Cam from master J

[Sbcstocker]

Master J,i am in the market for a cam and stumbled across your site. How do your cams differ from any other off the shelf or even custom cam from a big named company? DO yours produce more power than theirs? Ive been reading and most people have good things to say about you but Im just curious how a custom cam from you would be any different than any others...Seeing that you are a small company...the big boys may have already done their research and most if not all of their off the shelf cams are up to par and produce power.Can you tell me how is it that yours are better than theirs? and cost more..at that.... It seems that your rep is to out grind any of the big boys and produce more power.Im not trying to be a jerk or anything...so dont take it wrong..just want to spend my money wisely..

[Jay Allen]

Master J,i am in the market for a cam and stumbled across your site. How do your cams differ from any other off the shelf or even custom cam from a big named company? DO yours produce more power than theirs? Ive been reading and most people have good things to say about you but Im just curious how a custom cam from you would be any different than any others...Seeing that you are a small company...the big boys may have already done their research and most if not all of their off the shelf cams are up to par and produce power.Can you tell me how is it that yours are better than theirs? and cost more..at that.... It seems that your rep is to out grind any of the big boys and produce more power.Im not trying to be a jerk or anything...so dont take it wrong..just want to spend my money wisely.. I appreciate the curiosity.

Let me address the cost. Contact the bigger companies and ask them for a complete CNC, highest cam core possible stick. Then tell them that you want lobes that don't exist. Meaning they'll have to make masters. It'll be more than 369.00.

I design a cam for your engine. From the ground up. This is part of the reason that I choose not to give out specs before the fact. If I did, they don't exist, so why have them? A camshaft is so much more than an at .050 number with a lobe lift. I look at the entire lobe. It takes me 2-3 hours to do what I do. Not 10 minutes. This is why I make more power IMHO. Because I pay more attention for one thing and my lobes are designed to take advantage of the engines strengths.

I will also say that it is much more than a cam sale and how do you figure that into price? I am typically avalaible on Saturdays and Sundays. You know, when you're racing. I work at night. I also look at your entire project. A camshaft is just one aspect of an engine. I have been around a day or two and I see many things. Once a customer, I offer my help whenever possible.

If you want a more personalized touch a smaller more professional company will always be the way to go. Perhaps that's not for you.

I hope this answers your questions!

[Jay Allen]

Where abouts in W-S are you? I have LOTS of family and friends there!

[68Bird]

Master J,i am in the market for a cam and stumbled across your site. How do your cams differ from any other off the shelf or even custom cam from a big named company? DO yours produce more power than theirs? Ive been reading and most people have good things to say about you but Im just curious how a custom cam from you would be any different than any others...Seeing that you are a small company...the big boys may have already done their research and most if not all of their off the shelf cams are up to par and produce power.Can you tell me how is it that yours are better than theirs? and cost more..at that.... It seems that your rep is to out grind any of the big boys and produce more power.Im not trying to be a jerk or anything...so dont take it wrong..just want to spend my money wisely..


Keep in mind that most of the 'big boys' have tech guys spec'ing cams for customers that barely know how an engine operates. There's exceptions to that for sure, but 99% of the time someone is guessing at what 'off the shelf' cam might work in your application. It's a crap shoot at best. If your serious about making every HP you can (who isn't), then the little extra money is WELL spent for someone to look at your complete combination and spec a cam. The cam is the brains of the whole engine....keep that in mind.

Craig

[Sbcstocker]

I guess it would be called the north side of Winston..Ive only been here for about 5 years...and still dont know what side is what..LOLIt seems that from your site, your mainly a ford mustang guy....I guess cams are cams no matter the car, huh?do you design cams for street cars aswell? or just strip cars?

[Scott McMullen]

As a Customer Of Jay's I should be biased but I am Not. I haven't even fired My engine. I know then how can you give a fair Judgement ? Well I look at the whole Aspect of the Engine,ie I really like the Profiles of the camshaft that Jay produced, I have always wondered why Camshafts Weren't designed the same way mine in my engine is. What I am Getting at is Duration @.20 Vs Lift. I think the This is the begining of a great Combonation You have to Utilize Cylinder Head Design , Ci, and The Usuals that The "BIG NAMES" Ask you but I like the Approch That Jay takes on Cam profiles And I own Chevrolet Products. So that s a Honest humble opinion. I 'll let you know how the Cam Works but by the looks of the Spec Sheet Let's just say I couldn't have done it better myself! BTW Jay Thanks for the Great Cam Selection

[383Malibu]

Sbcstocker - when I first talked to Jay (2 years ago) about a cam for my 381" sbc, the only parts I had were the block and the heads. I explained my goals and Jay made several recommendations regarding the combination. I followed most of his suggestions and used his cam and ended up with 847 hp (2.23 hp/ci). So, I think it's safe to say his expertise isn't restricted to fords.

