Cam Choice For '85 Gn

[rods85]

Hello guys, great website! I have a question concerning cam selection for a 1985 GN. My motor is rebuilt with .30 over pistons. Car has Walbro 255 pump, hotwire kit, 3 in Gbody down pipe, modified pass side header, 2 1/4 mandral bent up pipe, TA 33 turbo, hooker cat back, TT chip, razor alky, electric fan. The heads are off at the machine shop, so I thought now would be a good time to get the guides cut down and put a cam in it. 1/4 miles goals are 12.80-13 flat. I have a scan master and caspers knock detector. Any advice would be appreciated. (I was thinking of a 204/214 cam) Thanks a lot!

 

[Boost231]

If it was mine I would go with a 206/206

 

[rods85]

The one made by comp? What lift?

 

[Boost231]

Yes the comp cam. I would have to look at the lift. I run the 212/212 in mine but I. Have a different setup then you.

 

[rods85]

thanks boost231. very nice car buy the way , I think the new down pipe is killer .

 

[Boost231]

Thank you, with that being said there is nothing wrong with the stock cam. I just like to go with a different one if its that far apart anyways.

 

[Jerryl]

........... there is nothing wrong with the stock cam. .........

X2, especially with a TA33.

 

[boostmaster]

Cam Selection

If it was mine I would go with a 206/206

No disputes here with the 206 but in my opinion if your gonna install a cam do it once and be done with it. As you see Boost231 went from a 206 to a 212. Just put the 204-214 in and be done with it. I have personally ran both and I can tell you the 204 pulls way harder on the top end, is quiet as hell (can't really tell you got a cam in it) and will probably be cheeper than the comp 206. Best of all if you go bigger on everything else in the future you won't have to change cams again. But hold on to your stock cam just in case you eventully want to return to stock one day. They pull pretty good also.

 

[rods85]

Thank you guys for all the replys; do any of you think there is a performance gain with even putting a cam in at the point my mods are at? I am nervous that a cam at this point will hurt the low end torque. My gut feeling wants to put in the 204 / 214 because I would think that more exhaust duration would make sense on a forced induction engine, but this is my first turbo car and I have heard they don't like split duration? Sorry for rambling, just trying to soak up info. Thanks

 

[Jerryl]

Thank you guys for all the replys; do any of you think there is a performance gain with even putting a cam in at the point my mods are at? I am nervous that a cam at this point will hurt the low end torque. My gut feeling wants to put in the 204 / 214 because I would think that more exhaust duration would make sense on a forced induction engine, but this is my first turbo car and I have heard they don't like split duration? Sorry for rambling, just trying to soak up info. Thanks

If the cam is bad, put in the new 204/214.
If the cam is good, leave it alone.
Quite a few IC'd cars have gone +120MPH with the 204/214

I did not see anything on the converter.
Are you getting the heads refreshed or ported?

 

[rods85]

Stock converter. The engine was rebuilt 1000 miles ago, but smoked on start up; valve guides are loose, no seals, so I had guides cut and exhaust seals installed [different machine shop]. You know how that goes, oh well. So I decided to check lift on cam and came up with 367 intake 367 exhaust ??? Removed cam and it was not the turbo cam. During the rebuild the cam they put in was a non turbo cam part #207 sealed power . So goes that, machine shops got to love em !!! Everyone clams to be a expert on Buick 3.8 turbo but don't have a clue, so there is my delima. Heads are not ported . Just looking to brush 12.9 or 13.0 and have a nice street car to drive. Thanks Jerryl.

 

[Jerryl]

Stock converter. The engine was rebuilt 1000 miles ago, but smoked on start up; valve guides are loose, no seals, so I had guides cut and exhaust seals installed [different machine shop]. You know how that goes, oh well. So I decided to check lift on cam and came up with 367 intake 367 exhaust ??? Removed cam and it was not the turbo cam. During the rebuild the cam they put in was a non turbo cam part #207 sealed power . So goes that, machine shops got to love em !!! Everyone clams to be a expert on Buick 3.8 turbo but don't have a clue, so there is my delima. Heads are not ported . Just looking to brush 12.9 or 13.0 and have a nice street car to drive. Thanks Jerryl.

Ahhhh, another "fabulous machine shop". LOL
I would go 204/214 as boostmaster stated.
If you do not port thr heads, no bigger as your concverter will start to play into the combo factor.

You want 12.9 on race gas, alky or pump?
Whatever you decide, ported heads and intake will make is MUCH easier to reach your goal.

 

[Dwayne]

Go Big or go home.

 

[turbo6x2]

thanks boost231. very nice car buy the way , I think the new down pipe is killer .

Yes that down pipe boost231 has going is very nice indeed.

 

[rods85]

Thanks everyone for the replys. I am hoping to get it back together this weekend with cam 204/214. I will post some track times when I go, and some pics of the car when i get it back together. I will tear heads off over winter and port heads and intake. Figure I better get the alky figured out,and get some miles on the car and enjoy the rest of summer

 

[Boost231]

Yes that down pipe boost231 has going is very nice indeed.

thanks Jamie :biggrin: