There's many who believe that the computer can't take a big cam without having running problems. Here's an article from Car Craft magazine that did some modifications to a Fiero V6 back in 1989 proving that the Fiero not only can run a high lift cam but responds well to it!
You'll note that they actually mention how well the Fiero responds to the high lift cam. The cam they used in this test is almost exactly identical to the Crane H-272 cam. For comparison, the Crane H-272 cam specs are as follows: duration at .050; 216 intake and 228 exh (cam in the test above has 226 exh duration and the same intake duration) Lift for the Crane H-272 is; .454 intake and .480 exhaust which is identical to the one in the test above.
I've known about this article for some time now but i've not been able to get my hands on and original copy until just recently. Many thanks to Minngreengt for steering me towards a place that sells old magazines!
Also of interest; they found 8 HP at 5,000 rpms with ported exhaust manifolds and 7 HP with an open exhaust system.
------------------ Activities Director N.I.F.E.
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01:43 PM
PFF
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StansGT Member
Posts: 914 From: Schoolcraft MI, USA Registered: Jul 2001
wow! impressive chart! going from stock 110 hp's peak to blueprinted/hi-liftcam/ported exhaust at 142 hp's peak, with a min gain of 15 hp's all around.
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03:01 PM
Razor_Wing Member
Posts: 1753 From: Blowing Rock, NC, USA Registered: Apr 2003
NO WAY! The 60* V6 is a big POS! No way it can handle any cam. Biggest cam is the 2030 cam. Wait, my engine is a 60* V6, and my cam's huge. And guess what? IT RUNS GREAT!!!!
Sorry Dave, couldnt resist.
Oh, and Stan. How can you not have traction? It's a stock 3800. Maybe with some mods you'll have traction issues, but it will be way faster. Thats right, you cant handle faster.
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08:39 PM
TaurusThug Member
Posts: 4271 From: Simpsonville, SC Registered: Aug 2003
if only i had a garage and some cash to spend on a cam. what would that cam do on a non blue print non ported and stock exaust engine? i think that they put to many variables to compare with but still thats quite a few ponies for a mid 80's 60* v6. i want i want
Nice article Dave! I personaly like the 60*V6 for somereason... You get a plus from me.
Thanks razor, i like the engine too actually. I know that there's a ton of swaps out there for the Fiero but there's just something that appeals to me about making what it came with faster for some reason. I certainly wouldn't turn down a free V8 or 3800 swap of course but i think it's cool to make the stock engine fast. Always have been very impressed with fast 60 degree engines like Fieromaster88's for example.
Fierofreak; absolutely, i would be happy to copy the article for you anytime. Feel free to PM or email me. I already have a xeroxed copy of the whole thing now in fact.
[This message has been edited by Dave Gunsul (edited 01-12-2004).]
if only i had a garage and some cash to spend on a cam. what would that cam do on a non blue print non ported and stock exaust engine? i think that they put to many variables to compare with but still thats quite a few ponies for a mid 80's 60* v6. i want i want
They tested everything one piece at a time so i would think you'll find a pretty close gain without the other mods BUT you should at least do the ported manifolds. They don't cost much and they obviously improve things greatly. Darrell Morse does them for a very reasonable price. Here's Darrell website addy: http://www.diginostics.com/Darrell_Morse/darrell_morse.html
One thing that i would suggest that they didn't do is to use an adjustable fuel pressure regulator. This can help you fine tune your mods and possibly even gain more power.
BTW the Borla's been dyno tested to give 7 HP to the stock engine. mm, more power, there's just nothing better then that.
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11:15 PM
USFiero Member
Posts: 4879 From: Everywhere and Middle of Nowhere Registered: Mar 2002
That looks like the data from Herb Adam's "Fiero Kts - All Fired Up!" article from Kit Car From waayy back. He didn't even bore the throttle body. Rules prohibited that sorta thing.
Yes, it is Herbs Fiero but he never really mentioned what the cam specs were in his article. I have that one too in this pile of Fiero info in my drawer.
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12:00 AM
G-Nasty Member
Posts: 2099 From: woodlands,TX,USA Registered: Jan 2001
Crower cams used to sell a nasty cam for our 2.8's I've rebuilt one using Compucam 2030 and it adds a little bit more mid end torque and a bit of all around power. I was also able to spin factory tires (dry surface). The main prob I heard bigger cams is passing emissions & idling issues
If I ever rebuild another 2.8 I will bore over .030 maybe port polish heads add ST valves and get true roller rocker arms w/ a 2030 compucam. I may need to mod valve covers for the energizer rocker arms but that is not a problem.
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12:13 AM
Fierobsessed Member
Posts: 4782 From: Las Vegas, NV Registered: Dec 2001
86 GT engine 2030 compucam ported exhaust manifolds match ported middle and lower intakes The engine proved to not run lean but still didn't make any real #'s. I have no Idea how many miles are on the engine, but it seems to run good.
