How Do I Find The Right Cam For My Engine?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

The

rpm range

is the range where the engine performs best. When selecting a camshaft, choose one with an rpm range that matches the other components of your vehicle and its intended use. Follow this link for more about Basic Operating RPM Range.

How do you match cam and intake?

Typically,

a head with a high percentage can use a cam with more closely matched intake

and exhaust lobe figures. Conversely, a head with a poor ratio between the intake and exhaust flow will benefit from more exhaust duration to evacuate the burned gases.

How do I find my camshaft number?

Locate the ID number on the camshaft. It is

typically located in the center of the cam between the lobes

. The ID number will consist of either eight or nine digits; the last four numbers identify the cam and its specific application.

What happens if your cam is too big?

Camshaft is too large.

Intake closing and exhaust opening points

greatly affect low-end performance. … If the engine sounds fine, it’s likely due to late exhaust opening. More exhaust duration on a wider LSA will open the exhaust earlier and help the engine carry power at high speed.

How is total cam lift calculated?

Lobe Lift is the amount (usually in inches) that the cam lobe increases in radius above the cam base circle. Tip: To quickly find maximum lobe lift,

measure the base circle of the cam and subtract it from the thickness across the cam lobe’s highest point

(see the diagram below).

What is considered a high duration camshaft?

A

280-degree-duration

cam holds the valves open longer than a 260-degree-duration cam. Holding the valves open longer allows more air and fuel into the engine and also allows more to get out through the exhaust. Longer duration (higher number) improves top-end power but almost always sacrifices low-end torque.

What do the numbers on the end of a camshaft mean?

The first two numbers are the degrees of opening being 210 for the intake and 218 degrees for the exhaust given normally at . 050 inch of lift. The next two numbers are the valve lift of intake and exhaust in thousands of an inch. The final number is

the degrees of overlap

.

How do I know if I have an aftermarket cam?

The stock cam will rock the car back and forth every once in a while when it’s hot out but, a car with an aftermarket cam

will really get moving at times

. If it sounds like and rocks like a 60’s muscle car….it probably has a cam.

What makes a performance camshaft?

Generally speaking,

the longer the duration the higher the operating range of the cam

. Short duration cams are good for low speed torque and throttle response, while long duration cams hold the valves open longer for better high speed breathing.

How do you measure lobe separation angle?

To check your LSA you calculate it by

adding the intake and exhaust Lobe Centerline figures together and dividing their sum by two

(Ex: 112 intake Centerline + 116 exhaust Centerline = 228 / 2 = 114-degree LOBE SEPARATION ANGLE).

How do you measure lift?

To measure the lift from an event promotion, compare like timeframes. For example, if an online merchant has a Cyber Monday sale running, lift could be measured by

comparing the total sales on Cyber Monday

with the average sales for the days before and after the sale.

What is considered a mild cam?

An

RV or towing camshaft

, which is considered a mild performance or an economy cam, will often have a narrower LSA, between 112 and 114 degrees. Hot street camshafts usually have 110- to 112-degree LSA, while high performance and racing camshafts will often run between 105 and 108 degrees.

What is Cam overlap?

Overlap is

when the intake and exhaust valves are open at the same time

. It is expressed in degrees of crankshaft rotation. Not all camshafts have overlap. If they do, it happens at the end of the exhaust stroke and the beginning of the intake stroke.

How much horsepower does a bigger camshaft add?

Does a camshaft increase horsepower? Yes, a camshaft adds

10 to 20 horsepower

depending on the setup. To get the full potential of the high-performance camshaft, you’ll have to swap out additional components like the air intake, exhaust manifold, injectors, and valve heads.

How is an engine cam lift measured?

Simply

measuring the diameter of the base circle, and subtracting that from the largest diameter of the cam

, the lobe lift, will calculate the lift of the cam.

What do cam measurements mean?

With a solid cam, the lash will take up some of the lifter’s motion before there is any valve motion. … The definition is simply

the distance in degrees

, as measured on the cam, between the point of peak lift on the intake lobe and the peak lift on the exhaust lobe.