[Jay Allen]

Sbcstocker - when I first talked to Jay (2 years ago) about a cam for my 381" sbc, the only parts I had were the block and the heads. I explained my goals and Jay made several recommendations regarding the combination. I followed most of his suggestions and used his cam and ended up with 847 hp (2.23 hp/ci). So, I think it's safe to say his expertise isn't restricted to fords.
I do all types of cams.

Ford/Chevy/Mopar

Street/strip/circle track/truck pull/marine, you name it, I've done it.

Mr. Copeland. That is one bad a s s SBC with a cast single 4bbl.

[MEAN_SBC]

sbcstocker- I recently had Jay design a custom cam for me, and the engine just came off the dyno. It made about 100hp more than I was expecting! I'm not saying that it's 100% because of the cam, but it couldn't have hurt. This was in a 400 small block chevy turbo engine too.

When I originally sent in my build sheet for my cam I was eager, but patient. Then Jay CALLS ME. Try getting Comp or Crane to do that! He didn't just say "this is what you need, it's in the mail." He spoke to me on the phone for probably 30-45 minutes suggesting different things that I should do to optimize my combination. I have nothing but respect for Jay and Camshaft Innovations, and I'll probably never purchase a cam anywhere else!!! Off the shelf grinds are for 12 second bracket cars.... Jay builds the hardcore badass stuff. You won't be disappointed. 8)

[John Wilson]

I have 2 of Jay's cams. One in a 23dg sbc that picked up .15/2mph over the previous "custom" cam with NO other changes to the combo, including using the same valve springs.

I also have back to back dyno data for my 18dg sbc that shows Jay's cam to be worth an average of 17hp over another "custom" cam from a different company, also with NO other changes.

His cams WORK!

[Sbcstocker]

WOW!...this is turning into a feedback thread for Master J......

Its seems that the people who have gotten a cam from you are very pleased. They all seem to have strip cars..I just have a street car that I want to make faster and am just wanting to do the cam once and be done with it.

Im starting with a 383 and running it in an early model firebird but havent decided on the intake..Im wanting to go with EFI...havent decided on the injection yet but Im leaning towards the TPIS miniram or even the Holley Stealthram....from reading some of the other boards thats the way to go with EFI..
I can remember how I found your website but its very informative and make me want to try one of your cams. Have you had any expierence with EFI? ..what kind of power can I get out of a street 383?
383 can be made to produce alot of power but I want it streetable ..as most of my stuff is done on the street.

any idea?

thanks for the replies and Im sure J is happy with the feedback aswell.

[Jay Allen]

thanks for the replies and Im sure J is happy with the feedback aswell. I stay is close proximity to my customers. I knew this already.

The reason you have mostly track guys speaking up is they are the ones who have results that can backed up. All of my customers understand that a dyno is nothing more than a tool. Thus, they all jump in and speak up. Plus, if you notice, its mostly Chevrolet guys in here. Ford, Chevy, Mopar, street, strip, it doesn't matter to me.

Fast is Fast.

I am 90% sure I know who this is! How far is Pilot Mtn from W-S, NC? If it is who I think it is, you already have a Stealth Ram.

Ain't that right? Or at least that is what the cam is designed for.......

[Sbcstocker]

Yeah this site sound mores for the hardcore drag racing community...I have never heard of you before until I stumbled across your site.....so Im sure you have me mistaken for someone else...I travel most or aleast I try to look at all the sites that deal with early model F-body's..so maybe that is how I came across your site...sorry!...wrong guy!...oh and Pilot Mountain is about 50 miles from here..I think

Well atleast it nice to hear that you have designed a cam for someone with the type of injection Im looking into...do you happen to know his ID name so maybe I can look him up and see how he likes the cam?

I just came on here looking into a cam for my ride down the road..sorry if I stepped on anyone toes...I'll continue to read up on things..I may be giving you a call sometime soon..

[Jay Allen]

I am in the process of doing a camshaft (hydraulic roller) for a 383 SBC. The customer has a stealth ram and AFR heads. It just sounds a lot like what you are doing. And he lives north of W-S as you indicated that you did.

He ended up choosing me because of the dyno testing I did when the stealth ram was a new(er) piece. Those are excellent manifolds, just that the cam timing needs to be a certain way or the engine will have no tq. I see people all over the net blaming the manifold when in fact it isn't that manifold at all. Its wacked out cam timing.

