What Size Cam?
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Tuned
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 344
Likes: 7
What Size Cam?
So....here's a stupid question:
What do I say when someone asked "What size cam do you have in that thing?"
Here are the specs on the cam:
Cam Type: Roller
.543 Intake .554 Exhaust
218 Intake / 226 Exhaust duration
@ .050 - 112 degree lobe separation
But when someone asked what size cam it is, which number or numbers are they looking for?
What do I say when someone asked "What size cam do you have in that thing?"
Here are the specs on the cam:
Cam Type: Roller
.543 Intake .554 Exhaust
218 Intake / 226 Exhaust duration
@ .050 - 112 degree lobe separation
But when someone asked what size cam it is, which number or numbers are they looking for?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 8,678
Likes: 191
From: On the Edge of the Desert
Back in the day, they were categorized as 1/2 race, 3/4 race, or full race.
I don't know why or what determines that, but there are definitely way more cam profiles today than there were 50 years ago.
Today, it's mostly classified as RV/tow, street/strip, and race above that.
Like brian said, the people asking don't know what it means anyway, otherwise they wouldn't ask that question...
I don't know why or what determines that, but there are definitely way more cam profiles today than there were 50 years ago.
Today, it's mostly classified as RV/tow, street/strip, and race above that.
Like brian said, the people asking don't know what it means anyway, otherwise they wouldn't ask that question...
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,580
Likes: 1,162
From: San Jose, CA
What they said. Those asking may even be somewhat cam-savvy, but simply use "how big" to ask the basic question of lift and duration. Especially if it's got a bit of a lopey idle in it, which it sounds like might be the case if people are asking.
If you don't want to get too detailed, tell them it's a mildly aggressive RV cam, or a mid-range performance cam, or just a "decent performance roller cam" and most will be happy.
But you will run into some who would like to know all of the details you can provide. More and more people appreciate knowing what the LSA (lobe separation angle) is because some are more EFI friendly than others. And since you know that spec, you can provide it to them.
As you gathered then, "big" is just code for "whatcha runnin' under the hood there big fella?" or "is that a 3/4 race cam with a 750 double-pumper and Flowmasters?"
Paul
If you don't want to get too detailed, tell them it's a mildly aggressive RV cam, or a mid-range performance cam, or just a "decent performance roller cam" and most will be happy.
But you will run into some who would like to know all of the details you can provide. More and more people appreciate knowing what the LSA (lobe separation angle) is because some are more EFI friendly than others. And since you know that spec, you can provide it to them.
As you gathered then, "big" is just code for "whatcha runnin' under the hood there big fella?" or "is that a 3/4 race cam with a 750 double-pumper and Flowmasters?"
Paul
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,238
Likes: 299
From: Kenner,La.
Cam size fun.
Iskidarian always had catchy names like “5 cycle hyperbolic”. They also had a 505 roller “C” grind to name a few. I am sure there are quite a few that others have heard and remember.
The technical term for a lumpy V8 idle is called “8 cycling”.
The technical term for a lumpy V8 idle is called “8 cycling”.
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