ls3 best cam for daily driver

[MikeOD]

My custom grind cam is 226/234 .600/.600 114 +4...sounds awesome, and drives great.

If it bucks/surges, the tune needs more work.

[WHAMMO]

If its a true DD, I'd really consider something in the 22x-23x range. If you get something like a 230-242, you might get some surge/bucking you wont appreciate in a true DD, unless youre hardcore or have access to a great tuner.

My 230-236 in a 6.0L with LS3 heads/3:42 gearing is fine and doesnt surge at all, but I had a great tuner, Matt at New Era. 6th gear at any speed and no problem. The Monster clutch stage 3 does not help for drivability but it wont fail LOL! Parking lots require more attention, but nothing crazy IMO.

Good luck!

[Deezee]

Originally Posted by WHAMMO

If its a true DD, I'd really consider something in the 22x-23x range. If you get something like a 230-242, you might get some surge/bucking you wont appreciate in a true DD, unless youre hardcore or have access to a great tuner.

My 230-236 in a 6.0L with LS3 heads/3:42 gearing is fine and doesnt surge at all, but I had a great tuner, Matt at New Era. 6th gear at any speed and no problem. The Monster clutch stage 3 does not help for drivability but it wont fail LOL! Parking lots require more attention, but nothing crazy IMO.

Good luck!

I disagree. I've "true DD'd" a 230 242 cam in two cars, a combined 20k miles. I assure you it is ALL in the tune. I do agree though about having a great tuner. If you don't have access to one I wouldn't even install a cam!! It's a 10hr round trip to go to lethal to let Shawn tune it, but it's worth it. My last car was a 14hr round trip! Lol I've yet to drive another cam'd car I liked as much. Not to mention the night fury cam has been proven over and over with mild to wild boost setups!

[Penaw001]

Originally Posted by bkscott

Let me add the ADM stage 2 cam to your list. I drive 60 miles a day and it has not been a problem. Didn't realize the video was marked private. Fixed now.

So what are you putting down to the wheels?

[bkscott]

442 hp and I think 423 tq.

[Jims Mongoose]

I thank you for the information. I think it might be a good idea to list the cam specs whenever we talk about the difference that it made. I know of course that mods are not idedpendent. That is someone with a cam change but no exhaust mods is not going to do as well as someone that does. Still it will give us all a better feel for the mods and there affects.

Jim

PS sorry I talk to much.

[converted]

Night fury from lethal racing!!

[Kelly@PCMofNC]

Originally Posted by Jims Mongoose

Hello, I am looking for the best daily driver cam, but that can also be used when I supercharge it. I know its a compromise, but If anyone has any ideas including the cam specs i would appreciate it.

Jim

Yup our 545 cam is great with superchargers also! Mine did 499 rwhp with 545 cam and AI heads, and 699rwhp with 10lbs of boost from a TVS 2300.

[Bell040]

Originally Posted by matt55

http://www.wallaceracing.com/overlap-calc.php

I would want a cam with 5º or less overlap for a DD.

^ Best post in this thread.

You can delete the rest as they are opinions of what "best" means.

Drivability is a direct correlation to overlap.

Stock is -11° of overlap

+15° is a monster and can hardly be driven in parking lots.

Data is here: http://www.gmhightechperformance.com...ft_comparison/

[Deezee]

Originally Posted by Bell040

^ Best post in this thread.

You can delete the rest as they are opinions of what "best" means.

Drivability is a direct correlation to overlap.

Stock is -11° of overlap

+15° is a monster and can hardly be driven in parking lots.

Data is here: http://www.gmhightechperformance.com...ft_comparison/

Once again I politely disagree. If I remember correctly the night fury is +10* and it's very DD friendly. I've driven bigger, with more overlap, and it was still "drivable" just woundnt be fun in rush hour, and not worth the trade off of a "little" more power while giving up some drivability. I could personally DD a bigger cam, but my cars tend to be a little extreme for most to dd. after two night furys, I'm telling you it's the perfect balance for 95% of dd cars. The last 5% are the guys that expect NO CHANGE in drivability but want to pick up 100whp! You can relearn to drive a NF car in 5min, then never notice the change in driving again. I let my buddies wife drive it and she was just fine. And she's only ever driven "stock manual" cars. My biggest push tho is still the tuner! I've seen this same cam in cars and drive like shit! Hit your local car spot, chances are someone has one and go for a ride, or maybe drive it! you will see...

[Bell040]

Originally Posted by Deezee

Once again I politely disagree. If I remember correctly the night fury is +10* and it's very DD friendly. I've driven bigger, with more overlap, and it was still "drivable" just woundnt be fun in rush hour, and not worth the trade off of a "little" more power while giving up some drivability. I could personally DD a bigger cam, but my cars tend to be a little extreme for most to dd. after two night furys, I'm telling you it's the perfect balance for 95% of dd cars. The last 5% are the guys that expect NO CHANGE in drivability but want to pick up 100whp! You can relearn to drive a NF car in 5min, then never notice the change in driving again. I let my buddies wife drive it and she was just fine. And she's only ever driven "stock manual" cars. My biggest push tho is still the tuner! I've seen this same cam in cars and drive like shit! Hit your local car spot, chances are someone has one and go for a ride, or maybe drive it! you will see...

I agree that the tuner can screw up the tune. I am holding that variable constant.

The physics of the cam (overlap) control the MAP. Higher MAP (intake pressure) directly correlates to surging, bucking, and RPM hunting. Therefore if you are picking a custom cam, and you want to customize it for strictly drivability... you only need one parameter... overlap.

Read the article and then look at the drivability table. The research has been done for you (by our buddy Robin Lawrence).



You are saying that your +10° cam runs "fine". If you want to compare it to other cams... you need data.

[Deezee]

Thank you for the info, and it's all very useful if getting a custom cam made for "your build". I assumed the OP was looking for an off the shelf cam. As for my choice it's based on how the car "feels" and the hp numbers it made. Yes, you could spec a cam that has no surging at all, but you will give up some power and sound. As for the NF cam all the testing has been done for us. Shawn knows what he's doing, and went through many tries I'm sure to get to where the NF cam is now. The BEST option will always be one made just for your needs. But as far as "off the shelf" I don't think the NF can be beat for a DD car. Any bigger would give up "some" drivability, and any smaller I would be left wanting more. You are correct though, my assumption is based on "the feel" of the car. Having owned several big build cars, and having driven several different LS cam'd cars, it is my opinion that the NF is the best DD cam you can buy.

[WHAMMO]

Originally Posted by Deezee

I disagree. I've "true DD'd" a 230 242 cam in two cars, a combined 20k miles. I assure you it is ALL in the tune. I do agree though about having a great tuner. If you don't have access to one I wouldn't even install a cam!! It's a 10hr round trip to go to lethal to let Shawn tune it, but it's worth it. My last car was a 14hr round trip! Lol I've yet to drive another cam'd car I liked as much. Not to mention the night fury cam has been proven over and over with mild to wild boost setups!

You didnt read my post correctly; I said:"unless you have access to a great tuner". Dont worry, Ive read billions of thread on cam choice and some were daily driving MS3 in a LS1...

Still a tad big cam for a DD. I would not mind trying it though.Gears can make things a lot better too FWIW.

[Z_Rated]

My cam was done by Pat G. Love it! I do a lot of driving around town and on base at 25-30mph. Car drives well, even rolls just off the clutch w/o stalling. Also put done 447 after being tuned. Pat is the man!