Are you a car enthusiast looking to squeeze out some extra power from your engine? One way to do this is by installing a performance camshaft. But how much horsepower can you expect to gain from this modification? In this article, we’ll explore the working principle of camshafts and answer the question, “How much HP does a cam add?”
Camshaft Working Principle
A camshaft is a rod with lobes that rotate and slide upon valves to convert rotational motion into linear motion. This motion pushes the valves open and closed, allowing air and fuel to enter the combustion chamber and exhaust gases to exit. The camshaft is synchronized with the crankshaft via a timing chain, belt, or gears to ensure consistent timing of the pistons and valves.
How Much Horsepower Does a Cam Add?
Installing a performance camshaft can increase your engine’s horsepower by up to 10%, depending on other modifications done to the vehicle. For example, if your car already has 200 horsepower, installing a performance camshaft can raise it to 220 horsepower. However, for the best results, it’s recommended to accompany the performance cam with other modifications in stage 1 and 2 tuning.
It’s important to note that the increase in horsepower when installing a performance camshaft is between 10 to 20 horsepower and not more than a 10% increase. This means that if your car engine has 300 horsepower, do not expect up to a 10% increase, which is 30 horsepower. Performance camshafts can only add 10 to 20 horsepower.
To gain more horsepower, say 50 to 100 horsepower, you’ll need to do other modifications like installing performance exhaust systems, cold air intake, and throttle bodies, remapping your car’s ECU, using high-octane fuel, and implementing tire tricks and forced induction.
How Much HP Can a Cam Add to a 5.7 Hemi?
Performance camshafts increase engine horsepower by increasing the valve timing, which increases the engine acceleration. In a 5.7 Hemi engine, the performance camshaft does the same thing. However, how much horsepower it adds depends on other modifications you do to the vehicle. Generally, installing a performance camshaft on a 5.7 Hemi engine along with stage 1 and 2 modifications will add 70 to 150 extra horsepower.
Cam and spring upgrades on a junkyard 5.7 Hemi engine can add up to 70 horsepower. On a sound Hemi 5.7 engine, you can gain 80 to 150 additional horsepower, depending on other modifications done on the engine.
Stage 1, 2, and 3 Camshaft Modifications
Stage 1 modification involves installing a performance camshaft, which will squeeze out an extra 10 to 20 horsepower on average without any other modifications. Stage 2 requires upgrading the camshaft and the intake system and remapping the ECU. When this is complete, you will gain an average of 20 to 25% increase in horsepower. Stage 3 will add a whopping 40% increase in horsepower compared to the stock setup, but you must have finished stage 1 and 2 setups before getting here.
Upgraded Camshaft Pros and Cons
While upgrading your stock camshaft to a performance camshaft has many benefits, it also has pitfalls. It’s important to weigh the pros and cons before swapping your camshaft to be sure it is worth it.
Pros:
- Increased power and efficiency
- Increased engine sound
Cons:
- It may be illegal
- Delay vehicle resale
- It can be expensive
Final Words
Upgrading your camshaft can be quite expensive, and it’s not something you can tweak at home. The power outcome you’ll achieve is very small compared to the amount spent. You won’t gain more than a 10% increase. Hence, it’s not worth it unless you want to go through various stages and do other modifications to squeeze out all the horsepower you possibly can.