[ProGSX]

I do all types of cams.

Ford/Chevy/Mopar

Street/strip/circle track/truck pull/marine, you name it, I've done it.

Mr. Copeland. That is one bad a s s SBC with a cast single 4bbl.

Jay,
How about a Buick 455?

[Jay Allen]

Jay,
How about a Buick 455?
I no longer do Buick cams.

I did 2 cams for a guy out of NC. He sent me 2 T-A Buick cores. They were not very nice pieces at all. Because of the core situation, I refrain from grinding Buick 455 cams.

Now if someone starts making decent cores I'll reconsider. Also, they MUST be hands off. The Buick guys I have dealt with are worse than LS-x guys about *dynos* and cam numbers.

[ProGSX]

I no longer do Buick cams.

I did 2 cams for a guy out of NC. He sent me 2 T-A Buick cores. They were not very nice pieces at all. Because of the core situation, I refrain from grinding Buick 455 cams.

Now if someone starts making decent cores I'll reconsider. Also, they MUST be hands off. The Buick guys I have dealt with are worse than LS-x guys about *dynos* and cam numbers.

Funny but true...

Well, I hope some good cores come out, I would like to try some of your magic. These 2 cams from NC, they were nitrous cams correct?

[ProGSX]

Jay,
One more question. Could you not get the lobe separation you wanted with the TA cores????? Thanks for your time.
Jeff

[Jay Allen]

Jay,
One more question. Could you not get the lobe separation you wanted with the TA cores????? Thanks for your time.
Jeff
Funny but true...
Well, I hope some good cores come out, I would like to try some of your magic. These 2 cams from NC, they were nitrous cams correct?
There is no such thing as a *NOS* cam.

The T-A cores where not that nice. They took the numbers I wanted to make.

Is this jeff strube?

[ProGSX]

There is no such thing as a *NOS* cam.

The T-A cores where not that nice. They took the numbers I wanted to make.

Is this jeff strube? I do have one of Jeff Strubes cams though. Correct me again if I am wrong. Would you call them power adder cams???? Sorry, Jeff if your reading this.:-D

[Jay Allen]

No, this is Jeff Sacharko. You should have known it's not Jeff Strube, I can spell.:rolleyes: I do have one of Jeff Strubes cams though. Correct me again if I am wrong. Would you call them power adder cams???? Sorry, Jeff if your reading this.:-D
I seriously do not subscribe to the power adder/NOS cam/Blower cam thing. An engine is an engine. This is how you can do more, with less. There is a thread in the section where I did a cam for BBC and a turbo. He made MORE power with my cam and 10# LESS boost.

Good thing its not strube. I would have ended this thread right here, right now. The Buick 455 crowd is very different. Like the LS-x boys. Dyno this.......Flow that.......When I see a dyno in 1 lane and a flow bench in the other lane, both with slicks and they race, then I'll listen. Until then, they are tools.

[ProGSX]

I seriously do not subscribe to the power adder/NOS cam/Blower cam thing. An engine is an engine. This is how you can do more, with less. There is a thread in the section where I did a cam for BBC and a turbo. He made MORE power with my cam and 10# LESS boost.

Good thing its not strube. I would have ended this thread right here, right now. The Buick 455 crowd is very different. Like the LS-x boys. Dyno this.......Flow that.......When I see a dyno in 1 lane and a flow bench in the other lane, both with slicks and they race, then I'll listen. Until then, they are tools.

Thanks Jay.
I agree with the Buick 455 crowd being different, but there are a few there that are great guys. Most I could care less to deal with. It's like that short person syndrome. I am not part of that crowd, I just like being different. So different, I run a sbc in one of my Buicks. If that got out, they'd lynch me.:-D I will look for that bb turbo thread.

[Jay Allen]

http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10121

[ProGSX]

http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10121

Thanks for the tease.:-D

[buschracing]

381" SBC cast single 4 and 847hp...nice! gotta hear more about what went into this one...

[383Malibu]

buschracing - check your PM

[Jay Allen]

381" SBC cast single 4 and 847hp...nice! gotta hear more about what went into this one...
And on a dyno that is reliable/repeatable.

Its not calibrated for conditions on Pluto.

[1slow305]

I will say that I herd Jay came all the way down to Toledo with a guy who had trouble with his motor cam related but was not the cam, and told him the causes of what happend to the motor.

That is def. backing up your work. And on top of that, I herd he got a stellar ride in his decently quick daily driver.

Jay, You have a PM.