Does a cam make a car shake?


The engine shakes as it comes in and out of loping

… typical for a cam car. You could probably smooth it out some more with tuning. it’s a pretty small cam, with a pretty wide LSA, which would make sense for a blower car.

What is a cam grind?

Cam grinders are

cam actuated

. The grinding operation itself is done by a fairly large grinding wheel. Cam grinding machines are typically equipped with a rocker ball mechanism. This allows the work to move toward and away from the wheel with each revolution of the grinding wheel.

Does my truck have a cam?

With that said, aftermarket cams are designed for high-end performance, so you can typically expect to experience faster speeds after camming a truck. Are Bigger Cams More Powerful?

Yes

. A bigger cam will open the intake valve wider, allowing more fuel and air into the cylinder.

What comes in a cam kit?

The camshaft kit is a comprehensive set of components that are recommended to be changed when performing the repair. The individual components of the valve opening system as well as the control of Unit Injector System (UIS) are:

Camshaft, camshaft bearings, hydraulic tappets and camshaft mounting bolts.

Do camshafts make car louder?


Yes

, especially if it has a nice lope to it. All my cammed cars got louder after adding a cam. Yes, it will be louder. The cool factor goes way up to when you hear the choppy idle to!

Do you have to pull motor to install cam?

Most American-made V8 and V6 engines use

in-block camshafts

, which means you may have to pull the engine out to do the swap. … If you have a DOHC engine which is also a “V” configuration it is possible to have as many as 4 camshafts.

How much does it cost to install a camshaft?

Camshaft Replacement Cost – RepairPal Estimate. Labor costs are

estimated between $850 and $1,072

while parts are priced at $459. This range does not include taxes and fees, and does not factor in your specific vehicle or unique location.

What does cam lobe separation mean?

The lobe separation angle or LSA is

the angle in camshaft degrees between the maximum lift points, or centerlines, of the intake and exhaust lobes

. … It affects the amount of valve overlap; that is the brief period of time when both the intake and exhaust valves are open.

How do I know if my camshaft is advanced at the factory?

There is a very easy way to tell if the camshaft has been advanced by the cam company when the cam was machined.

Look at the cam timing card and compare the lobe separation angle (LSA) with the intake centerline number

. If the numbers are the same, then the camshaft has not been advanced.

What is camshaft lobe separation angle?

The Lobe Separation Angle (LSA) is

the distance between the centerlines of the intake and exhaust lobes on the camshaft

. It is measured in degrees of camshaft rotation.

What is overlapping in engine?

Valve overlap is the

period during engine operation when both intake and exhaust valves are open at the same time

. Valve overlap occurs when the piston nears TDC between the exhaust event and the intake event.

What is advanced cam timing?

A Basic Overview of Cam Timing

To advance or retard a camshaft is

to change the alignment between the camshaft and the crankshaft

. … Advancing or retarding the cam pushes the centerline of the camshaft to one side or the other of the crankshaft centerline.

How do I find the camshaft center lobe?

Finding the centerline is easy.

Rotate the engine clockwise until you find the maximum lobe lift

, then zero the indicator. Now rotate backward about 0.100 to 0.150-inch to compensate for timing chain slack. Then rotate clockwise until you reach 0.050 inch.

What is a sloppy Stage 2 camshaft?

The Sloppy Stage 2 Camshaft is

a cam with a fairly aggressive profile

. It will have a nice Lopey Idle and make tons of power all while keeping costs low. … Camshaft, Springs and Seals: Camshaft with Matching Pac 1219 Springs and Valve Seals.

Rebecca Patel
Author
Rebecca Patel
Rebecca is a beauty and style expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She is a licensed esthetician and has worked with top brands in the beauty industry. Rebecca is passionate about helping people feel confident and beautiful in their own skin, and she uses her expertise to create informative and helpful content that educates readers on the latest trends and techniques in the beauty world.