ASA Cam?

[ChevyLsII]

I just recently bought a '67 Chevy II that will be my pro touring project. The motor of choice of course will be an LS motor. I have a LQ4 that has been bored over to a 370cid. I have the GMPP ASA cam in there now. The specs on it is 226/236 .525/.525 110. I have factory rockers of 1.7. My question is would tis can be a good contender? Or should I get another cam or 1.8 rockers? The cam originates from the grand am racing series back in the day. Of course I will have the right heads, they are the RHS 225 as cast heads, I will get them cnc'd, just have to find a reputable shop so I don't have to pay for shipping or send them to Advanced Induction.

[andrewb70]

I just recently bought a '67 Chevy II that will be my pro touring project. The motor of choice of course will be an LS motor. I have a LQ4 that has been bored over to a 370cid. I have the GMPP ASA cam in there now. The specs on it is 226/236 .525/.525 110. I have factory rockers of 1.7. My question is would tis can be a good contender? Or should I get another cam or 1.8 rockers? The cam originates from the grand am racing series back in the day. Of course I will have the right heads, they are the RHS 225 as cast heads, I will get them cnc'd, just have to find a reputable shop so I don't have to pay for shipping or send them to Advanced Induction.

If the engine is already assembled, why not make it run and see how you like it? No sense is swapping parts just for the heck of it. I see nothing wrong with that cam. GM cams will have more gentle cam lobes and will be easier on the valve spring and the other valve train components. I would also keep the stock rocker arms.

Andrew

[Reckn8]

I had that very same cam in my LS7 for two years. It idles like a NASCAR engine and will rev instantly. Can only be used with a manual transmission IMO. If you're using a T-56 I would suggest nothing less that 4:11 gears otherwise it will be lurching all the time at anything less that 2,400 rpm.

[andrewb70]

I had that very same cam in my LS7 for two years. It idles like a NASCAR engine and will rev instantly. Can only be used with a manual transmission IMO. If you're using a T-56 I would suggest nothing less that 4:11 gears otherwise it will be lurching all the time at anything less that 2,400 rpm.

Paul,

Are you sure that your LS7 doesn't have the Grand Am Cup cam? The ASA cam is not that wild, but the Grand Am Cup cam definitely is!

ASA cam-226/236 .525/.525 110LSA
Grand Am cup cam-239/251 .570/.570 106LSA

Andrew

[ChevyLsII]

I have the engine in my 00 Silverado with 243 heads. I am already swapping out the heads so while I was at it could do the other stuff. The intake I have on it is the FAST LSXRT 102mm, I am still undecided if I will keep it with the Chevy II or sell it and go a different route. I know that I want to stay efi, been thinking of getting the FAST Ez Efi 2.0 that supports up to 1200hp.

edit:
I will be getting a t-56 magnum. The Silvy had an auto and it sucks at an idle, died out and everything in between. I might just keep the intake nowing that it will work better with a manual tranny. I think that if I swapped out the rockers to 1.8 it will give me a little more lift (.556). Or should I save the moeny and get trunnion upgrade and a different cam?

[jwcarguy]

I have the engine in my 00 Silverado with 243 heads. I am already swapping out the heads so while I was at it could do the other stuff. The intake I have on it is the FAST LSXRT 102mm, I am still undecided if I will keep it with the Chevy II or sell it and go a different route. I know that I want to stay efi, been thinking of getting the FAST Ez Efi 2.0 that supports up to 1200hp.

edit:
I will be getting a t-56 magnum. The Silvy had an auto and it sucks at an idle, died out and everything in between. I might just keep the intake nowing that it will work better with a manual tranny. I think that if I swapped out the rockers to 1.8 it will give me a little more lift (.556). Or should I save the moeny and get trunnion upgrade and a different cam?


You have talked about what the engine is and some of the parts that you sourced, but the main question that will ultimately determine the correct course of action for you is....

What are your expectations and planned use of the car/ drivetrain???

we need to know that to help "get you on the right path" to have a car / engine that works for your application

you have to remember that this forum is filled with great members from all different back rounds, budgets and each have their own "purpose" in their builds

so what works for one guys application, may not be the best setup for another's application

looking forward to hearing more about your car and build plans

Jeff

[martZ]

I have the ASA cam in my LS3. It's very driveable with nice idle and she revs. I'm very happy with it.

[ChevyLsII]

Jeff,
I will autocross/ drive it when I'm not working. So it having street manners is a big thing. I want it to have around 450 rwhp, which I think is possible. As far as suspension and drivetrain I will be going with the Chris Alston front clip. I'm not trying to be the king of the track but would like to go out and enjoy a couple laps around the track.

