MikePL

Unfortunately my head gasket exploded. Because my engine is open I want to change my Hot cam kit to something better. I narrowed my choices to:

- Comp Cams CC306 (07-306-8)
- Comp Cams Xtreme Energy 230/236 (07-467-8). Summit part nr. CCA-07-567-8
- Crane 109831(known as GM 847)

I would like to have low end drivability and as little of cam surge as possible. So far from corvette forum I have found out the best choice would be Comp Cams Xtreme Energy 230/236 (07-467-8). What do you think?

Additionally I will change:
• Head gasket – 0.031 so my compression will jump from 10.85 to 11.35
• Long tube headers
• 3 inch exhaust
• Ported LT1 intake porting

My 383 set up:
• SBC Scat 383 Rotating Assembly Kit (3.750 X 6.000 X Probe Dish Pistons) 1-Pc. Rear Seal, Compression ratio: 57cc heads 10:4, 4.030 in. bore, 1/16 in. top/second rings, 3/16 in. standard tension oil control rings, standard gap, Plasma-Moly piston ring set,
• 160 degree thermostat,
• 30lb injectors,
• K&N filter,
• Throttle body 58 mm,
• Hot cam Kit,
• ported and polished heads
• stock exhaust (no cats), stock

tjwong

If you don't want cam surge definitely the 847 cam is out of the question. The old venerable CC306 cam, some say it has cam surge and some say not. I have tuned a few of these for the F body crowd, the love it for some reason. Properly tuned you can eliminate most of the cam surge. The new XFI cam maybe the ticket, with the specs posted and tuned properly there should be little or no cam surge.

Of the three cams you listed the XFI cam would be the most suited if you want low speed drivability and the least cam surge. If you want better low end, then a cam in the mid 220's would be the way to go. Something around 224 to 228 intake duration would work well for a daily driver and would offer the best low end, with the least amount of cam surge. Going to a cam that is more than 230 intake duration with more than 12 to 14 degrees of overlap, cam surge is going to be an issue due to the intake manifold design. When overlap occurs you get reversion in the intake track, this is the phenomenah that cause cam surge. Plus with every pulse, the MAF reads this as additional flow, and tuning becomes an issue. I am running a 224/236 on a 112 it has virtuallly no surge, offers excellent low end and decent milage. It also outpulls the HOT cam by a considerable margin. And it sounds nice

93 ragtop

I know this is not what you are asking about but I bet a set of long tube headers even with your stock exhaust would really help out.

luvmy92

Like TJ, I am running a similar cam from CC. It's a 224/230 with 113 LSA. It uses the 3100 series lobes and has .605/.622" lift w/1.6 RR's, so your heads need to be up to snuff as well. My car dynoed 415/417 to the rear wheel with this cam.

Mike

STL94LT1

I'm running the same camshaft with the exception of a 112 LSA. I've managed to tune out all of the cam surge, even on my 350ci engine. A very good street/strip camshaft. Decent low end torque, and will spin to the moon. Hopefully, I can tune it to pass Missouri's emissions testing.

-Mike

LT4POWR

Have you already purchased the valvetrain? You're gonna need to make sure it's properly matched w/ the cam.

ALLT4

When you guys say "CC" do you mean Crane Cams or Comp Cams?

LT4POWR

good point, usually means Comp Cams, but could also mean a Custom Cam

STL94LT1

I'm running a CCCC , Comp Cams Custom Cam.

FD2BLK

The 306 is about like a hot cam in a 383. I have it in my car and have zero cam surge and havent since day one with a mail order tune. The XFI may be a better way to go but I cant speak from experience on that one as I can with the 306. My car pulls alike a freight train from the bottom up. Take a look at my TQ curve it is right around 350 FtLbs at 1500 RPS and only has a small dip before a constant climb up to 4600 where it slowly tapers off. I was extreamly happy with the low wnd punch of the CC 306 and with the over all flatness of the TQ curve. Now the day I tuned i had a miss and an exhaust leak, found later, so I think there is another 6-11 left in her with only slight tweaks to the tuning and that would put me at 420-425 RWHP with a nice TQ curve with similar #s. BTW just checked the MPG this last week and it was 16.5 City/some HWY 24.7 HWY, not to bad for a 400+RWHP/TQ motor

DVNCI

I just swapped my CC 305 out and went with a 230/242 extreme energy (basically a 306). Thunder Racing recommended the extreme energy cam instead of the 306 and I'm happy with it. I lost some low end torque but the car never feels like it stops pulling now and I shift at 6500 or so.

I do have a little cam surge, though it's slight, either I've gotten used to it or the computer has magically adjusted because it just seems to gradually get better and better.

ALLT4

Trying a CC503 here with 1.6 rockers. Seems like a reasonable option other than the CC306 which I think may be a little bit too long winded. JMHO

This 383 should be all together in few weeks so I'll let you know how it works out.

rodj

Define cam surge?
as opposed to lope.
One and the same?
How do you "tune "it out?

mothersworry

Like many of the guys here I am running the 224/230 cam on 112+2 advance. This is a great cam and is cut on a 1.050 base. I have heard from some top cnc head guys that the Crane Cams 222/230 cam is the way to go. Great drivability and the smoothest torque curve on the planet.

FD2BLK

No they are not the same. Most love a lope at idle noone likes surge.
surge is a bucking of the motor that feels like the car is surging foward then stoping and then surging and so on.

kopbet89c4

Loping at idle scares off the ricers, surging makes them wanna race you because the more technically inclined ricers think you have a vacuum leak, and therefore lost performance. I'm gonna start thinking about this when I eventually get a cam swap. Whatever floats your boat, I'd actually prefer surging, but each time I'm at a stoplight, I'd put my car in neutral to avoid ramming someones ***.

STL94LT1

That sounds like a tuning problem. The cam surge we are discussing usually occurs at cruising speed ~1500-2000 rpms, and can be very annoying. I also doubt if any "Ricers" would even notice.

MikePL

Thank you all for your input and advice.

I have narrowed my choice to 3 cams:
• Comp Cams 230/236
• Comp Cams 230/244 (CC306)
• Comp Cams 224/230

Considering that this season I got involved in ¼ mile races (I love it) more and more I am willing to sacrifice lower end torque and cam surge to more usable power.

Here in Poland we don’t have really professional drag racing strips. All the event are held on air strips. In those condition even using slicks low end torque is not usable. I am spinning tires even with slicks on my current set up with hot cam. In my opinion (for me) if I can gain more top power (from 3 RPM to 6 RPM) as trade for low end torque I want to do this. This is why I will probably go with Comp Cams 230/246. With my long tube headers, no cats (no emission problems here ), 3 inch exhaust and some tuning I hope to eliminate cam surge to minimum. From what I understand I can expect cam surge between 1000 – 2000 RPM is this correct?

FD2BLK

Yes but with the CAms you have listed with a proper tune it can almost be compleatly tuned out.

Red Rocket

Have the XE CC 230/236 cam in my 396 six speed. 400 + RWTQ at 3300 RPM's to 5500 RPM's. 400+ RWHP at 5000 RPM's to 6300 RPM's. The 306 as shown above will probably shift your curve to the right 300-500 RPM's from the 230/236.