What cam

[Badassoldspower]

Well The motor is going in a 97 2 door cutlass, and I dont really want to dish out 500-600 bucks for HP Tuners software. I know all ther is to know about what to tune, I just wish there was a cheap software to do it, because I do have the know how.

[Rhedalert]

You have to remember that when the computer is "compensating" for mods like a cam or top end swap, that it's really doing what it can to keep the car running. Performance will not be anywhere close to what is available without a tune, not to mention driveability(i.e. car stalls at red light) does become suspect.

What vehicle are you putting your engine in?

Quoted for truth!

[sprucegagt]

You have to remember that when the computer is "compensating" for mods like a cam or top end swap, that it's really doing what it can to keep the car running. Performance will not be anywhere close to what is available without a tune, not to mention driveability(i.e. car stalls at red light) does become suspect.

What vehicle are you putting your engine in?

[SappySE107]

no good on those head gaskets, and all cams are going to want tuning. I wouldn't go bigger than the 1211 grind if you cannot do any sort of tuning at all.

[19Cutlass94]

Well problem here. What kind of tuning are you doing for your current mods? A custom cam will only need that much more tuning. The cam I have ( 1211 grind ) you can probably get away with minimal tuning, but Ill find that out soon. Anything bigger than that cam and youll need tuning for sure.

[TazMan]

Also I will be running the Iron head 3.4 headgasket to boost compression. Thank you for your help and support.

I don't think you can safely run with that gasket on a Gen 3. I asked about this a while ago and was told the pistons stick out the block .020" which leaves only .020 between the top of the piston and the head. If you have a gen 2 you get away with it cause the pistons don't stick out of the block.

[Badassoldspower]

Im almost ready to put my 3400 block with 3500 upper end together, and I would like to know based on fact, or opinion what is the most radical cam I can install without custom programming? IE: computer will compensate, Im not concerned with throwing cam codes or anything like that, just dont want the motor to starve. I like the really choppy sound to that of a cam similar to a crane 260, or 272 and i understand these cams dont work for my application, I want one of the stores cams, just need to know what my best option is. Also I will be running the Iron head 3.4 headgasket to boost compression. Thank you for your help and support.