I agree with swinger. Especially when it comes to cost. The 6.1 and 64 cams can be had for almost half of the Comp offerings. Important if you're looking for a simple upgrade, and forking out nearly $600 for a cam is just out of the question. I've seen used 6 1 cams for about half that. Not a problem going used when it comes to a roller cam, and where the issues are mostly due to lifter failure, not cam failure.
The issue I'm having is the abysmal amount of lift of even the larger 'performance' cams of late.
We're speaking of a Hemi here... NOT a wedge of any configuration. The Eagle head in stock form will nudge the 300cfm mark all the way up to .650" lift. The flow just keeps coming, unlike a wedge motor where the air is changing 3 directions and a wholesale change in shape ta boot.
My point is, if you're going to make a change, why not take advantage of this 'free air' sort to speak ??????
In the old days, adding a higher ratio rocker would get you were you wanted to be without a lot of fuss.
Not so with the G3 Hemi.. unless your name is Tony Birshoff, you're not going to ask T&D to make you a set of 1.9:1 rockers at $3500 or more because you have your sights on an Engine Masters Trophy.
I looked into Re-Ratio-ing a stock set of rockers, to alleviate the aftermarkets oversight into higher ratio rockers. Let me just tell ya, those OEM rockers are Efn HARD. Light weight, and VERT HARD! I ruined several end mills on that venture... 1.6/1.66 didn't seem so bad after that.
I've been grinding on heads for more than 30 years.. An Eagle head will BLAST past the 300cfm mark with very little attention with the stock valve (2.05). Usually 330cfm and carry it to 700".
I've got a 2016 Eagle on my flowbench, right now that's tickling the 360cfm realm (2.14) and keep going beyond .750".
Now, in keeping with racerjoes request, I'll stop there.. I just wanted to offer some prospective to the immense capabilities of this engine (cyl head design) not to mention they're enormous contribution to efficiency. two quench pads, cross-flow design, and TWO spark plugs !
As far as the cam companies. .. well, the efficiency of these engines limits the amount of 'area' in the lobes, especially around TDC where there's very little piston movement and the chambers ability to scavenge due to cross-flow. After that, you can only accelerate a valve (opening rate) so fast.. as it is, many of the Hemi springs are approaching 500lbs/inch for even modest profiles. (in balance with your typical bracket cam) When duration @ 050 is 228°, you simply run out of lobe before you can get much over .600".
Unfortunately, Joe, though options are better, the budget minded guy is still limited to drop in cams (unless you're changing springs) and keeping the PCM happy. Good thing you're in the south, us here in Kalifornia are FOOKED on this kind of thing. Bi-annual smog tests and the pcm HAS to have a stock tune.
If it were me, Joe, 6 1 or 6 4 cam and look for someone offering a higher ratio rocker someday.
Also too, if $2000 doesn't scare you much, look into the Holley Terminator X Max and let it learn. (assuming this is a swap)
