Cam installed. now to fix the idle...??

**mrdavid** · 07-28-2006, 09:38 PM

just installed a comp cam with .581 lift. The car cranked right up and the rocker arms had a little rattle at first, but the smoothed out after it warmed up. I only tightened them to 22ft lbs, that is what I read on ls1howto.com, Since I also changed the valve springs to comp cams beehive springs should I have tightened them to 25lbs or so??? And for the idle. Not too great. I had to stay on the gas to keep it alive at first, it was falling below 400 RPMs. I took it for a short drive and it ran great. On the way home from the shop I pushed in the clutch getting off an exit ramp and it died in about 2 seconds. The idle roller coasters from 350 rpms to about 1100 and then back down. Is there anything I can do until the car gets tuned to change the A/F ratio that the computer is set for now?? Or am I SOL until the car gets tuned?? Any and all help is greatly appriciated guys, thanks.

***Ed Blown Vert*** · 07-28-2006, 10:52 PM

Use the idle set screw to give it more air.

You will have to remove it and install it from the top of the TB

**purdueranger** · 07-29-2006, 05:17 PM

having it tuned will help alot. Had a guy tune it with EFIlive and that took all of my stalling and high idle issues.

**ninobrn99** · 07-29-2006, 06:44 PM

giving us the lift of the cam really doesnt help much

Like Ed said, use the idle screw tweak it a bit, then get it tuned properly.

**Flobeast385** · 07-29-2006, 07:01 PM

What are the cam specs exactly, when i installed my cam 224/581 112 it had to be driven around for a while til the comp adjusts. After that i had no problems with it stalling or surging even without a tune until i turned the A/C on and then it would act up with me every one in a while. like the others said, you could try to adjust throttle screw

**mrdavid** · 07-30-2006, 06:32 AM

well, I really wish I knew the exact specs on the cam. I bought it from a friend of mine who has had it in his car when he bought it. The back end of the car was later wrapped around a tree so he took the engine components apart and sold them. All he could tell me was it was a comp cam with a .581 lift.

I took the negative terminal off the battery and let it sit for about 10 min then hooked it back up and drove it around for a while trying to let the computer learn the new A/F mixture. It helped, still isn't that great though. I am putting headers on in a couple of months. I'm waiting until after the headers to get the car tuned. Thanks for your help.

**ninobrn99** · 07-30-2006, 10:33 PM

how does your friend not know what cam he got installed??

**Demonicbird00** · 07-31-2006, 03:40 PM

his friend bought it w/ the cam already in the car. the wrecked, then mrdaviv bought it.

w/ the lift of the cam im guessing its prolly a 224/224 or 224/228.

in all honestly. i would get the car tuned asap. for all you know you could be a a 10:1 a/f or a 15:1 a/f ratio.

then just get a quick tune after the headers.

-brandon

**Redphoenix1998** · 07-31-2006, 07:51 PM

sounds like a good size cam, definately agree with demonicbird, get a tune ASAP because you do some damage to your motor

**mrdavid** · 07-31-2006, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by Demonicbird00

his friend bought it w/ the cam already in the car. the wrecked, then mrdaviv bought it.

w/ the lift of the cam im guessing its prolly a 224/224 or 224/228.

in all honestly. i would get the car tuned asap. for all you know you could be a a 10:1 a/f or a 15:1 a/f ratio.

then just get a quick tune after the headers.

-brandon

For Sure. I am putting headers on in less than 2 months and It will not be driven hardly any until it is tuned. The cam lopes pretty good even though the car is still catted. I appriciate you guys taking the time to give me some advice.