Thread: I think its cam time

Here's my .02 cents, and I'm sure no one cares, but I'll say it anyways.

*First off, I've never put a cam in my car and don't plan on it soon but I have ridden in cars with an aftermarket cam. What I'm going to say is based off opinion and research from what I've done.

The VS cam has great potential and is one of the easiest, if not the easiest cam on the valvetrain. According to ZZP, it was designed for stock valvetrain, but I wouldn't ever do that nor do I advise it what so ever. From what I've learned, the VS cam has great potential in the lower powerband. Better for acceleration from 0-60+ (Don't quote me on this). Chris Hinson made a write up comparing the XP/S1X/VS cams and his overall "winner" was the VS because of it's potential and easy driveability. But all cams can be DD'd. Just ask Nick about DDing his Thrasher cam.

If my research is correct and the VS is better for the lower powerband, I wouldn't get it for that reason. These car's have a blower on the engine, and are torque monsters. Going 0-60+ really isn't an issue for these cars. But highway pulls and these cars fall on there face, completely. So I'd get a cam that will yield more power in the upper powerband, such as the XP/S1X, compared to the VS. But it really all depends on where you're driving. Whether it's mainly city, highway, or a mixture of both. So my opinion is based of highway driving, since I do it everyday.

If I were ever to spend the money/time on a cam, I would make sure it was worth my time. Even though the VS has good potential, I would want something "bigger," and I would most definitely want the choppy lope from a larger cam. I'd NEVER cam my car with something that doesn't lope. Defeats half the purpose for me even doing it lol.

Once again, I probably don't know what I am talking about and could be pulling this out of my ass. So take it with a grain of salt.

this is why i said a one off cam. call up someone who knows what the **** a cam does, tell them what you want, and let them do the hard work.

you probably want your powerband to remain in the mid range and you probably don't want to shift anything over 6000-6200. you also want it to sound like you're a god damn boss. tell someone that, plus what else you plan on coupling with said cam, and let someone else spec it and run the crap out of it.

then you'll have something that fits your needs and you won't have another cookie cutter ZZP/intense car like everyone else.

Originally Posted by darkhorizon

It doesnt matter because its impossible to measure. Without oil pressure the lifter will just bottom out and your max lift will be a random number. A stock lifter will have almost .150 travel so ideally peak lift with no pressure is .100 on the cam and .190 at the valve on a 1.9 rocker.

Good to know. So how would you confirm a wiped cam lobe, aside from pulling it.

Originally Posted by REDCOMPG

And how many of you guys actually get in the higher rpm range driving around town.. Unless your on the highway very unlikely, with stop and go traffic.. Go big they all say until you start having issues with drivability. Notice most of those big cam guys have other cars they DD... Then the added cost of 130lb/double roller etc.


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They're making me wanna go big, red. And I do mostly drive highway.

Originally Posted by DanPrixGTP

Here's my .02 cents, and I'm sure no one cares, but I'll say it anyways.

*First off, I've never put a cam in my car and don't plan on it soon but I have ridden in cars with an aftermarket cam. What I'm going to say is based off opinion and research from what I've done.

The VS cam has great potential and is one of the easiest, if not the easiest cam on the valvetrain. According to ZZP, it was designed for stock valvetrain, but I wouldn't ever do that nor do I advise it what so ever. From what I've learned, the VS cam has great potential in the lower powerband. Better for acceleration from 0-60+ (Don't quote me on this). Chris Hinson made a write up comparing the XP/S1X/VS cams and his overall "winner" was the VS because of it's potential and easy driveability. But all cams can be DD'd. Just ask Nick about DDing his Thrasher cam.

If my research is correct and the VS is better for the lower powerband, I wouldn't get it for that reason. These car's have a blower on the engine, and are torque monsters. Going 0-60+ really isn't an issue for these cars. But highway pulls and these cars fall on there face, completely. So I'd get a cam that will yield more power in the upper powerband, such as the XP/S1X, compared to the VS. But it really all depends on where you're driving. Whether it's mainly city, highway, or a mixture of both. So my opinion is based of highway driving, since I do it everyday.

If I were ever to spend the money/time on a cam, I would make sure it was worth my time. Even though the VS has good potential, I would want something "bigger," and I would most definitely want the choppy lope from a larger cam. I'd NEVER cam my car with something that doesn't lope. Defeats half the purpose for me even doing it lol.

Once again, I probably don't know what I am talking about and could be pulling this out of my ass. So take it with a grain of salt.

