looking to throw money at a project, cams are cheap enough to buy multiple so you can experiment. Usually in the ballpark of $500 aside from drivetrain modifications. Maybe buy 2 or 3 top end cams and run your dyno test. Then sell the ones you decide you won't keep at the end of the build.

Thats a great idea... maybe someone can collect 10-12 of the industries best cams, and a few sets of heads, and rent an engine DYNO for a week of back to back testing... that would be AWESOME!!!

[Smokin19]

Originally Posted by SOCAL.M6.ZLE

Thats a great idea... maybe someone can collect 10-12 of the industries best cams, and a few sets of heads, and rent an engine DYNO for a week of back to back testing... that would be AWESOME!!!

Wouldn't all the cams have to meet the same spec ( like lift, duration etc.) in order to make it a valid test. Then what about valves, rockers, springs, push rods and lifters. Also like my cam has a 38% fuel lobe, would all of them require the same. I really don't know any of these answers just my random thoughts.

[KingLT1]

Originally Posted by Smokin19

Wouldn't all the cams have to meet the same spec ( like lift, duration etc.) in order to make it a valid test. Then what about valves, rockers, springs, push rods and lifters. Also like my cam has a 38% fuel lobe, would all of them require the same. I really don't know any of these answers just my random thoughts.

lift duration lsa is what affects the valve events. If all that is the same for every cam, then the power will be the same. The idea being mentioned in the OP is to determine what cam spec delivers the most power.

[RobZL1]

I'd suggest putting some parameters around it, and then adding a couple of oddball.

Perhaps stick with off-the-shelf cams intended for stock displacement. Then add in a couple of "stage 1" cams, and a couple of "that shouldn't work" cams, like something with 15 degrees of overlap.

You'd then need some control to ensure you are apples to apples. I'd say tune it to what it likes for a given cam. The pulleys are the big question. Harder to do, but maybe aim for the same boost level. Perhaps you need a few pulleys and belts and a smoothboost. Alternatively, just stick with the same pulleys, but then that won't necessarily be ideal for each cam. This is where it gets tricky

[2023_ZL1-AUTO]

I'm kind of agreeing with most points that all have pointed out so far. For me here is what I went through with my recent build:

I was basically like "Oh, yeah, I want the most radical choppy CAM I can get, so much chop that it will shake the bolts and screws out of the car". Then, someone smarter than me said, well on a boosted engine, you don't want a big over lap, i.e. excessive chop, you will lose boost/power. You want a CAM that gives your build the most power, not the most chop.

Thus, my new build has noticeable chop, it's not a WOW chop, but it chops. It's nothing like my buddy's driving around in their 5th and 6th gen Camaro's. But, I'm the most RWHP out of all of them on similar build. But they all went with crazy overlap (chop)

So, I think it would be cool to test for the best top (3) CAMS for max effort power, and maybe show what the power lose CAM choices are that many, line me would have totally did their build wrong by wanting the wrong thing in the begging?

[ZLRob]

Originally Posted by RobZL1

I'd suggest putting some parameters around it, and then adding a couple of oddball.

Perhaps stick with off-the-shelf cams intended for stock displacement. Then add in a couple of "stage 1" cams, and a couple of "that shouldn't work" cams, like something with 15 degrees of overlap.

You'd then need some control to ensure you are apples to apples. I'd say tune it to what it likes for a given cam. The pulleys are the big question. Harder to do, but maybe aim for the same boost level. Perhaps you need a few pulleys and belts and a smoothboost. Alternatively, just stick with the same pulleys, but then that won't necessarily be ideal for each cam. This is where it gets tricky

This right here. There are and will be a lot of control points that will be difficult to control due to so many possibilities in configuration that exist.


