Which one should I go for the Crane CompuCam 2030 or the Crane PowerMax 2030..... Are they both just interchangeable camshafts???? or will I also have to buy the springs and the valve stems???

I personally like the rpm band on the powermax, and I think it will put out more power than the compucam...

 

personally i would not waste my time on one of those cams, they are not much better than stock.

 

Doward here...

3.1, right? I'd go with teh CompuCam 2030 of the two you picked.

Now, I put a Melling MTC-5 cam kit (available from Autozone, $120 with lifters) and let me tell you - I love it. port/polish the heads and intake while it's off, and it'll make a world of difference on the mid/upper rpm.

MTC-5 specs

278/288 SAE duration
204/214º @ .050" duration
.422/.444" lift

I'm loving mine.

Oh yeah, whatever cam you use, ALWAYS replace the lifters and springs with it. If you get a 'Cam Kit' it comes with lifters - but definetly do NOT reuse the stock springs!

 

I am wanting to buy and install a new cam in to my 3.1 before I go up to michigan in february.... So what would yall suggest??

Doward would that same kit work in my 3.1l???

 

Wait- I'm confused. I thought Crane stopped using the "Compucam" name, and started using the "PowerMax" name instead. So that'd mean the "old" Compucam 2030 is the same as the "new" Powermax 2030, and the only difference is that one is the old name, one is the new name.

But you guys are saying they're two different camshafts?

 

Oh and as for "wasting time" on the cams; they might not be as aggressive as some of the cams out there, but they might work best for both the computer AND emissions. Just something to keep in mind if you live somewhere with a strict smog check!

But it says "South Carolina" under your name, so I guess you're fine, trickedout02!

 

well tomp's right, they are the same..... I was looking on summit and they had both... I was figuring they would be different...

yeah I know some people who actually get away with running straight pipes down here, not strict at all when it comes to smog....

As for the cams go, what are some more "aggressive" cams that I could use???

 

Dow again...

LOL, sorry - I didn't realize they were both p/n 2030!

The PowerMax 272 would be much more aggressive. But it's not going to do you any good, without extensive modifications - ie, increased compression, new gearing/stall convertor, ported/polished heads, intake, headers, etc... that's quite a cam for a V6.

 

As far as the MTC-5 kit goes - it's in my 3.1 right now. I absolutely love it, and it's going to simply rock with the turbocharger!

remember, the 3.1 only has 8.5:1 cr to work with, and it's harder to get good power with lower compression...

 

would there be a noticeable difference in the powermax 2030???

So lets say I went with a power max 2030....... to actually see a gain out of it I would have to increase my compression....so what type of compression would I have to be looking at to see a noticiable gain....

 

Actually, the PowerMax 2030 would work really well with a stock engine, just porting/polishing the heads (home job) would help it a bit more, as well.

If you go much further, you start needing more compression to work well with the bigger cam. The powermax 272 would need around 10:1 cr, at least, to work well.

 

I really appreciate all of your help I plan on ordering the cam today then... If you think the stock engine with the powermax 2030 will show significant gains, with out alot of engine work then That sounds like a go for me... port and polishing the heads don't sound too hard, maybe I should be able to find a good book on that...

 

Make sure you get new Crane springs for it, too! Go ahead and get a head gasket set, as well, (you'll need the gaskets, anyway)

 

Dont you think you should solve the problem of your car not going over 85 mph before a cam swap?

 

I used to run a 2030 with 1.6 sbc roller tips. I now have the 272 with sbc 1.6 roller tips.

To be honest you can get the 272 cam from PAW for just over 100 bucks( P/N CRA-253941 $117.95) , buy PAW sport lifters for $48 P/N PAW-2095 , then run roller tip 1.6 arms from CAT pep seller on ebay 30 bucks , and pick up 510 lift springs ( stock diameter) off ebay , z 28 sbc for about 20 bucks.
Delete the factory spring cups. Just over $200.

Wise choice if you want more power for less money.

 

you should try to find a cam that has close to or the same inatke and exhaust duration unless you plan on using nitrous. with the benefits of headers and ported heads (mine are around 80% exhaust to intake ratio)you don't need all that exhaust duration.

 

I was actually thinking about a sneeky pete nitrous set up... they are not too expensive around $215.... But I am told not to go over a hundred on the shot... actually the napa person said to go with about a 50-75 to be safe... He said that the rearend or the tranny might not be able to handle it..

"To be honest you can get the 272 cam from PAW for just over 100 bucks( P/N CRA-253941 $117.95) , buy PAW sport lifters for $48 P/N PAW-2095 , then run roller tip 1.6 arms from CAT pep seller on ebay 30 bucks , and pick up 510 lift springs ( stock diameter) off ebay , z 28 sbc for about 20 bucks.
Delete the factory spring cups. Just over $200. "

if I go with this set up I wont have to port and polish heads or any of the extra work in it???

 

no , you dont have to p/p the heads with the 272 . Are you taking the heads off?

 

This will be the first engine I will ever pull, my neighbor has a lift and experience with pulling engines so I am not sure yet... I was hoping that I didn't have to, but I was just going to take it step by step in the haynes manual...

 

of course you dont HAVE to... but why not?

its basically free horsepower as long as you have the tools, but then again it does take a while on iron heads.

 

Like Lee7 said, you don't HAVE to port/polish your heads... but hey, they're already off, and will help your new cam's flow, making more power. So why not?