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Cam upgrade advice needed, LA318 in a wagon

i like the lobes that comp has, but that one appears to be similar also.
the lsa is a bit wider tho. its good for your application also
 
Force fed that sounds like it might do the trick...and save ya a little money taboot...
I think your not going to go wrong with either one...as I said I just happen to be partial to lunati cause I worked there and really know their cam profiles...and I'm sure gremlinsteve knowns comp cams as well we were competitors for years !!!!! do some reading up...spy on youtube...(type in xe262 and see what cha come up with) I'm pretty sure ur friend will be alot happier either way...
 
The smaller the LSA the more lope it'll have correct? I don't see what the centerline is on the Voodoo (Summit doesn't list it), how does that affect idle and power?

I'll see what I can find on the XE262, if it'll make the same power as the Lunati but sound meaner at idle, could go with that.
 
It's going to be difficult finding a camshaft that sounds like the "wild child" with what your friend is working with. You must remember, that even listening to camshafts on Youtube or other video hosting sites can be misleading. A car running long tube headers, 2.75-3" exhaust tubing, with single chamber or straight-through mufflers is going to sound much nastier than the car running factory exhaust manifolds, 2-2.25" exhaust tubing, and street mufflers out the back. Just take that into consideration. Your friend seems to want "big block" performance out of his small block with this camshaft, and a sound that is nearing a Ray Barton Hemi on open headers at the stop light. I would just purchase a camshaft that sounds aggressive and is acceptable in terms of valve lift under .500 with somewhat mild duration, and work with that until he gets some more cubic inches, gear, and stall. All the above recommendations are great. I would stick with the Mopar grinds, I feel they would have more potential being strictly developed for Chrysler engines.
 
Right, I think I'm gonna tell him to go with the VooDoo then. Hopefully it works alright :D Should I get the matching springs, or just get some Summit springs that can handle the lift? The cars mostly sees street duty and will probably never see 5k rpm more than a few times a year.
 
Force Fed Mopar said:
Right, I think I'm gonna tell him to go with the VooDoo then. Hopefully it works alright :D Should I get the matching springs, or just get some Summit springs that can handle the lift? The cars mostly sees street duty and will probably never see 5k rpm more than a few times a year.
Click to expand...

I would go with the cam manufactures recommendations. If anything should go wrong, then you can't (or shouldn't) be the one to blame for any sort of failure. On the other hand, I purchase summit parts; most are developed by high end, reputable companies and stamped with the summit logo.
 
either or on the springs. just get them set up at the correct install height and you will be fine.

i try my best to stay away from comp cams for any spring choice...i prefer peterson or manley.

i liked the xe262 for its timing events also. not sure what the timing events on the lunati piece are but it should be close or real similar. you cant go wrong either way.

if all you want is lope in that little motor use the comp 268. it will give you the lope your after. will obviously kill some of the low end ect. but it sounds and runs good.

steve
 
gremlinsteve said:
will obviously kill some of the low end ect. but it sounds and runs good.

steve
Click to expand...

What large cam, with heavy overlap doesn't? :toothy10: I am sure ANY of the camshafts listed will give a performance boost to that relatively small edelbrock camshaft his friend has in their now..
 
Sweet5ltr said:
What large cam, with heavy overlap doesn't? :toothy10: I am sure ANY of the camshafts listed will give a performance boost to that relatively small edelbrock camshaft his friend has in their now..
Click to expand...

That was pretty much my thinking too lol, that Performer Plus is smaller than my 4bbl cam. I really wish he'd go with the 4bbl cam as I think it'll make a better power curve, but I guess him having an auto will mask some of the lower end loss with the lopey cam.

Anyway, I think I'll tell him to go with the Lunati 60401 and Summit springs to match. He doesn't want to spend too much on it, some that's about as good as he's gonna get. Still trying to find a 3.55 chunk at a good price local for it too.

I'll try to remember to post the results, so anyone else reading this looking for the same thing will have some real world input :)
 
As long as the spring chosen can handle upwards to a .500 lift camshaft, their is no reason why it should not work. I would opt for aftermarket retainers as well. The summit tech line, either online or on the phone is available as a valuable resource as well. They can guide you on the best choice of valve springs for your application.
 
I just got my 318 back and decided to go with the whiplash cam. It has a nice tone at idle there is a slight loop, and it has great street driveablility with no vacuum issues. I haven't really been able to get on it as I'm still breaking in the fresh rebuild. But I took it from a dead stop to about 2,500 rpm and it seemed to have a really strong low end.
 
David said:
I just got my 318 back and decided to go with the whiplash cam. It has a nice tone at idle there is a slight loop, and it has great street driveablility with no vacuum issues. I haven't really been able to get on it as I'm still breaking in the fresh rebuild. But I took it from a dead stop to about 2,500 rpm and it seemed to have a really strong low end.
Click to expand...

Cool! What compression ratio and heads?
 
Okay, did some more researching and I may go with the XE262. He has headers and duals, and with the auto will be at 1500 rpm as soon as he takes off normally anyway. Rpm range on the 60401 Voodoo is 1000-5000, the XE262 says 1300-5600. The lift is about the same but it has more duration and a smaller LSA. Here's the cam cards for you guys to compare:

Lunati 60401 VooDoo
http://www.lunatipower.com/CamSpecCard.aspx?partNumber=60401

Comp Cams XE262
http://www.compcams.com/Company/CC/cam-specs/Details.aspx?csid=626&sb=0
 
force fed mopar... try looking at purchasing a cam kit that includes the valve springs and maybe save yourself a few $$$$$ the response for the Voodoo stick should be pretty similar to whiplash... but the voodoo will be a split duration which add a little more *** to engine...
Either way IT WILL BE A VERY Noticable difference... and I think you and YOUR Friend will be very happy !!!!
 
PoppaSmurf said:
force fed mopar... try looking at purchasing a cam kit that includes the valve springs and maybe save yourself a few $$$$$ the response for the Voodoo stick should be pretty similar to whiplash... but the voodoo will be a split duration which add a little more *** to engine...
Either way IT WILL BE A VERY Noticable difference... and I think you and YOUR Friend will be very happy !!!!
Click to expand...

I think you meant the XE262? The Whiplash is split duration (213/226).

Reading the description for the whiplash, it says it is made for low compression engines like my friend has. Says it's designed to not bleed off the cyl pressure but still have a lopey idle. Reckon that's true/possible, or just a sales pitch? The Whiplash was my first choice, then steered away due to the lift as I wasn't sure at the time that he wanted to change the springs. Now that I know he does, it is back on the table for consideration.

So for ease of comparision, here is the Lunati cam specs:
http://www.lunatipower.com/CamSpecCard.aspx?partNumber=60401

The Comp Cams XE262 cam specs:
http://www.compcams.com/Company/CC/cam-specs/Details.aspx?csid=626&sb=0

And the Hughes Whiplash cam specs:
http://www.hughesengines.com/Index/...V2hpcGxhc2ggTXVzY2xlIENhciBDYW1z&partid=25113

I know any of them will be a performance increase, just want to pick the one with the best compromise. I only found 1 vid on youtube of a 318 w/ the Lunati 60401, and it had 302 heads and he did a cold start and didn't let it idle much. What I heard was not very lopey. I did find a couple of 318's w/ Thumpr cams, but IMO they sounded like crap when revved like they weren't right or something.
 
Check the XE256 vs the 262. tq peak comes on 500 RPM sooner and stays in for 1500, vs the peaky later tq on the 262.
256 makes only 10 less HP at 5500.

Just sayin'
 
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