Hotcam

**INMY01TA** · 10-24-2007, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by nhraformula

the hotcam is not going to give you anywhere near 49 rear wheel horsepower.

big ass cams like the magic stick barely give that much power.

That's what I was thinking. I got 34rwhp from my 224 cam.

**ATCharming** · 10-24-2007, 01:57 PM

sorry to kinda hijack, but i want to learn more about the specs of cams. im kinda lost on the durations, lsa's, etc., and how each specification affects power output/powerband/idle/driveability, etc. i looked in the internals forum but theres no sticky... can someone point me in the direction of a good thread that describes this to the most basic extent possible?

**INMY01TA** · 10-24-2007, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by ATCharming

sorry to kinda hijack, but i want to learn more about the specs of cams. im kinda lost on the durations, lsa's, etc., and how each specification affects power output/powerband/idle/driveability, etc. i looked in the internals forum but theres no sticky... can someone point me in the direction of a good thread that describes this to the most basic extent possible?

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=327734

**ATCharming** · 10-24-2007, 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by INMY01TA

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=327734

thank you. sorry for gettin the thread off topic, u guys just soudned like u knew what u were talkin about and i want in on the info too

**INMY01TA** · 10-24-2007, 02:05 PM

Cool man, knowledge is power.

**ATCharming** · 10-24-2007, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by INMY01TA

Cool man, knowledge is power.

**Websy21** · 10-24-2007, 07:14 PM

yes, the most you'll get out of the hotcam is about 35rwhp on a stock motor with supporting mods. I'd say more like 30rwhp but like stated 35 has been done. It definitely isn't the best but for the lift, spring hashness it does well. With 1.85 rockers you could prolly get another 10 maybe 12 or so with it but that to me isn't worth it. Might as well keep stock rockers and go with the bigger cam.

**nhraformula** · 10-25-2007, 05:55 AM

Originally Posted by Websy21

With 1.85 rockers you could prolly get another 10 maybe 12 or so with it but that to me isn't worth it. Might as well keep stock rockers and go with the bigger cam.

youll make more power and it will cost less

**Websy21** · 10-25-2007, 06:41 PM

exactly the point, the point behind the hotcam is for a overall lesser value in cam/springs/pushrods, etc you get a great gain for your money. At the same time never have to worry about springs again. You can pick up the hotcam and LS6 sprinsg for 200 or less used. I got the springs on the car already, bought it that way b/c it use to have the 1.85 rockers and I jsut picked up a brand new regrind of the hotcam for 125 bucks. With my current mods, full bolt on's, suspension, gears/converter, etc the cam should perform fairly decent. Making some great responsive power throughtout entire rpm's while not hurting the wallet.

**rocksws6** · 10-28-2007, 07:26 PM

I think the hotcam is a good cam if your just after the sound and you don't like changing springs. As far as power goes there are far better options but the more radical you get the harder it is on springs. Camshafts are all about compromise. Just be honest with yourself about what you really want of a cam and know what the trade off is going to be.

**Mr. Luos** · 10-28-2007, 07:31 PM

You can't run the hotcam without changing the springs. Well...you shouldn't. Big time risk of breaking one.

Personally...the 224/224 cams are GREAT for powerband and driveability.

**Websy21** · 10-28-2007, 07:36 PM

Nope, you need atleast the Ls6 springs with the hotcam but you'll never have to worry about them again and they and only cost 40-60 bucks

**rocksws6** · 10-28-2007, 07:41 PM

That's what I meant that you wouldn't be changing them every 20 to 30k like you will be with these big lift cams. Put the LS6's in there and forget about it. No spring maintance.

**Mr. Luos** · 10-28-2007, 07:41 PM

Agreed.

Although most valvesprings would be good on the 224 cams for a long time as well.
Me on the other hand...I swap valvesprings out every 15K miles.

**rocksws6** · 10-28-2007, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by Mr. Luos

Me on the other hand...I swap valvesprings out every 15K miles.

If its just a weekend/summer car that's not that bad though. If it's a daily driver though.

**Mr. Luos** · 10-29-2007, 03:23 PM

Takes me 3-4 years to get 15K on it.

Just over 35K on it. 1999.
Motor has around 7,500 in just short of two years, two race seasons though.

**Calico** · 12-02-2007, 12:37 AM

Originally Posted by Websy21

yes, the most you'll get out of the hotcam is about 35rwhp on a stock motor with supporting mods. I'd say more like 30rwhp but like stated 35 has been done. It definitely isn't the best but for the lift, spring hashness it does well. With 1.85 rockers you could prolly get another 10 maybe 12 or so with it but that to me isn't worth it. Might as well keep stock rockers and go with the bigger cam.

I got 31 untuned from my hotcam. I may go with the 1.85 rockers when i do the ls6 intake and smoke 224's all day...ha ha....

**nhraformula** · 12-03-2007, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by Calico

I got 31 untuned from my hotcam. I may go with the 1.85 rockers when i do the ls6 intake and smoke 224's all day...ha ha....

1.85 rockers will net you no more than 10 rwhp.
how do i know this, because i had them before i dumped them for a cam.
with 3 dyno pulls the average was 9 rwhp.
rocker arms =waste of $$$

Originally Posted by Calico

smoke 224's all day...ha ha....

so you hope.
a 224 user could get a used fast intake for the price of rockers and make more power than you can with rockers.
then again for a hotcam, youll need every bolt on you can to try and beat a 224 car.

**Calico** · 12-04-2007, 04:22 PM

Originally Posted by nhraformula

1.85 rockers will net you no more than 10 rwhp.
how do i know this, because i had them before i dumped them for a cam.
with 3 dyno pulls the average was 9 rwhp.
rocker arms =waste of $$$

so you hope.
a 224 user could get a used fast intake for the price of rockers and make more power than you can with rockers.
then again for a hotcam, youll need every bolt on you can to try and beat a 224 car.

For someone who has never owned a hotcam, you sure know a lot about it. When you speak on things you know nothing about, it kinda makes you look like an idiot. It's not my fault my "lowly" hotcam got 31 hp and your "best thing ever" 224 got 39. That 31 hp was with a ls1 intake also.

**EvilCamaroSS** · 12-06-2007, 06:33 AM

Originally Posted by konigandy6

Thanks for the input. I realized that you really can't go cheap when it comes to stuff like that, but hey, like you said, you can't beat the price. I think I will budget in a larger cam, and mix and match the right valve-train pieces that I need.

i went with a .228/.228 .588/.588 114+4 LSA cam, went with comp 918 springs, cost me all of 275 Shipped and i made over 400 RWHP on 1998 Heads