87FORMULAL98

Howdy. First post here. I've been lurking around this site for a long time now. Found tons of useful information but I'm still not sure about a few things. I'm doing the typical heads, cam, intake, exhaust upgrades on my stock Formula 350 with 3.27 gears. I need a reliable street car capable or running in the 12's. Probably will use GM Fast Burn heads but might opt for AFR 195's. Leaning heavily towards Mini Ram. Hoping a GM S10 converter will help a little on the bottom end. Would I be better off with a ZZ4 or Hot Cam? Engine should be similar in performance to a ZZ6 (with ZZ4 cam) or a ZZ430 (with Hot Cam). Thanks.

87FORMULAL98

I was able to get an answer today. According to Clay @ TPIS either cam will work great with my 3.27 gears...... IF I loosen up my converter to 2300-2400 RPM stall.

thtanner

iTrader: (1)

I appreciate you updating your thread.

86LG4Bird

iTrader: (1)

With such mild gearing and torque converter, the car will be quicker in the 1/4 mile with the ZZ4 cam than with the Hotcam.
What does the car weigh with you in it? 12's might be a tall order. Unless the car is really lightened, that 12" S-10 TC won't get you there. No 12" TC will. A 2800-3000 9.5" TC would be much better.

obeymybird

iTrader: (4)

I am running the hot cam with fastburn heads and miniram its a great combo but would be on the lazy side with your gears I got a 3.42 with my t56 and its to lazy but still fun.

87FORMULAL98

I've never had it on the scales but it is lighter than many Formulas.... No T-Tops, no power windows or power seats. The Fastburns and headers should help too. I weigh in at 170 in flip flops shorts and t-shirt with a brew in my hand. I'll do some research on converters. Thanks so much for your input.

87FORMULAL98

Really good to know. Do you think your car has similar weight?

87FORMULAL98

From the dyno graphs I've seen it looks like the ZZ4 cam only gives up around 20 HP on the big end but brings on the torque a few hundred RPM sooner. Clay @ TPIS likes both cams but thinks their ZZ409 cam is a better choice.

obeymybird

iTrader: (4)

When I had this motor in my formula a few years ago it only had a plan LT4 cam cheaper heads and exhaust but 3.73 gear only made 290whp on a dynojet but at the track ran 13.5 at 109 with a real bad 60' time. New setup made 320whp at 6200 on mustang dyno no track times yet.

86LG4Bird

iTrader: (1)

If you're not getting either of those cams cheap (ZZ4, Hotcam, ZZ409) and have to buy new, here's kind of a "custom" that I came up with CompCams years ago for mild TC/gearing setups for the LT1 in B-bodies. It made within 5 hp of the Hotcam at peak and will outperform any of the cams discussed above at the lower rpm's:
LT3312/3314HR112+5.
Take the "LT" off it to get the short (non-Optispark) cam gear dowel pin.
Those are their Extreme Energy lobes. 212/224/112 with a 107 ICL.
Price direct from them was the same as buying one of their "catalog" cams from Jegs or Summit.


If you do find a good deal on a Hotcam, degree it to a 106 ICL (rather than the drop-in 109 ICL) to recover a good deal of low end torque and a much better overall powerband.

87FORMULAL98

Thanks so much for the input. I've been caught in the "BIG" cam trap before and I sure don't want to get caught again.