I think the primary and most important control point, however, will be maintaining stock cubes and bottom end. That will ensure an even playing field for all the cams because most people doing a build stay stock down at the bottom.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by SOCAL.M6.ZLE

Let’s say someone had a spare LT4 laying around — ported heads, Kong X-ported blower, and everything ready to run.
The only question left: Which camshaft actually makes the most power? If you had to put money on it… who’s your pick?

Cam Motion has an impressive set of street and track-proven PD LT4 cams and valve train components. See https://cammotion.com/camshafts/supe...lphaasc&page=2

Mine is the third one shown, and is for maximum street performance, which is what virtually everyone here wants to varying degrees. Most of us want a larger LSA (112-120). The closer the LSA gets to 10 degrees, the more it becomes a race track cam.

I'm not really pushing my cam very hard, because it has made a lot more power in race track builds pushing more air.

[Patriot Motorsports USA]

Originally Posted by NG329

Ted's terminator cam is pure magic. I love those guys and I want him to be successful, but I'm secretly hoping his cam doesn't sell so there could be no other competition for me out there. hahahahah It is sooooooo linear and I can't wait to get back on the race track in a couple of weeks for my first performance review. I have a 1000 crank horsepower car that I commuted in the pouring rain with. It's unbelievable. Then in the dry when I get on it, I can break traction at will, at triple digit speeds from all the power whenever I want to scare my friends. When I'm hoping for max traction, I can roll right into it and the car just goes into warp 10 with no slippage.

Gabe, isn't this the cam you just switched from?

When reviewing the specifications of the two, I really lean towards the BTR Stage-1 and would do so because I know Brian and his staff have spun this cam in their SpinTron machine to determine exactly which springs, retainers and pushrods work best with various lifter options. Having the A10 transmission AND the VVT working for serious torque in the basement of RPMs is a huge Win/Win for the ZLE platform on the track.

Its clear the idea of "Best Cam" hits a massive scope of variables and 90% of those here seem to be focused upon Drag Racing or Dragy numbers... which would be great if I got the C5 Z06 out and dusted it off since it was built specifically to run TX2K roll racing.

[RobZL1]

Yep. Hence the need to clearly define the criteria. Gabe did say, "Which camshaft actually makes the most power?" I was using that as the sole criteria, with my interpretation being highest HP number, period. No regard to: application, torque, character of power or torque curves, etc.

[SOCAL.M6.ZLE]

Great feedback team... based on your feedback I think you are going to LOVE what we are cooking up! Stay tuned!

[NG329]

Originally Posted by Patriot Motorsports USA

When reviewing the specifications of the two, I really lean towards the BTR Stage-1 and would do so because I know Brian and his staff have spun this cam in their SpinTron machine to determine exactly which springs, retainers and pushrods work best with various lifter options. Having the A10 transmission AND the VVT working for serious torque in the basement of RPMs is a huge Win/Win for the ZLE platform on the track.

I gave the BTR cam a good look as well. I still think that Jannetty was a better option “for me” because it is easier on the valve train (springs). However, I recon that the BTR cam looks damn good spec wise and would have probably been my Go-To cam if the Jannetty Cam did not exist.


Either way, my season is starting this Saturday. I’ve been a good Keyboard Commando all winter so now it’s time to put up or shut up. Hahahaha

I’ve given tons of notice about my forthcoming wrath and now it’s time for the mortals to pay up. .

[KingLT1]

Originally Posted by NG329

I gave the BTR cam a good look as well. I still think that Jannetty was a better option “for me” because it is easier on the valve train (springs). However, I recon that the BTR cam looks damn good spec wise and would have probably been my Go-To cam if the Jannetty Cam did not exist.


Either way, my season is starting this Saturday. I’ve been a good Keyboard Commando all winter so now it’s time to put up or shut up. Hahahaha

I’ve given tons of notice about my forthcoming wrath and now it’s time for the mortals to pay up. .

Where did you draw this conclusion from?

[NG329]

Originally Posted by KingLT1

Where did you draw this conclusion from?

I drew my own conclusion based on lift and duration data for both cams.