Real world benefits from cam swap..

2007 5.9 said:
I am looking for input from guys who have put in a aftermarket cam.

Looking to see what benefits you recieved from the swap, what cam did you get and why.

I am looking to crack 700hp and still be able to tow at elevation 5500ft+ with reasonable EGT's.


Thanks guys.

Les
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To answer your question one would need to know what you plan on using this "700 hp" for and why?

Is it to race with, pull with, dyno with, or is it just so you can say "I have 700 hp"?

Have you ever driven a 700 hp diesel on the street? My personal opinion is it's only good for two things, getting into trouble and/or endangering yourself and those around you:bang I still don't think people wanting 7-800 hp Daily Drivers truely understand what they are asking for or the consequences that comes with it:badidea:

That being said, the cam will only be a small part of a larger puzzle. I agree with others that trying to tow with a 700 hp capable single is going to be difficult, especially at altitude, regardless of what cam you put in there.

Very few people do actual and quantifiable back to back testing after installing modifications or different parts. The "placebo effect" is a HUGE part of the opinions you'll get around here. I am guilty of it myself! You spend XXXX dollars and your mind will convince your butt that things are better regardless. I can tell you from actual experience, at over 600 hp and driving on the street, your butt can not tell the difference between +/- 50 hp or 100 ft/lbs of tq.:umno: Track, datalogging, and dyno testing are the ONLY way you will be able to see what has changed.

Bottom line, my suggestion would be to either rethink your goals or modify the parts of the puzzle.
 
I didn't think it could be a Helix when I saw the dyno graph - before & after SOTP meter has always shown more useable power after cam installation on our customer's trucks.
 
Andy you seem jaded by a one time experience that happened a long time ago before zach, don, fletcher, greg started working with and building cams on these engines. Times have changed and so has technology. You'd probably be surprised how well these cams work. Everyone I've talked to who has run a cam, regardless of the manufacturer, has noticed improved spoolup, better egt's, better driveability, and some have reported better mileage.
 
Dockboy said:
To answer your question one would need to know what you plan on using this "700 hp" for and why?

Is it to race with, pull with, dyno with, or is it just so you can say "I have 700 hp"? All of the above...dont we all want that??

Have you ever driven a 700 hp diesel on the street? My personal opinion is it's only good for two things, getting into trouble and/or endangering yourself and those around you:bang I still don't think people wanting 7-800 hp Daily Drivers truely understand what they are asking for or the consequences that comes with it:badidea:
Yes I ve driven a 700hp truck on the street, as long as your not a A$$hole in real life you wont drive like one. Those who know me, know that I'm about as a conservative driver as they come. So without knowing me and my style...I wont take offense to your statement.


That being said, the cam will only be a small part of a larger puzzle. I agree with others that trying to tow with a 700 hp capable single is going to be difficult, especially at altitude, regardless of what cam you put in there.

Again...I am not going to be towing at 5500ft with 700hp on tap....I can de-tune when I need to. What I want is a set-up that can make 700hp at sea level and can be de-tuned for towing at elevation.

Very few people do actual and quantifiable back to back testing after installing modifications or different parts. The "placebo effect" is a HUGE part of the opinions you'll get around here. I am guilty of it myself! You spend XXXX dollars and your mind will convince your butt that things are better regardless. I can tell you from actual experience, at over 600 hp and driving on the street, your butt can not tell the difference between +/- 50 hp or 100 ft/lbs of tq.:umno: Track, datalogging, and dyno testing are the ONLY way you will be able to see what has changed.

Being that as it may, I do have UNLIMITED access to a dyno, and yes my butt dyno is quite calibrated for my truck.

Bottom line, my suggestion would be to either rethink your goals or modify the parts of the puzzle.
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Thanks for your opinion and input.

And yes, I am modifying PART of my puzzle...I am not going with a bigger turbo. I can make mine work just fine....with the right cam to spool it quicker and make my power curve flatter I will have MORE useful power everywhere.

