I have a ZZ4 350 in my 1980 Z28. Its all stock out of the crate. The car is a 4 speed with 4:11 gears.

Id like a more radical cam. First for a little more HP and second for a choppier idle. Does anyone know anything about the Chevy HOT CAM and how it may perform in my motor? Or if someone could recomend ANY hyd roller I would appriciate it............I know this motor needs new heads ( thats always the first thing to come up) but how would a new cam do with thses stock heads???

thank you
greg

heres a link to specs on the ZZ4

http://www.gmperformanceparts.com/EngineShowcase/tech_specs.jsp?engId=ZZ4350&engine=ZZ4%20350&sku=12499712&engCat=sb

Got this from--http://www.streetrodstuff.com/Roundtable/Archives/Year_2003/May/99.php



Posted: 05/10/2003 20:13 EST

Craig, I switched to a XR276HR-10 Comp Extreme Energy cam and love it. It's 224/230 duration and .502/.510 lift. I use a 2100 stall converter which really stalls at about 2400 rpms. It runs the quarter in the high 12's (3400 lb car), gets 15-17 mpg and has a real nice lumpy idle. All I bought was the cam and used my OEM lifters and valve springs. I took about .007" taken off the heads to boost the compression a little. I'm not sure that was necessary tho. I did this over 55,000 miles ago and just rebuilt the engine due to a cracked block but reused the cam since it didn't show any sign of wear. I did put roller rockers on it this time tho.

I was going to go with the GM hot cam but I'm glad I went with the Comp cam. I think I'm getting a lot without spending too much.
--

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/printthread.php?t=94323

I like what scrap mentioned over the hot cam...even though I cant recall the hot cams specs, they arent as radical as that Comp one.

Id rather NOT do any head work if I dont have to. What do you think about the heads, will my springs handle a cam up 502 or so? I was lookin at the MUTHA THUMPER series.

The ZZ4 crate motor heads will handle the lift. The stock ZZ4 cam is .525 on the exhaust side.

In the 2007 GMPP catalog they had one of the "power packages" where they swapped out the stock ZZ4 cam for the "HotCam", leving everything else the same. It gained a paltry 3 HP and lost a little torque. Essentially, no gain. The stock ZZ4 cam seems to do a decent job making the most of the rather mediocre ZZ4 heads.

In the 2008 catalog they no longer even list this combo any more. Wonder why? All the "upgrade packages" for the ZZ4 engine in the '08 catalog start with swapping the stock heads for either iron Vortecs or alimunum Fastburns. Wonder why?

I think Scrap nailed it on the head! Great cam for that motor! Will wake the beast within way more than the LT4 "hotcam" would, and still have some manners! Good luck! Lets us know!

Thank you Scrap and everyone who helped!! Thanks to you guys my mind is made up. Im going with the Comp Cam and I will let you know how it turns out. Now if you can do something about this snow and 15* I would really appriciate it!!!!!!!!

By the way Scrap, I watched your video and I think if you told me to put little mice in my gas tank and click my ruby slippers together 3 times ID DO IT!!!! That Camaro is schweet mang!

Investigate the CRANE Cams offerings.
Their PowerMax series is good, I'm using the retro version 119841, the one for OE roller block is 109841.

Call all the cam companies and get their advice

interesting CHP article on a build using the HOT cam......
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/techarticles/49083_inexpensive_roller_cams/index.html

an Car Craft LSx build using the HOT cam..........
http://www.carcraft.com/howto/ls1_engine_cam_install/index.html

Hot Camshaft (P/N 24502586 Specifications

Intake Exhaust
Lobe Lift 0.328” 0.328”

Valve Lift
@ 1.5 ratio
@ 1.6 ratio 0.492”
0.535” 0.492”
0.525”

Duration
@0.006 cam lift 272° 281°
@0.050 cam lift 210° 228°

Lobe Centerline 109° 115°

Lobe Separation 112°

Protour has the specs except that the intake duration is 218* @ .050, not 210*.

I believe the Hot Cam is designed for the fuel injected engines, the LT1 and LT4 too maybe. As such it should have a fairly smooth idle and good low end power. Probably not what you're looking for. A bit more duration and tighter centers might work better with your gearing, sound better cruising around town.

Tom3 is correct about using the HOT Cam with fuel injection but it is a mild sounding cam with carburation. Maybe a little more than an old Crower Beast or Comp Hi Energy grind.

My ZZ4 has the HOT cam with the 1.6 rockers.....the idle is just slightly lopey, but not very much;)

howards is pretty much the same specs as the comp and is cheaper, plus it's on a billet core.
http://www.competitionproducts.com/products.asp?dept=330

Ive never changed a roller cam. Ive done my share of flat tappets but never a roller, how much more difficult is it?

greg

I'm runing the Hot Cam with carb and 1.6 rockers. I like it alot. It doesn't have much of a lope but runs smooth.

Ive never changed a roller cam. Ive done my share of flat tappets but never a roller, how much more difficult is it?

greg
Its the same except the break-in procedure....there isn't any.

HALALUYA (?)...........................I cant freakin wait to get this going. Now if I can just talk Santa into buying me some 3:73's for Christmas! Im gonna make a nice boat anchor outta thses 4:11's.................I know they have thier place, but not for me.

thanks guys
greg

HALALUYA (?)...........................I cant freakin wait to get this going. Now if I can just talk Santa into buying me some 3:73's for Christmas! Im gonna make a nice boat anchor outta thses 4:11's.................I know they have thier place, but not for me.

thanks guys
greg

I feel that way about 3.73's. IMO 3.31 and 3.42 is the perfect highway cruiser and still do well at the strip.

Its the same except the break-in procedure....there isn't any.

do you need a cam button? What's a decent hy roller lifter that won't break the bank?

I have the comp cam thumper and love it

YEEE HAAAAA!!! Thank you guys....


Hey Steve81Z, I have really read ALOT about the Thumper and it looks to be the Perfect Cam! Anyone want to chime in on thier opinion of The Thumper Cam series??