S52 Camshaft Options

[modifiede30]

I searched - but after the first 2 pages turned up nothing but classified ads I figured a post would be easier.

Been searching around for new cams - options seem to be getting limited these days for our older engines. Sunbelt, Riot Racing are gone, and CatCam and Schrick seem to dominate with Epic at BW being the only other brand.

I'm searching for track cams, so 275+ with 10.5mm or higher lift. Looking at a few options:

CatCam 284/274, and profiles that go up to 298/290 - seriously thinking of going to something in the 280 range.
Schrick 276/270
Epic 276/273

I'll be running these with solid lifters, race springs and either delete the VANOS or shim it to avoid lift issues. I'll also be running these with 3.5" MAF, M50 manifold, headers and straight-piped exhaust. Tuning will be done once I pick profiles, and determine what injectors make sense. I'm contemplating ITBs since I have the adapter and TBs but research suggests the M50 intake might be easier to tune - will start with M50 manifold and existing intake before I do anything else.

For those who have run aggressive cam setups I'd like to know what you found works on the track - dyno is good but track experience is preferred. All the better if you've had multiple setups using these and have comparisons.

[olemiss540]

Who's doing the tuning? May be worth running it by them first.

[pbonsalb]

Try to find racers with experience with cammed S52. Maybe ScotchH. Maybe Randy at Epic.

[pshooter]

I took the easy way out and used the Schrick 276/270. This was an upgrade from the 256/264.
With ported head and all the other supporting modifications. It makes more power to the limiter but is dead unless your 4800+ rpm. I find myself a lot busier to keep it in the sweet spot.
I had thought about something in the 280+ range but that would put the power peak in the crank harmonic range.
I would entertain it with a different crank.

All that said it hauls the mail.

[modifiede30]

I took the easy way out and used the Schrick 276/270. This was an upgrade from the 256/264.
With ported head and all the other supporting modifications. It makes more power to the limiter but is dead unless your 4800+ rpm. I find myself a lot busier to keep it in the sweet spot.
I had thought about something in the 280+ range but that would put the power peak in the crank harmonic range.
I would entertain it with a different crank.

All that said it hauls the mail.

Had a discussion with Achilles and they're recommending their CatCams 278/274 custom grinds given I'm using a stock bottom end. I have all the necessary mods to go with it so will probably go that route - lots of good info obtained from them in my discussion.

[aeronaut]

Mino? at Achilles is awesome.

Why do all this work and use stock pistons? Go to custom piston, figure out the valve relief you need, and use VANOS to your advantage.

[modifiede30]

Mino? at Achilles is awesome.

Why do all this work and use stock pistons? Go to custom piston, figure out the valve relief you need, and use VANOS to your advantage.

Yes, Mino - great guy with massive knowledge.

I'm pretty comfortable with the profile - even with stock bottom end I'll see good improvements. I suspect I'll need to do a full tear-down soon, and will rebuild and consider other cam changes at that time. For this I'm going to do a minor refresh of the top end and run it for the season or it gives out on me - whichever comes first.