AI 230/238

[JoeliusZ28]

Anyone here running this cam? I haven't seen as many threads about it as the 226/234 (which i have now). I just picked this one up last night because the price was right I figured I can decide later if i want to use it or not. I looked at the cam card and its a 108LSA grind with .600 intake lift instead of the usual 110 .575/.575 they advertise. I think i will like how the 108 LSA runs, only concern might be vacuum for the brakes.

Currently I have the 226/234 with milled stock heads and have been very very happy with it. Eventually my engine will need a rebuild though, the rings seem be getting tired at 108k since it burns a little oil at WOT with a fresh valve job. I'd like to go a little wilder on the next setup. Since i will be swapping to 24x at that time, tuneability should be better and i wont have to worry about revving too high. More than likely id get some headwork done as well.

Is anyone in the 4xx rwhp range with this cam? I'm making 373 with the 226/234 and stock heads, so i think 400 should be my minimum expectation if im going to make the change (heads or not).

[blkchevyz]

400+ with heads shouldnt be a problem. i ran a similar cam and put down 420 at 5900 rpms.

[96lt1m6]

I like that cam, if i were doing a cam for an NA set up that cam would be one of my choices just like LEs 231/239

[JoeliusZ28]

Thats good to hear. The only numbers I have found so far are less than I'm making with my 226/234 :lol:

[96lt1m6]

I feel that cam would shine with ported heads.

[FlatBlackZ28]

I feel tbat cam would shine with ported heads

Just curious, any details on the Silver Z in your sig?

[96lt1m6]

Silver Z was a mild bolt on car that ran very hard for what it was... she is sitting on the backburner for now.
96,6spd,4.10s,BMR sfc,Lca,Drs,1.6rr,pacesetterLts,2.5"X pipe w/1chAmber flows,madtuner tune, 3580 race weight 12.98@106 3000'DA. On a 150 shot 11.33-11.39 ... 9 years of fun and broken clutches, 10-bolts lol....

There are plans in the making for a very fun shootout car;)

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[FlatBlackZ28]

Silver Z was a mild bolt on car that ran very hard for what it was... she is sitting on the backburner for now.
96,6spd,4.10s,BMR sfc,Lca,Drs,1.6rr,pacesetterLts,2.5"X pipe w/1chAmber flows,madtuner tune, 3580 race weight 12.98@106 3000'DA. On a 150 shot 11.33-11.39 ... 9 years of fun and broken clutches, 10-bolts lol....

There are plans in the making for a very fun shootout car;)

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Awesome! I saw your screen name and assumed it related to the Z. What class are you building it for?

[96lt1m6]

The set up will place me in extreme street

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[FlatBlackZ28]

The set up will place me in extreme street

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Good luck! There are a few of us on here that finally have our cars together that are trying to run in ES classes. Should be interesting.

[96lt1m6]

I just read the rules and i am wrong about the class looks more like modified extreme street

[FlatBlackZ28]

I just read the rules and i am wrong about the class looks more like modified extreme street

Modified and Extreme Street are two different classes.

[96lt1m6]

Your right.. i just saw that. Car is no where close to being done so i have plenty time, i will post pics of the build once its painted.. my TA build is priority at ths point.
Extreme street P/A

[meissen]

I'd be interested in picking up your old cam if you do the swap, Joel.

[JoeliusZ28]

I feel that cam would shine with ported heads.

Ported heads will be the only way i use this cam. The question is whether or not to add some nice heads to the 226/234 or do both.

AI told me that with stock heads the 226/234 would make better overall power (across the RPM the range) and the gains up top with the 238 would be less than the sacrifice down low. But that conversation was about unported heads. I want a broad power curve that can rev when it needs to, but peaky setups are no fun on the street.

[96lt1m6]

Ported heads will be the only way i use this cam. The question is whether or not to add some nice heads to the 226/234 or do both.

AI told me that with stock heads the 226/234 would make better overall power (across the RPM the range) and the gains up top with the 238 would be less than the sacrifice down low. But that conversation was about unported heads. I want a broad power curve that can rev when it needs to, but peaky setups are no fun on the street.