[jwcarguy]

Jeff,
I will autocross/ drive it when I'm not working. So it having street manners is a big thing. I want it to have around 450 rwhp, which I think is possible. As far as suspension and drivetrain I will be going with the Chris Alston front clip. I'm not trying to be the king of the track but would like to go out and enjoy a couple laps around the track.

450rwhp is going to difficult with that small of a cam choice, and 110 LSA is a real choppy idle and alot of valve overlap,
even jumping up to 1.8 rockers ($$$$ aftermarket) wont be much gain on the lift

in my opinion, your money would be better spent get a custom cam (or at least getting one " spec'd" specifically for your application and engine components, then stay with your stock 1.7 rockers and upgrade to a trunion upgrade
I had a cam "spec'd for my car/ engine and custom ground by Geoff @ EPS
iron block 6.0L w/ LS2 rotating assembly, GM LS3 as cast cyl heads, 226/234 630/629 LSA 113 +2 , LS3 intake w/ 42# injectors, 90mm TB through a T56 & 12bolt 4.10 gears in 68' Camaro

What pistons / compression is in your LQ4 block since you said that it has been overbored?
The RHS 225 heads are great, but you should look at a reputable shop to handle and cnc/ port as you mentioned, also any milling to get your compression up if required

Jeff

[PhillipM]

Paul,

Are you sure that your LS7 doesn't have the Grand Am Cup cam? The ASA cam is not that wild, but the Grand Am Cup cam definitely is!

ASA cam-226/236 .525/.525 110LSA
Grand Am cup cam-239/251 .570/.570 106LSA

Andrew

Yes Andrew you are correct. Paul had the Grand Am Cup Cam. Which is incidentally for sale right now!! LOL. He hated it, I loved it. It's all about what you like.

[Mkelcy]

I've got an LS376/480 - a bone stock LS3 with the GM Hot cam, which is a bit milder than the ASA cam. My car, with 6 more cubic inches than the OP is planning, made 438 RWHP on a Mustang dyno, through a T56 and Ford 9" rear.

If the OP has the ASA cam, and his target is 450 RWHP, I see no reason not to use what he has. As Andrew mentioned, the milder cam lobes likely don't beat up the valve train as much as some of the aftermarket cams do.

[68birdls1]

I've used that cam and my best advice is to go with something else. There are so many cam's out there that are just better in so many different ways. I've had great luck with ragin racin.

[charchri4]

I've tried a couple different cams and like the ASA the best. Mostly for the super flat tq curve but also because it's easy on the valve train. I know it's not squeezing every last pony out of it but I'll trade a few HP for longevity any day.

[andrewb70]

I've tried a couple different cams and like the ASA the best. Mostly for the super flat tq curve but also because it's easy on the valve train. I know it's not squeezing every last pony out of it but I'll trade a few HP for longevity any day.

There is a lot to be said for longevity. The dirty little secret of cams with aggressive lobes is reduced valve spring life. That's the reason I run a stock LS7 cam in my 6.2L. Is it getting every last ounce of power? No...but I also don't have to worry about broken valve springs. I ran a fairly mild Comp Cams in my RX7 with a LS6 and 3 valve springs were broken after less than 10K miles. Maybe it was bad springs...maybe it was the cam...but from now on I am very careful with cam and spring selection.

Andrew

[68birdls1]

I'm going to say you ran into bad luck with your valve springs. I have ran a couple of cams with 650 lift and have not had any issues at all. I would run double valve springs as a just in case, but I do the same on smaller cams as well.
I just think that the ASA cam is an old design, does it work, yes. A hand saw works too, but why would I use that if I has an opportunity to use a sawzall?

[andrewb70]

Has anyone ever run across a detailed can card for the ASA cam? If anyone has one, can you post a picture of it?

Andrew

[Mr. White]

Here is Howard's version of the GM ASA cam.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/12/20151217_200128_zpsohnsbvof-1.jpg (http://s253.photobucket.com/user/onewhiteguy/media/Grand%20Prix/20151217_200128_zpsohnsbvof.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/12/5c031c1e738f4e279ff41befc897c12b_zpsrdal-1.jpg (http://s253.photobucket.com/user/onewhiteguy/media/Grand%20Prix/5c031c1e-738f-4e27-9ff4-1befc897c12b_zpsrdallvbh.jpg.html)


Would be nice to compare the GM cam card.

[andrewb70]

Thanks for that image. I actually found that cam card and I think that for my purposes it will do fine.

The new Holley software allows for a programable injector phase table, and those specs will get me close enough.

Andrew