howdy guys should put in a bigger cam with stock heads or do i have to worry that the cam will just burn out the engine faster
Thanks!!

 

I have a ZZ4 cam in my L98/350 with stock heads. You'll need to upgrade valve springs, and you'd probably want to have screw in studs.

You'd get more out of aftermarket heads, but you can certainly notice the difference with the cam even with stockers.

 

Besides the ZZ4 cam what would you suggest the ZZ9 or the Comp Cams XFI268HR13 cam

 

those are good TPI cams. XFI will like more ported TPI or HSR setups

ZZ4 is a mild cam. ZZ9 is abit better. good TPI cams tho

what you need to do is get new springs, get the valve guide bosses machined down to gain clearance between them and the retainer as the stock heads will bottom out at .480" lift. Then you need better springs to match the cams lift and specs. higher lift will pull out press in studs so you'll need to get the heads worked for screw in studs. about 100-130 bucks or so depending on the shop.

if you have a grinder, you can open up/clean up the stock heads to get rid of casting flaws and smooth out the ports. this will gain a good bit of airflow and reallllly help with that cam.

 

If you're not changing heads, I wouldn't go with a bigger cam than the ZZ4. Truth be told, you're already not taking full advantage of the ZZ4 cam with stock heads. A bigger cam is just gonna be less "usable" cam performance, and a few fewer RPMs before the heads choke out the motor.

....plus, a ZZ4 cam doesn't require a tune. Yes, a performance tune WILL GAIN POWER, but it's not required. With NO emission equipment, and the ZZ4 cam, I can still pass the sniffer test at inspection station, and the car runs GREAT!

If heads are in the near future, then a bigger cam would probably be the way to go.

......I've seen you asking these sorts of questions lately, and by all means, please continue to do so, that's why the board is here. -BUT, can I ask what kinds of goals you have for the car? ...and what kind of budget do you have to work with?

 

Well my goal for the car is to have it run in the 12's because every car i see online is running 12's and putting few mods on the TPI.
Yeah I'm an 17 year old senior in high school and i bought the car early June of this year for $2000 its a 1988 GTA. I just got done with putting headers and magnaflow 3" pipe back and that made a hell of a difference but i got that out of a junk yard. But as for now I buy mods like every couple months after i get money in the piggy bank but after the car gets paid off I'll be buyin parts all the time I want the nice and expensive parts but it will take sometime. So right now its like a low budget car but I know it capable of 12's

 

with just a hotcam swap and HSR swap, you'll be 12's with proper torque converter and 3.42-3.73 gears.

Just a HSR got me 13.46 so far with more in it once the weather cools. thats only 250 whp. i am hoping to add a mild cam on mildly ported/cleaned up stock heads and tuning it myself for the most part. I hope to be in the upper mid 12's and be sittin on 300-320whp

 

I think my Trans Am has a 3.42 gear in it stock
If im wrong please tell me
But i am thinking about getting a shift kit instead of a stall converter
How much does the HSR run for??

 

if your car is stock with a 9 bolt, you probly have 2.77's or 3.27's. You'll have to check your rpo codes.

shift kit is nice but you really need a converter to get the most out of the cam/intake setup.

HSR with fuel rails and adjustable regulator can be had for 550 bucks in summit racing. else look for used ones on this site. i've seen them for 400 bucks with everything.