My cam saga

[Scotty_S-15]

FINALLY was able to go racing Friday night, to evaluate my \"advancing\" of my new Isky roller hydr. cam. If y\'all recall, I installed the cam as shipped, checked that it was degreed in exactly as spec\'d, and it ran pretty shitty. I advanced it 4 degrees (at the crank) so now with the advance, it looks very much like the Comp Cams HR288. So now it idles a little better, and feels a little torquier (is that a word? http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif ) on the street. BTW, what seemed to help the idle a LOTwas to open the plug gap up from .035 to .040. So now it\'ll idle at 1K nicely, and in gear idle at 800 without rattling the windows like it did. In that respect, it\'s a joy to drive on the street, especially compared to the way it idled previously.

.......... So Friday night I go racing, not a good night, hot and seriously humid, and worst of all, they were NOT taking care of the track AT ALL. Everyone I spoke to was down 3 tenths, and blowing the tires off it on launch, and down on HP. I was able to squeeze in 9 runs, which is a rare thing at Englishtown, it was less crowded than usual, probably the nasty weather.

............ Bad new is all nine runs sucked. Mostly 12.3s, started out with low 108s, and as the evening cooled, high 109s.

............. Now the worst news. I\'ve been noticing that #2 plug is getting oily REAL quick lately. I changed that plug a couple times recently. So I do a quick cranking compression check, it\'s 20 lbs lower than the other few easy cylinders I checked. I\'ve got a home-made leak down tester, I guess I\'ll need to check that next chance. Yes, I checked the intake valve seal, all OK. AND I\'ve been noticing some oil blowing out of the PCV grommet after a 1/4 mile pass, and also looks like the RTV seal under the front of the intake is pushing out some oil after a hard run. So OK, maybe I didn\'t use enough RTV, but for it to happen only after a 1/4 mile pass or hard run tells me that there\'s excessive blowby pressure there now that wasn\'t there earlier. So does this figure in with my wet #2 plug? hmmmm.

......... My engine is a ZZ4 short block, it\'s been in the truck just 5 years now (July \'99), low mileage, but probably a couple HUNDRED 1/4 mile passes. http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif

[mzoomora]

What heads are you running? Those times are pretty good. I saw better MPH than that with my 288, but could never get it to hook so the best I ever got was a 12.7. The one day it hooked it fried the clutch and was down a few mph but was still running 108-109. I think you will deffinetly see better results than that in the long run, especially in better weather.

[Scotty_S-15]

Mike, I\'ve got the Edelbrock Performer RPM heads, and like the short block, new in \'99. The combination has seen 11.9\'s @ 112 numerous times, but with perfect weather conditions. (just call me Mr. October!) Also ran 11.9\'s last August with open headers. That should have been a 12.2 night weather-wise, so there\'s a lot to be gained there! http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif

.......... So basically, what it\'s looking like, is that my performance has not increased much, if any, over my old cam, which was the GM \"hot\" ZZ4 hydr. roller cam.

......... But my concern at this point is that my motor might be showing signs of fatigue, hence negating any improvement. Time will tell.

[mzoomora]

Sounds good. I am sure once you get the cam all dialed in you will see some improvement. I wish I could have gotten my times where yours are, I am starting to hate my truck.

[Truckman91]

I just laugh at how your terrible nights at the track are 12.3s



And laugh even harder at the fact that a terrible night at Englishtown is equivalent to a wonderful night at most other tracks around the country. http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif

[ZZ4Blazer]

Hey Scotty, you know how much your truck weighs?



And Mike, did you ever run slicks, or just drag radials?

[Scotty_S-15]

My truck is pretty heavy, compared to some others. Weighs around 3100 depending on gas load, plus my 170 lbs.

......... I can see I won\'t get much pity around here running 12.3s..... http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif

[ZZ4Blazer]

Guess I don\'t feel so bad then, seeing how I\'ve got bigger brakes, thick heavy sway bars, heavier bucket seats, 3rd shock, etc..and Im around 3150 with half a tank, plus 160 of me.

[mzoomora]

On 2005-07-19 06:50, ZZ4Blazer wrote:

Hey Scotty, you know how much your truck weighs?



And Mike, did you ever run slicks, or just drag radials?







I have slicks now(well actually ET streets), but I only ever used DR\'s at the track, and small ones too.

As far as your guy\'s weight, mine weighs about 3150, and its a RC/SB, no AC, glass hood, roll pan, alloy heads, .....I think somebody welded lead to the frame somewhere.

[MARKYMARK]

scotty do you see any plans for the future pulling the engine, porting heads , thinner head gaskets, bigger tube headers???

[Scotty_S-15]

Marky:

* Pull the engine? Hmm, maybe, depending on where the \"wet\" #2 plug situation takes me. I did a leakdown test last night. Maybe I\'ll start a separate thread on that.

* head gaskets are the thinnest. And, heads are shaved .030, for (about) a 60 cc chamber.

* Porting heads? No. Before I\'d do that, I\'d buy new ones (AFR)? and sell mine.

* Big tube headers? Not likely. When I switched from 1-1/2\" to 1-5/8\" I saw absolutely no change. Long tubes might be nice though.... but again, not likely. I do like to drive it on the street, so no leaks, easy maintenance is a factor. If anything with the exhaust, I\'m thinking about some different mufflers. I\'ve got 2-1/4\" Dynomax \"Turbos\". It is very quiet. Maybe too quiet for power. Like I said earlier, I gained 2-1/2 or 3 tenths by dropping the exhaust, but I guess thats the norm.