Custom Cam vs. TFS1

Rock777

Member
Aug 22, 2004
195
1
16
Troy, IL
Hey, I am just curious how much I have to gain by switching from my Trick Flow Stage 1 to a custom cam. My mods are in my sig. Would it even be worth it without any other changes made? Approx. how many ponies could be gained by the swap?
 
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I made the swap and was not too happy with the results. I had the exact combo as you except I had shortys. I should have asked for a bigger cam. Ed recommended I swap to an RPM intake and a 75mm tb. Never swapped the intake because I decided to build a new engine. A guy I talk to has an edelbrock headed 306 with the tfs 1. Buddy rawls recommended the cam go in on a 108* centerline. It works.
 
if i was you id buy an adjustable timing chain and advance the stage 1
4 degrees. The stage 1 pulls like crazy up top and judging by your combo i dont think you plan on reving to the moon. if you advance it, the icl will come down and you will have better low end and your stang will pull harder up top also.

Drew
 
Thanks for the opinions. I might just hold off, I don't really feel like tearing the top half of the motor down for 5 ponies. I basically just wanted to make sure that my cam wasn't holding me back much. Don't get me wrong, I love the Stage 1, it pulls very hard from 3000-6000. Just been throwing around ideas lately.............................like it ever stops. :rolleyes: :)
 
rock, i would wait and get a custom one if i was you.
now, when your ready to get a custom cam, the only thing about them is that your combo has to be complete. reason i say that is that because you dont wanna spend $300-400 for a cam and then decide in 2 months that you want "bigger" heads and then your cam wont be optimal for that setup.
Just make sure that the cam is the LAST thing that you get.
also, some builders (like Jay Allen) will advise you to get better valve springs and lifters.... which are both good upgrades.
 
Grn92LX said:
I made the swap and was not too happy with the results. I had the exact combo as you except I had shortys. I should have asked for a bigger cam. Ed recommended I swap to an RPM intake and a 75mm tb. Never swapped the intake because I decided to build a new engine. A guy I talk to has an edelbrock headed 306 with the tfs 1. Buddy rawls recommended the cam go in on a 108* centerline. It works.

Yet you got another one from Ed after all that "talk" :rolleyes: I for one couldn't be happier with my cams...along with the rest of the FTI customers... :D Maybe it was that intake...Mike? YOU know how I feel about them.
 
Highbredcloud said:
Yet you got another one from Ed after all that "talk" :rolleyes:

Well, seeing how I speak from experience with EXACTLY what he's looking to do I think I might know a thing or 2. I am not biased on my opinion. Just because I have FTI cam's doesn't mean I have to always tell everyone to get one. Do a search on corral for '93Hatch' He runs 90mph in the 1/8 with his old school ported edelbrock headed combo. Made 315rwhp with a tfs 1 cam installed on a 108* centerline. He was going to buy a buddy rawls cam until buddy told him NOT to and to buy the tfs 1 and install it on a 108* centerline.

In his case, changing just the cam will add more power-no doubt about that. BUT w/o changing to a better intake and better valve springs/seals he won't see a good enough gain. I say stick with the tfs 1 cam and when your ready to add more power to your combo, get a new cam and intake to fully maximize it.

Greg I know your opinion on TF intakes. I never said they were the best. I know my old combo needed at RPM intake, but you know why I never bought one. Just remember who was faster than you with a sucky TF intake :D
 
Grn92LX said:
Well, seeing how I speak from experience with EXACTLY what he's looking to do I think I might know a thing or 2. I am not biased on my opinion. Just because I have FTI cam's doesn't mean I have to always tell everyone to get one. Do a search on corral for '93Hatch' He runs 90mph in the 1/8 with his old school ported edelbrock headed combo. Made 315rwhp with a tfs 1 cam installed on a 108* centerline. He was going to buy a buddy rawls cam until buddy told him NOT to and to buy the tfs 1 and install it on a 108* centerline.

In his case, changing just the cam will add more power-no doubt about that. BUT w/o changing to a better intake and better valve springs/seals he won't see a good enough gain. I say stick with the tfs 1 cam and when your ready to add more power to your combo, get a new cam and intake to fully maximize it.

Greg I know your opinion on TF intakes. I never said they were the best. I know my old combo needed at RPM intake, but you know why I never bought one. Just remember who was faster than you with a sucky TF intake :D

HEY...I heard you gave Bob an STD through the AIM...This could explain why mine don't work...I tried to down load it again...NO success...I guess I should check my computer...FYI: I just swapped out the 6.100 pushrod to 6.200...deleted all the smog and AC...The car pulls like a MOFO now...might be tad slower than my notch...I guess I'm just gonna have to race Bob to find out...

Anyway...Don't you think the TFS I cam is too small for ported TW's? You're right though...unless he knows what else he wants to do to the car he should hold off...IN YOUR case...I really think you lacked lowend with your old combo do to that intake...what was your 1/8 MPH? Bob's cam has less duration than the one you had...and his cars pulls hard!
 
LOL I did have an AIM virus haha. I got rid of it, his AIM still has it.

Greg, trust me, my car did NOT lack low end. 300 ft/lbs of torque @ 3000 rpm+. Just as much low end as your typical afr/performer/fti combo. Car did about 86.5 mph in the 1/8 very untuned. It ran lean as you know hence the reason it also blew a head gasket with a weak ass 80 shot.

Sometimes to see a good enough gain by changing one part, you have to change another part. He would need to change the cam, springs/seals and a better intake to see good gains. Thats a lot of money so it's up to him to decide. The point of this thread was who swapped JUST a tfs 1 cam to a custom and what were the gains. My gains weren't too much aside from some low end gains. I'd strap some spray on the car if I was him.

Thats cool your notch is running better. You measured pushrod length I take it? I've never seen anyone gain power with removing a/c or smog, but maybe your pushrods were off and thats why it pulls better like you say? Might wanna dyno it.
 
Rock, your car near mirrors a NMRA Pure Street set-up depending on how high you want to rev it.

I vote custom cam, you get more power/torque across the entire range that won't drop off. Just make sure your geometry is good and you have the matched valve springs.

Custom Cams :nice: I hav always been happy with Ed's stuff as well. Nate's car seems to run good with his Camshaft Innovations cam, but we need to take care of some issues to get it running 100%.
 
goesquik said:
My current setup is identical to Rock777 and I put my TFS cam in straight up which resulted in a slight power loss from a B303. Would it be optimal Advance it 4 degrees?

That's interesting, you are the first person I have ever heard that claims that the B303 made more power that the TFS1. My guess is that the seat-of-the-pants feel was stronger in the lower rpm's with the "B", or did you actually dyno with both?
 
Rick 91GT said:
Custom Cams :nice: I hav always been happy with Ed's stuff as well. Nate's car seems to run good with his Camshaft Innovations cam, but we need to take care of some issues to get it running 100%.

yeah, i car could use some TLC.
i really like my camshaft innovations camshaft. If you do what Jay says in the start, you will have a cam that will produce nicely.