Thanks for putting everything into perspective.

I wouldn't buy a vs, I would like something with a little lope to it.

Originally Posted by Bio248

this is why i said a one off cam. call up someone who knows what the **** a cam does, tell them what you want, and let them do the hard work.

you probably want your powerband to remain in the mid range and you probably don't want to shift anything over 6000-6200. you also want it to sound like you're a god damn boss. tell someone that, plus what else you plan on coupling with said cam, and let someone else spec it and run the crap out of it.

then you'll have something that fits your needs and you won't have another cookie cutter ZZP/intense car like everyone else.

Who would you recommend I contact, if I go that route? I like the idea of having something different.

I could also just get a used s1x off here and use the extra funds for new springs and retainers.

Originally Posted by Jomamma

Who would you recommend I contact, if I go that route? I like the idea of having something different.

I could also just get a used s1x off here and use the extra funds for new springs and retainers.

i'm not entirely sure who would be a good person to go to. PRJ might be your best bet for that. otherwise tischler might be able to hook you up, too. there's a billion places to get a cam spec'd for my car, but very few for yours. kind of why everyone runs the same stuff from ZZP/intense.

also, a deal on an s1x would kind of sway me towards doing that. once all is said and done you're probably not going to care. a cam is a cam until you start getting really specific specs for one reason or another.


that being said, i'd still contact PRJ and see what he can offer. no one commented on the PRJ LL cam existing, either. so there's that.

I would never run xp over vs with105s

^ This idea, is the way to go.

I might be on board with Bio now. Good point.

Hence why I said buy smuts s1x since the beginning

^^^^^^^^^^^ bingo and if you still need more on top of that then you can do heads and rockers on top of the s1x later........

Originally Posted by Sven The Baldman

If you run S1X, your car will end up like this guy's...

hater its all good i have never claimed to be nice to my cars..... my issues have nothing to do with the awesomeness of a s1x cam lol!

I was going to do heads and keep the s1x. Found some slp 1.8 rockers. Yes the lift would be higher than the s3 and xpz but the duration would be the same. So in a way it's still acting the same just more lift for intake/exhaust. Side cost is working the heads

s1x 210/221 .321/.329 @ 1.6 = .514/.526 @1.8 .577/.592

s3x 222/228 .338/.344 @ 1.6 = .540/.550
xpx 217/225 .352/.333 @ 1.6 = .563/.532

stock .182/.192 ?
figures are could be wrong - it's early

Originally Posted by Sven The Baldman

Now why'd you have to go post all that? You KNOW DH is going to come in here and have an aneurysm.

LOL i was thinking the same thing.

if I had the money I would have gone XP with 140s tit retainers dbl roller ect but as said for half the cost I'm happy and vs does sound sexy

just the same as i wouldnt run an xp cam on 130# springs on a single roller either. s1x and vs cams are so much less drama.


edit i didnt see bios comment on the prj ll cam thats also something i should look into but lime he said not many talk about that cam.

Go big... Or go home!

No sense doing a cam job if you're looking for economy. It just doesn't make sense... VS is barely above stock, not worthy. The XP, S1X etc... Well now you'll get a different feel, performance. Bottom line is don't rush , take your time, do some research on what the cams give you. Some are mid-ranging and some upper RPM. Then you've got to consider doing the job the right way, i.e., if you're making it breathe better than you have to open up the intake and exhaust to take advantage. Better yet again, is Stage II or III heads, ported LIM... See, it doesn't stop unless you have a plan. I took over a year to decide what I wanted, assemble parts, etc.

In my opinion, cams are not all the same, as they all offer different performance. Lobe design, durations, etc., tell the tale of the tape... the VS will Max at 360ish HP with serious mods.. Blah... PRJ made a custom blower cam that made 530+ on a Whipple, IC and custom heads, serious mods too but entirely different result... Just saying! Both were cams, but comparing a Lemur to a Gisselle.

Is why I chose the Overkill BBC cam, it has some nice specs and along with the Rhodes lifters and 1.8RR's, StageII heads, ID80# injectors, N*, 3" exhaust and eventual E85 is gonna be a nice package! It'll give me street-ability along with some serious headroom, lol... Gonna make it to the train real quick in the a.m. for sure!!! Lol

I'd really love to have a custom speced cam.

However, I already see a couple of deals on here lined up for a s1x. Its kinda swaying me that direction.

Do this cam