At this point you have to determine wether the small cam with ported heads will make you happy or would the bigger cam and ported heads give you what you are looking for...... If it was my decision i would swap cams and have the heads done

[blkchevyz]

what gears are you running, that will play into it as well.

with my setup i started with 4.10s, but had a hard time getting it going at the track. hard to find that point between spining and bogging... bogging seemed to happen more.

4.30 fixed that :)

[HellTeeOne]

I'm running the AI 228/234 on a 108 with their 200cc heads on a stock shortblock and vacuum is fine. The 230/238 needs ported heads and 11.25+ compression to really shine but I've seen at least a couple of guys make comfortably over 400rw running it with the CNC 190 or 200 heads. I've heard it's a touch peakier than the 228/234 but that shouldn't be a big deal.
I would not expect much gains from merely swapping your current cam for this one.

[Casey96SS]

Ported heads will be the only way i use this cam. The question is whether or not to add some nice heads to the 226/234 or do both.

AI told me that with stock heads the 226/234 would make better overall power (across the RPM the range) and the gains up top with the 238 would be less than the sacrifice down low. But that conversation was about unported heads. I want a broad power curve that can rev when it needs to, but peaky setups are no fun on the street.

Just wondering how you guys think the AI 226/234 will run with LE2 heads and intake? I have the parts sitting in my basement waiting to go in this spring. I know I could go with more cam, but got a good deal on all the parts new. Not looking to build a dragstrip our dyno queen. Just looking to have some fun on the weekends and make a little noise at car shows.

[97pontta]

I'm running that cam with 200cc heads. See link below for more info and dyno sheet. I have LS1 brakes on all 4 corners and it brakes well and will still lock up the brakes if I need it to. Since that thread I had a chance to run in some better air at the 1/8th miles and managed a 7.60 @94mph with the 3.90 gears. As noted above it's either bog or spin with the 3.90 gears. I'm now running 4.30's which should help my 60ft and ET/MPH due to me crossing the traps at 6100 RPM with the 3.90 gears. The 4.30's should put me at peak HP or a little above going across the traps.

I think with stock heads you will be better off with the cam you have now. If you plan to port the heads and are willing to spin some RPMs the larger cam should do well for you.

http://ltxtech.com/forums/showthread.php?24474-Finished-my-355-build

[NightTrain66]

The 230/238 cam would get you more power above 5500 RPM for sure and cost a lil power below 3000 RPM.

Just think about how long and how often the engine is below 3000 and how long and often it is above 5500 RPM.

If you go to the track often or race other areas or are just wanting a higher dyno sheet, the 230/238 is a good choice.

If you are mainly street driving and very seldom ever take it above 6000 RPM, you will probably be happier with the extra few ft lbs of TQ down low with the 226/234 cam.

Lloyd

[JoeliusZ28]

here is my current dyno sheet. This might indicate why im hesitant to mess with anything at all :lol: This power curve has been GREAT for autocross, road racing and street. Its very predictable and can pull for a long stretch. Ideally id like to take the whole thing and shift it upwards, but i know thats not realistic with a constant bore size.

http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h396/JoeliusZ28/d8ff976914498923feb1a4cd015f9452_zpsd7d8187c.jpg


And this is 97pontta's sheet. It looks like both of us are making 350rwtq by 3000 rpm, is there really be that much loss down low? is the rounded torque curve a result of better heads? Seems like the curve of LS cars look more like this one. If I upgrade heads and keep the 226/234 is it going to extend my curve out further or will mid range be affected as well?
http://ltxtech.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=23424&d=1378208449

[JoeliusZ28]

Also to answer an earlier question my gearing is stock. I will not change that until i upgrade to a better rear end. I have beat the snot out of the stock axle and it hasn't complained once, so i'm not going to mess with it. The minute i do is the minute it will break. It does good on the road course right now, but on the street the only gear thats really useful is second. First never hooks, and if i even get into third im already way over the speed limit :lol:

[NightTrain66]

yep, just get the heads done and it would pull to a higher RPM up top while still having great TQ in the low/mid range too.

You would probably make peak HP around 6300 RPM or so and it will hang on til 6500-6600 RPM with the 226/234 cam and ported heads.

Lloyd