My plans are as follows....put the biggest drop-in cam in, and get a better pressure box. The MP-8 I currently have only nets me 30hp on the dyno, where when I made my 650hp I was running a Edge EZ that made more.

I am planning on getting a Dr. P pressure box and seeing where I am at.

I appreciate everyones opinions and thoughts!!!:rockwoot:

As you can see I am now looking for the biggest drop in cam avail.
 
maybe they didn't know how to grind a cam for a street truck?
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Forrest...
Thats quite possible and knowing it was early on in the deal I have not ruled that out.I knew that Jim didn't like his first grind either and have talked with a few others who also had issues with their first grind so it has lead me to where I am now.I have the stock cam here and am going to pull the one in the truck and give it to someone I respect very much who can run it on his computer cam profiler and tell me his thought on the cam,lobes and the way the lifters fall off the backside of the lobe.I am convinced that the one in my truck has a issue with how the lifter transitions off the backside of the cam lobe thus creating valve train harmonics.I feel also that contributed to the early failure of the roller rocker bushings and is why the dyno shows the severe drop in power and torque at higher rpms.Valve train harmonics(or float as some call it) will not stop once started until the motor is brought back to an idle.Maybe I am right and maybe I am wrong,but until I see the computer graph of the cam and its lobes I will not know for sure.I know what worked years ago in my gasser/alcohol race motors and know a bad cam lobe will kill many things.

BgBlDodge.....
Actually I am not jaded in anyway at all.I am a believer with what I have learned that unless your going to a cam which requires a fly-cut piston then you do not need a cam at all.I am convinced that any grind that does not require a cut piston does not allow enough lobe opening to do the owner any good for the cost of the cam and install.Now that does not mean I would not try another one either,however,if your looking for a apples to apples comparision you would have a better bang for your buck with twins over a uncut piston camshaft.
 
I'm switching from 1 aftermarket cam now to another one that spools alot faster according to quite a few people. Unfortunately we didn't do dyno runs before and after as the truck was already apart when I decied to swap cams so it's gonna be based off the way it drives now as compared to before and I drive it daily so I'll know if it smokes less, gets off the line faster, and tows better or at all really (i didn't tow anything before if I could help it)
 
Don't forget that swapping "in-cylinder EGR" CR cams usually yields a more noticeable difference than replacing a 24V or especially a 12V cam.
 
Dockboy said:
Have you ever driven a 700 hp diesel on the street? My personal opinion is it's only good for two things, getting into trouble and/or endangering yourself and those around you:bang I still don't think people wanting 7-800 hp Daily Drivers truely understand what they are asking for or the consequences that comes with it:badidea:
.
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Not saying your truck is 700hp or not, but I do find the above statement funny coming from the guy who's avatar is of him doing a burnout and blowing smoke everywhere in the middle of the street.
 
XLR8R said:
Don't forget that swapping "in-cylinder EGR" CR cams usually yields a more noticeable difference than replacing a 24V or especially a 12V cam.
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good point. The gains on an early common rail wouldn't be as noticable as an 04.5 and later.
 
Mountaineer said:
Not saying your truck is 700hp or not, but I do find the above statement funny coming from the guy who's avatar is of him doing a burnout and blowing smoke everywhere in the middle of the street.
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Hey dipstick...................

That picture is in the burnout box at Cecil County Dragway and my truck is over 900 hp on fuel:poke:
 
Mountaineer said:
Not saying your truck is 700hp or not, but I do find the above statement funny coming from the guy who's avatar is of him doing a burnout and blowing smoke everywhere in the middle of the street.
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:hehe: Umm thats a drag strip...:kick:
 
What are some thoughts on the before and after runs Lloyd posted one the previous page?
 
Dockboy said:
Hey dipstick...................

That picture is in the burnout box at Cecil County Dragway and my truck is over 900 hp on fuel:poke:
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which motor are you talking about the first one that you could not keep together or the second one???:doh:
 
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