cam shaft swap help

[SappySE107]

The sportsman porting has a lot more options. You can get all the same options as the competition, but the exhaust ports aren't sanded/polished on the sportsman, just shaped. They have the same size ports and same combustion chamber shape as well. It is the detail work that makes the competition heads better than a similar optioned sportsman set.

If you want something durable, get the manifolds powdercoated. I use alumiblast paint for my manifolds but they won't withstand fuel and oil like some powdercoating will.

[Rootie524]

alright ill just do that then..found a place that can do both for $60..seems to be the going rate. now my question is whats the main difference betweens the sportsman and competition heads on WOT..just bigger ports and more port work to the bowls on the competition as opposed to the sportsman...and what paint should i use to paint heads, and intake manifolds? like what process should i go though to get a paint that will stick and withstand a good amount of heat.

[pocket-rocket]

The best route to go is just have them shaved enough to get a true surface. Then you don't have to worry about pushrod/rocker geometry, ect. Your engine is already an interference engine, so if your timing is off, pistons will hit valves regardless.

[Rootie524]

ok i still need to contact those users about the converter..ill get to that eventually..i got alot going on with this car haha. just got heads from a junk yard and cleaned them up nicely..they look like new. im going to take them to a machine shop to get them milled. should i go with .020" cuz that seems to be the go to amount..or should i go for more. it barely does anything to compression. so i just want a good, smooth, clean surface for bolting up to the block. whats the advantage to going more than .020" and idk if it matters but because there is greater lift on the cam i dont want to have my valves hit the pistons if too much is milled off..and i plan on running stock head gaskets..nothing fancy.

[pocket-rocket]

3400-95-Modified and gpse3400 would probably be the ones to talk to as far as stall speed goes and where to pick one up.

[Rootie524]

i didnt get a print out or anything. he just made it driveable until i can come back with 91 gas. at that point ill get a print out..i forget tq and stuff. all i know is 146 at the wheels.

[95Grand-Am]

Would you mind posting more details of your dyno run, did you get a graft? How much torque and at what RPM? Thanks

[Rootie524]

do they even make one like that for my car

[pocket-rocket]

He meant you will want one with a higher stall speed.

[Rootie524]

ok good stuff..went to the dyno today and apparently my car was really screwed up..haha. i started at 130 hp to the wheels then he tuned it in the way must cars are supposed to be tuned and i lost power. i was getting too much gas..so he took some away...then i was getting too little so he gave it some..and adjusted the timing and it made it worse..then he found out that the knock ratard was screwing everything up so he adjusted the sensitivity of that. I'm only running 87 grade gas. So he said the way things are now thats as far as he can tune it because of the knock. He told me to come back next week with 91 grade gas and he will finish it up. today i ended with 146hp at the wheels on 87 and not a full tune. he said to expect low 160s with the 91 and a full tune. and it may not have improved much number wise but i can definitely tell a huge difference. this car gets up a goes. it doesnt sound like much but believe me..im happy and its not even done yet haha. im going to get some video next time its on the dyno.

but my VE is fixed..now we are just going for numbers. so if all goes well if he can get it to 160ish on 91..and then when i port my heads, get bigger injectors, port UIM and LIM, get a 65mm tb, and get headers back exhaust..im hoping ill have around 180hp to the wheels..and i definitely think thats doable..which will make me happy cuz the 3100 is 170hp at the crank stock..so 180 at the wheels would be great.

but i have a few questions. i forget what tranny i have but its pretty weak..how much hp is my tanny good up to. its on a 02 3100 malibu..im not good with transmissions so im clueless.
and the mechanic said something about because of the new power band of the cam in order to get up to its full potential id need a new converter..im assuming he meant torque converter?

[pocket-rocket]

yeah..if u looked at my post earlier i had said .020" or .20" i forgot which one it was..

I know, I'm just letting you know which it is and putting it in a sense that is easy to understand

[Rootie524]

yeah..if u looked at my post earlier i had said .020" or .20" i forgot which one it was..

[pocket-rocket]

yeah, .20" seems like it will just be the right amount..

.20" is almost 1/4 inch (1/4"=.25"). You are thinking 20 thousandths, or .020". .20 would be WAAAY too much.

[Classick Century Custom]

I will start posting on FLICKR soon, updates and so on.

[Rootie524]

yeah i was looking at those pacesetter headers just because they are a lot cheaper than the S&S..thinner gauge steel..but bey..life time warranty on them..so they rust through..get them replaced. no one ive talked to had them so if you like them ill probably consider them.

yeah, .20" seems like it will just be the right amount..

and you should get a car domain or something and get some progress photos and stats and stuff..im gotta work on one for my malibu