Cam Question
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 156
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From: I-45, Texas
Cam Question
I was just thinking about this last night, and from reading some posts on here I know there are a couple of you who can educate me on this question that I am curious about:
Back when I owned some OTR trucks and talking to other owners the subject of changing out the cams in mechanical 3406 CAT engines to boost horsepower and fuel economy. Sometimes parts guys would refer to it as a high performance cam. I have no knowledge of how that works, maybe increases comp. ratio to produce a more efficient engine by keeping both valves closed just a touch longer on comp. stroke? (just thinking out loud here)
So, what I was wondering is if I ever have to rebuild my PS, could I install some high perf. cam and perhaps achieve not only additional power, but most importantly better fuel economy?
Thanks to all who can educate me on this inquiry.
ra
Back when I owned some OTR trucks and talking to other owners the subject of changing out the cams in mechanical 3406 CAT engines to boost horsepower and fuel economy. Sometimes parts guys would refer to it as a high performance cam. I have no knowledge of how that works, maybe increases comp. ratio to produce a more efficient engine by keeping both valves closed just a touch longer on comp. stroke? (just thinking out loud here)
So, what I was wondering is if I ever have to rebuild my PS, could I install some high perf. cam and perhaps achieve not only additional power, but most importantly better fuel economy?
Thanks to all who can educate me on this inquiry.
ra
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,799
Likes: 103
From: Ashland City, TN
Well a diesel is all about air flow.
So, if you have a really aggressive out breath, i would think your economy and turbo performance would go up.
As for anything refering to the compression stroke, i'm not sure. The PSD has a mean enough piston explosion, well ... on the 6.0's... Maybe check into what their lobe's do when fireing, and how long.. Perhaps that would work on the 7.3's. And then just have a really good intake and outtake like a gas engine would have.
Hahaha. to hear a PSD Cam at idle... That would be friggen badass..
I'm thinking outloud with you, I honestly know nothing about cam shafts. Just the ideology of what they are supposto do.
So, if you have a really aggressive out breath, i would think your economy and turbo performance would go up.
As for anything refering to the compression stroke, i'm not sure. The PSD has a mean enough piston explosion, well ... on the 6.0's... Maybe check into what their lobe's do when fireing, and how long.. Perhaps that would work on the 7.3's. And then just have a really good intake and outtake like a gas engine would have.
Hahaha. to hear a PSD Cam at idle... That would be friggen badass..
I'm thinking outloud with you, I honestly know nothing about cam shafts. Just the ideology of what they are supposto do.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,835
Likes: 3
From: Silver Lake Dunes, MI
Some R&D has been done with very little success on making a better cam for our trucks. I think 1 or 2 exist but they aren't huge power makers. I don't know of anybody for sure that is running one. pretty much you just need more boost to get more air. The mechanical 3406's may have had cam driven injectors but I am not sure.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 185
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From: Taylorsville, KY
the 7.3 liter powerstrokes had 17.5/1 compression ratio. I think that the idi's had something like 19.0/1. I may be wrong, its been a long time since I looked, but Im sure somebody will chime in if I am wrong. they lowered the compressing on the powerstrokes so that they could handle more boost.
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 40
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Originally Posted by glasseater
it's probably been done and didn't do much...
i sure do like what it did for me.i just have like a street preformance cam.with the new motor i did have my heads worked on alot but the turbo and the injectors are the same as the old motor which was 466hp the new motor is around 520hp.now i am not saying it is all from the cam but some of it is.or should i say it works with my set up.i have alot of stuff that the west coast guys say don't do much.you put them together they do something
every little bit helps,if you are building a motor it wouldn't hurt to do a cam.i don't think i would tear a motor down just for a cam though
just my 2 cents
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Silver Lake Dunes, MI
Tubbz what does a cam run $$? Guessing it has long duration. Also do you have to releif cut the pistons?
Also to RA the PSD is 17.5:1 and the IDI is 21:1
Also to RA the PSD is 17.5:1 and the IDI is 21:1
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From: hillsborough nj
Originally Posted by tubzz
i sure do like what it did for me.i just have like a street preformance cam.with the new motor i did have my heads worked on alot but the turbo and the injectors are the same as the old motor which was 466hp the new motor is around 520hp.now i am not saying it is all from the cam but some of it is.or should i say it works with my set up.i have alot of stuff that the west coast guys say don't do much.you put them together they do something
every little bit helps,if you are building a motor it wouldn't hurt to do a cam.i don't think i would tear a motor down just for a cam though
just my 2 cents
every little bit helps,if you are building a motor it wouldn't hurt to do a cam.i don't think i would tear a motor down just for a cam though
just my 2 cents
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by tjbeggs
Tubbz what does a cam run $$? Guessing it has long duration. Also do you have to releif cut the pistons?
yes a longer duration,didn't have to do anything to the pistons,but you do have do your home work.
i just wanted a solid motor.wasn't going for big HP just wanted the HP i had with the old motor.
Last edited by tubzz; Oct 21, 2007 at 10:53 AM.