Spooler

Anybody ever done the cam swap with a small single turbo to help with spoolup and reduce smoke? I know most folks just change the charger but if the cam is that good it should work wonders with a small low drive pressure wheel turbine. Anyone ever tow with a Helix II?

A cam is cheaper than twins, that is for sure.

Spooler

jmccart, do you still like the Helix II. I see you have close to the same setup.

jmccart

Hello. I just logged on. I was hoping that installing the cam would make smoke really decrease a bunch. The changes in smoke were not as noticeable as I wished. I changed tunes around a lot at that time. Before the turbo I was running the 4.4, which rocked. Then I added the turbo, which definitely added power, and some lag, but not too bad. But part throttle, low RPM smoke really jumped up (which I didn't like). Then I added (actually I paid someone else to do it) the cam. I noticed a lil' drop in boost and a slight drop in smoke. But is was not the decrease in smoke I had hoped. At one point, after the cam & turbo, I tried the regular REVO for an upcoming camping trip. Smoke was down, power was down, EGT's while towing were down, and I started getting a "low boost" code daily.

Now that the camshafts are so much cheaper, I would say do it if you can do all the labor yourself. I paid a bunch to buy a cam, springs, and tappets. And then labor was big.

I don't think I can give a good answer because I have not been too scientific w/all my mods. I wish I documented everything I have done, listing the exact changes, dates done, and results. I have been playing with it non-stop since I got it.

This is getting long. With the TNT tune I am running right now, I am very happy with my combo and my smoke production. I can't say how much different it would be w/o the Helix.

Next motor mod (besides a pressure box) for me is another backwards one. I am interested in a banks Big Hoss or ZZ fab. center port manifold w/head work.

Spooler

How is the lag towing? What setting are you running with the TNT tune? I am debating doing it myself, I just don't think I have the time. Any fuel mileage improvement for you?

jmccart

I don't pay that much attention to MPG's. I drive as fast as I want. I got about 9 on this last towing trip I think. While towing w/the trailer, on TNT, lag is no worries. W/the revo there was much more lag (with the few option variations I tried). Now I am running the TNT w/TQ-3/Time-2/RP-2/WG-off. I towed on S 5. When not towing I run level 9. Try this out w/o the cam & see how ya' like it. It is really a good power w/low smoke for my combo. It should be for you as well. Only diff. is the cam & our transmissions.

Hintz

I would contact either Wicked or someone would does custom grinds, IMO buying a cam w/ a set grind is kinda of retarded when you can get a cam built for your set-up. And theres a guy on compD who just posted after his Helix swap he lost hp and some driveablility

Spooler

I think I will pass on the cam. It sounds like an improvement over what I have but I could do better by just sucking it up and going to twins.

dieselfan

do both its only money

RowJ

It's not a one or the other scenario. Doesn't work that way!
H-2 Cam is very nice but....
With your 4.10 gears and being a 3rd gen, the cam will not be as noticable as otherwise. Twins will make a bigger difference, IMO

I saw the post on Comp Diesel and don't buy that the H-2 cause the reduced HP. Better breathing may not necessarily add hp but can't, by itself, cost HP!! Had to be something else. The H-2 Cams have been a proven improvement on hundreds of CTD's.

RJ

Spooler

I am not knocking the cam at all. I am sure it works great, but for me I think a turbo change may be in order. I will have to think hard about what I want to do. At my HP levels I just don't think I will get all the benefits the higher HP guys see.

82NDSNPR

love my H2 ran her on a dyno and john from floor it knew with out asking that i had a H2 installed since the power came much faster and stronger then stock trucks

RyeThomas

Get a good dyno operator and he will be able to spot if you have a cam or not simply by the graph, power comes on sooner and stays on longer thru the rpm. I would do a cam on a stock truck, you will start spooling 2-300 rpm sooner and make power sooner. A very good mod for daily drivers, but hey what do I know.

I just wish I waited 2 years to get my cam would have been alot cheaper ,.

82NDSNPR

yea i paid double what they are going for now andthe price droped less then 7 months after i bought mine

Spooler

Driving down the road empty at 60 mph and 65 mph how much boost do you make (with no hills of coarse)? This will let me know how it will do for me towing.

Will someone please pay for a cam and MPI twin upgrade Please LOL.....

dieselfan

how much do you make? i make like 0-3psi with my 62/71/13ss.