texci77 Posted February 11, 2005 Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Hey guys, thinking about doing a cam install and I was looking for one that would help my truck with towing as well. I know a lot of you have done the 210/218, but I was looking at a 216/224 cam with a 115 degree lobe. What do yall think? Would this be better than the 210/218 for towing? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
383ss Posted February 12, 2005 Report Share Posted February 12, 2005 I have a 222/222 and it does pretty well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaGeorge Posted February 12, 2005 Report Share Posted February 12, 2005 Im runnin 212/218, .522/529, 114* +4. Towed several heavy loads with no problems at all. George Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt rem Posted February 13, 2005 Report Share Posted February 13, 2005 I am using a 216/220 with 1.8 ratio rockers which makes it 555/563 on the lift . I am very happy with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RollinSSHard Posted February 13, 2005 Report Share Posted February 13, 2005 I would like to put a bigger cam in my truck, but I think I'm gonna hold out and save up for the Radix!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texci77 Posted February 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 Thanks for the replies. I think I am going to go with the 218/224, now, if I can just figure out how to install it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc_w Posted February 14, 2005 Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 Were you looking at the VHP 216/224 with the 115? I talked to Roger about that cam recently -- He said compared to my 210/218 112 - the "Boss2/Trucker" will be much stronger from 3,000rpm up, but will be much weaker down below that. Part throttle responce will be softer. He said they designed the 210/218 112 for 'brute torque'. I take it the 216/224 is more strip oriented than my more street oriented stick? I had a 220/220 112 in mine for one ~300 mile (250 on the highway) trip pulling a ~5,000lb load. The truck didn't do all that hot, but it wasn't terrible either. Lots of downshifting. Such as - any headwind if you're under 70mph, any slight incline on the highway, any need to get around another vehicle. OD/Lockup was kind of like cruise control. Once you let the tranny and converter get up there, you were kind of locked into that speed until you put your foot down and downshifted. Pretty annoying to me. I like to roll into the throttle and have the vehicle accelerate without downshifting. I'm probably spoiled from my motorcycles and their nice power-to-weight. I think the only cams that will really help with towing stuff may be something like mine, the VHP 210/218 114, the CC 212/218 114, or the CC 212/219 115. I think the CC 206/212 112 will absolutely ROCK for towing. Mine starts to wake up at 1,500, and pulls real well by 1,800-1,900. It's making great roll-on-power at highway speeds (RPM's around 2,000-2,200). The 220/220 112 I had in there was lazy feeling under 2,500 - making very noticeably less power than stock at the speeds listed above. I didn't have headers in at the time, maybe they would have helped. I don't know. (this cam I have now didn't need them to see these results - it's very apparent) I have yet to pull with my current cam, but I expect it to do pretty well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt rem Posted February 14, 2005 Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 I would go with Marc's cam to tow. I think I am on the edge of really losing too much bottom end too tow with the 216/220. Marc has been there done that, he helped me with my choice. The install is easy just take your time, go to ls1howto.com it is pretty much the same thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texci77 Posted February 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 Man, too many choices!!! Marc, thanks for the advice. Would be interesting to find out how your new one tows. How is the idle on that cam? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc_w Posted February 14, 2005 Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 No problem at all... I don't want to lead anyone astray, just giving my picky little observances. ;) I should mention that it's very hilly in my area, so I need a good amount of power off the bottom to keep me happy. I think a bigger cam will handle flat areas very easily... The idle is quite tame through the exhaust... (it's got a little more cackle than that - this was through manifolds and before any tuning) But it's surprisingly roudy, dumped... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
