Yo guys, I have some cam questions. I have an 88 LB9 IROC with the T5. According to the tech article, I should have the 049 roller cam which supposedly has 207/213 duration @ .415/.430 lift, with a 117 LSA. Is this considered "peanut"? It looks to be the most aggressive one they had available for dealer stone stock cars.

So, since I am in California and I have to pass the damn emissions tests, how much cam can I get away with, staying with a hyd roller? Right now the 049 in the LB9 is pretty mild mannered, it has a smooth idle at 700 rpm and pulls strong at low speeds. I gotta pass smog so a lumpy-lopey is pretty much outta the question, and it has to be managable in a damn traffic jam.

Suggestions?

Thanks!!

 

That is not the peanut cam. You can see the specs on the peanut cam in the tech data section as well.

When selecting a cam the LSA plays the biggest part in how it reacts in the car. Make sure as you increase the duration, that you are increasing the LSA. Ask around to other people who have a similar setup as you and what cams they are running.

 

I have the same cam in my 1989 Trans Am. The problem with the cam is the 117 degree LSA. It keeps the peek horse power and torque down in the lower RPM range. My HP peeks out at 4200 RPM and is pretty flat until 5200 RPM. I will be installing the ZZ4 cam in my car. By the way I have aftermarket aluminum heads. Like you I have to pass the California emissions and they are getting tougher each year. Dyno Don has the ZZ4 cam in his car and he is knocking down 306 RWHP with TPI at the moment. With a new eprom he expects that to go up a few HP. By the way he passes smog just fine. It has a smooth idle to. Allen

 

Don has the zz4 cam AND vortec heads, and he still passes. I think the key is in the tuning and keeping the EGR.

Allen, are those the trick flow 23* heads? What kind HP and torque does your setup put out?

Ken

 

Thaks for the info on the zz4 hot cam. What are it's specs? Are you guys running 350s? I'm running the smaller 305 and that cam may be a bit much for the smaller motor. Last time I got smogged I passed because I put a bunch of alky in the tank. But OTOH, I think now all our pump gas has alky since MTBE is outlawed.

Does Comp Cams make any rollers with CARB approval? Or is Crane the only mfr with CARB approved cams?

Tanks mon.

 

Tremo

I don't know of anyone with the ZZ4 cam in a 305. So I can't tell you how it will work. I would give the cam companies that you have listed a call and tell them your goals. They are the experts.

Cali92RS

I'am running the Brodix street heads. I did all of my mods in the 1990 to 1991 era and bought what was available at that time. I never did finish it off. I will be taking the car to Dyno Don's as soon as he is ready to finish where I left off. I took the car to Superior Automotive for a dyno test a couple of months ago and they started the dyno run at around 4200 rpm and up to around 5200 rpm. The results were 256RWHP at 4200 and stayed right around 250RWHP up to 5200. The RWTQ was 310 at 4200rpm and was on the way down on the graph. I would assume peak torque was in the low 3000rpm. I have the 700R4 transmission. By the way my compression ratio is around 9:1 at best with the 68cc heads and stock pistons. All this will be corrected. Looking for 300RWHP. Allen

 

Are u gonna mill down the combustion chamber to 64cc?
What size valves do the heads have? Is it a stock TPI?

Sorry for all the questions. Its just that im gonna swap out my LO3, and Don recommended i get the zz4 shortblock, zz4 cam, and trick flow heads. Im jus trying to get a sense of what kind of numbers people are pulling with a similar setup.

Ken

 

Howdy

Going with flat-top pistons and maybe mill the heads .006 and freshen them up. Looking for around 10.1:1 compression ratio. Will use total seal piston rings. I have the stock Edelbrock base with no mods and stock SLP runners(early ones) with no mods. Basically a stock plenum. So with the compression ratio, ZZ4 cam, porting and matching the intake,squaring away the exhaust system(factory Y) and Kevin's eprom tuning I'am expection around a 40HP increase to the rear wheels. I have the SLP 1 5/8" Tri-Y headers and muffler. Also the SLP cold air package and underdrive pulley system.
Don's recommendation is a good one. With good tunning I would think you will be in the 375HP range at the flywheel and maybe more. Allen