Exceeding a cam's specs

[wild bill]

Mike
When intake and exhaust capabilities [air in/air out] exceed a cam?s specs, is power being lost or have you just reached your max potential for that particular cam?

Thanks

:o

[Mike]

Technically, yes to both questions. A properly matched cam (to an engine combo) would allow the full potential of air flow to be realized. An "undercammed" motor would simply run out of breath, especially at high RPM's, even though the rest of the combo may have the capability of processing more air, the cam can shut down that capability (too little duration), so power is restricted. An "overcammed" motor does the opposit in that the cam is trying to allow for more air to be processed (too much duration) but the combo does not produce that air, thus the motor never catches up with the cam and power is not achieved. Of course there is much more to consider, adding lift helps the motor take a deeper breath (valve farther off the seat earlier in the cycle) and in a sense make's it think it has bigger valves. When the valves open and close determines cylinder pressure and helps define the shape of the torque curve and where peak power/tq is achieved. Also; overlap, lobe seperation angle (LSA) and ramp velocity have their roles. All the above is based on the motors projected air capacity, compression ratio, max. operating rpm, stroke, swept volume, entended use, accessories and other factors.
Thanks, Mike