383ss Posted February 14, 2005 Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 I disagree with you guys. I have very little to no loss of power in the low rpm ranges. I have great low/mid throttle response and it does fine towing. I think most of the guys on here run tiny cams to be honest... I think my cam is great for all around, performs well at the track, didn't decrease mpg much (~1mpg), and tows well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc_w Posted February 14, 2005 Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 That's strange... What make is that cam, 383? Lunati or MTI? What LSA? What other mods do you have? (converter, tuning, etc) How much do you tow? What area do you live in? I am interested in going up in duration for more top-end power, but I absolutely don't want to go back where I was with the 220/220 112. One of my biggest complaints with that cam (looking back now) is the huge lack of area under the curve. I can remember going to accelerate down a stretch of road that I drive frequently. RPM's would be around 2,500 in 3rd, after kicking down out of 4th and OD. I could move the throttle from ~25% to 50% with little change in speed. It would require another kickdown to second to really get moving. Do you find anything like that with yours? I never dismissed the idea that my stick was just a crappy grind done on a Friday afternoon or if there was something else wrong with it (with all that nasty valvetrain noise I had). I'm certain it was installed dot-to-dot and not off a tooth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texci77 Posted February 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 Yeah, where I live is a little hilly too here in Denver so I climb a lot of hills. I definitely can't loose any low end up here, the truck already runs slow enough. Marc, the truck sounds great, what other valve train components did you upgrade with that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSLink Posted February 14, 2005 Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 Virtually eveyone who goes over 210 degrees in intake duration on a cam in a Silverado feels the need to go to a bigger stall converter to get their low end back, as per info below. These trucks are heavy, and towing only adds to the problem. Now, one man's soggy bottom is another man's stump-puller, so it's more than a little subjective. I also find 383's results very unusual. However, if he's happy with the performance that's what counts! Personally, I like monster off idle torque, because with the AWD on our trucks you can really put it to the ground. Previously posted by Todd@ProDyno: courtesy of fasttruck.net Motor: 6.0 liter GM Cam Specs Drivability Idle Tuning Stall Springs Comments GM 204/218 .555/.551 117.5 Stock Stock Recommended None LS6 "'02+ LS6" 219/228 .525/.525 112 OK Noticeable Required 2000+ LS6/918 "HOT Cam" 226/236 .525/.525 110 Poor Very Noticeable Required 2500+ 918/921 "ASA Cam" Comp Cams Xtreme RPM 206/212 .515/.522 112 Stock Stock None None LS6 212/218 .522/.529 114 Good Slight Recommended 2000+ LS6/918 216/220 .525/.532 114 Good Noticeable Reccomended 2500+ LS6/918 220/224 .530/.534 112 OK Noticeable Required 2500-3000 LS6/918 Comp Cams Xtreme RPM High Lift 212/218 .558/.563 115 Good Slight Recommended 2000+ LS6/918 222/224 .566/.568 112 OK Noticeable Required 2500+ 918/921 228/230 .571/.573 112 So-So Very Noticeable Required 2500-3000 918/921 Vinci High Performance "042" 200/208 .500/.500 115 Stock Stock None None LS6 "043" 210/218 .531/.531 114 Good Slight Recommended None LS6 "044" 210/218 .531/.531 114 Good Slight Recommended None LS6 "045" 216/224 .551/.551 115 Good Mild Required 2500+ 918/921 "047" 210/218 .531/.531 114 Good Slight Recommended None LS6/918 "055" 216/224 .551/.551 113 Good Mild Required 2500+ 918/921 "062" 210/218 .551/.551 112 Good Slight Recommended None LS6/918 Thunder Racing 214/220 .600/.523 115 Good Stock Recommended 2500 918 "Old Man Cam" 220/220 .551/.551 112 OK Noticeable Required 2500+ 918 220/220 .551/.551 114 OK Slight Required 2000+ 918 224/224 .563/.563 112 OK Noticeable Required 2500-3000 918/921 227/224 .569/.563 114 So-So Very Noticeable Required 2500+ 918/921 "Nitrous Cam" 224/227 .569/.563 114 So-So Very Noticeable Required 2500+ 918/921 242/248 .608/.612 110 So-So SERIOUS Required 3500+ ??? ""T-ReX v.2" Miscellaneous LPE GT2-3 207/220 .571/.578 118.5 stock stock recommended none good for blower. "G5X3" 2??/2?? .610/.612 110 So-So SERIOUS Required 4000+ ??? Not Recommended Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc_w Posted February 14, 2005 Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 Yeah, where I live is a little hilly too here in Denver so I climb a lot of hills. I definitely can't loose any low end up here, the truck already runs slow enough. Marc, the truck sounds great, what other valve train components did you upgrade with that? haha.. I hear you about the low-end. Thanks for the compliment. I installed Comp 918's and Thunder 7.4" pushrods during my first cam swap - I'm still running the same parts. I have a set of VHP 1.89 rockers to install soon. One of these nights. ;) I eventually want to run Crane (and VHP) dual springs. I like the security of two springs, and I they're tested to be ultra quiet to not create any harmonics that might trip the knock sensors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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