Camshafts: Consider the camshaft. On the one hand, it's
a simple thing, a stick with bumps on it. It sits above the crankshaft, linked
to it by a timing chain, and spins at half the crankshaft's speed. The
camshaft's rotary motion is converted, through a lifter, pushrod, and rocker
arm, to linear motion. Voila, the valves open and the engine operates. If only
it were that easy. The configuration of those bumps--more accurately referred to
as lobes-defines the performance personality of an internal-combustion engine.
By determining when an engine's valves will be open, and how long they will stay
open, the camshaft determines how much power an engine will make. It also
dictates where this power will be made throughout the engine's rpm range. And
that's just for starters. The camshaft is often called the brains of the engine,
and that brain determines what kind of powerplant you will have. The first step
in choosing a cam is, quite simply, honesty--brutal honesty. "Motor specifics
are important, but so is setting out your purposes and realistic goals," says
Lunati's James Humphrey. "The most common issue we see is that people don't
think about where they're heading," chimes in Comp Cams engineer Billy Godbold.
We all like to think we can make use of a car that makes 500 hp at 6,000 rpm,
but is this really the case? Is the vehicle in question meant for bracket-race
duty, or is it a Pro Touring creation for a cross-country trip? If it's a
street/strip car, how much of its time will be spent on the strip and how much
on the street? Or are you in the performance-street category, just looking for a
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