88 GT 5 speed.
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12:49 AM
G-Nasty Member
Posts: 2099 From: woodlands,TX,USA Registered: Jan 2001
Obssessed: My riding lawnmower has more HP than that..! You should have seen at least 15-20 more HP at wheels w/ those mods. My guess is improper valve adjustment, rebuilding, timing, clogged cat? Yes the engine should run lean-mine did. A mechanic took a scope to mine & said it was running lean. I think that an aftermarket power chip did it to my 2.8
When you give it gas does it hesitate at all? Those #'s a bit low IMHO.
OUT>
[This message has been edited by G-Nasty (edited 01-13-2004).]
Obssessed: My riding lawnmower has more HP than that..! You should have seen at least 15-20 more HP at wheels w/ those mods. My guess is improper valve adjustment, rebuilding, timing, clogged cat? Yes the engine should run lean-mine did. A mechanic took a scope to mine & said it was running lean. I think that an aftermarket power chip did it to my 2.8
When you give it gas does it hesitate at all? Those #'s a bit low IMHO.
OUT>
The point of the article is to show that you don't have to settle for the small 2030 cam if you don't want to. Many believe that it's as big as you can get without driving the computer crazy and this is obviously not the case. The 2030 cam doesn't make any big numbers or big differences becuase it is small. It certainly is better then the stock version and you will gain some power but it's not big enough to expect much from. If you use an adjustable fuel pressure regulator you will eliminate the lean condition and idle problems if you adjust it properly to compensate for the mods you've done. Emissions are another issue and you are correct that they do require a smaller cam although you can esentially cheat the test with an adjustable regulator by leaning it out too. Not that i'd suggest doing such a thing of course. O
[This message has been edited by Dave Gunsul (edited 01-13-2004).]
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01:55 AM
Fierofreak00 Member
Posts: 4221 From: Martville, NY USA Registered: Jun 2001
Good info- I cant find that small cam spec sheet that came w/ the 2030 cam but those numbers posted look awfully familiar-except for 280 exhaust. WHAT ARE the 2030 specs?
obssessed: A hi output coil, thermomaster chip and some thick wires will help the 2.8 behave better @ over 3.5k You can actually notice the difference a bit>
[This message has been edited by G-Nasty (edited 01-13-2004).]
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09:22 AM
FieroMaster88 Member
Posts: 7680 From: Mattawan, MI Registered: Nov 2000
The 2030 cams specs are as follows: duration at .050: 204 intake and 214 exhaust. .423 intake lift and .423 exh lift. Stock Fiero cam is: duration at .050: 196 intake and 203 exh. .394 intake lift and .410 exh lift. Not a big difference really but some. Here's the Crane H-272 again for comparison: duration at .050: 216 intake and 228 exh. .454 intake lift and .480 exh. lift. This is almost identical to the cam they used in the test which showed a max gain of 15 HP at 5k RPMs. This is obviously a bigger cam then the 2030 cam so obviouly the 2030 cam would produce far less gain. I'm not saying this is the best cam for every occasion but it's a good choice for someone with a manual trans, no emissions, and who's looking for a nice power gain. The reason i mention a manual trans is twofold; first an auto trans is more sensative to a bigger cam and second; the bigger cam moves the rpm range upwards which is more difficult for an auto to take advantage of where as a stick allows you to change your driving habits, rpm launch, etc to make the best of that new power. Fierofreak: PMed back.
[This message has been edited by Dave Gunsul (edited 01-13-2004).]
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05:53 PM
StansGT Member
Posts: 914 From: Schoolcraft MI, USA Registered: Jul 2001
Good article. Did Herb say what they used for springs, and what they did for rockers and studs to handle the increased return pressure to handle float and upper rpms?
Herb didn't write the article, Car Craft did. Neither mentioned which springs they used but, today, you can use the matching Crane springs that are recomended for that identicle cam. You MUST make sure the recomended springs are installed at the correct hight though or you will experience bind. Crane also makes performance locks and retainers etc to go along with that cam. As for rockers, there's no mention of that either but i would guess that since this article was done in 89 they didn't have any roller rockers available at the time and probably used the stock ones.
[This message has been edited by Dave Gunsul (edited 01-15-2004).]
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11:38 PM
Jan 16th, 2004
mrfixit58 Member
Posts: 3330 From: Seffner, Fl, USA Registered: Jul 99
Herb didn't write the article, Car Craft did. Neither mentioned which springs they used but, today, you can use the matching Crane springs that are recomended for that identicle cam. You MUST make sure the recomended springs are installed at the correct hight though or you will experience bind. Crane also makes performance locks and retainers etc to go along with that cam. As for rockers, there's no mention of that either but i would guess that since this article was done in 89 they didn't have any roller rockers available at the time and probably used the stock ones.
If your going to go that large of a cam, it'd be a good time to retro fit the heads with 3/4" studs and use SBC roller rockers.
what would that cam do on a non blue print non ported and stock exaust engine? i think that they put to many variables to compare with but still thats quite a few ponies for a mid 80's 60* v6. i want i want
Red 86 SE
