Ep 10. 600hp Camshaft Shootout! Hydraulic vs. Solid

Engine Masters is a popular automotive show that focuses on engines and their components. In season 1 episode 10, titled "600hp Camshaft Shootout! Hydraulic vs. Solid," the team at Engine Masters put two types of camshafts to the test and found out which one performs better.

The episode starts off with the host, David Freiburger, introducing the camshaft shootout challenge. He explains the difference between hydraulic and solid camshafts and how they affect the performance of an engine. A hydraulic camshaft is designed to use oil pressure to control valve lift while a solid camshaft has a fixed lift profile.

The team then proceeds to install both types of camshafts on a 383 cubic inch small block Chevy engine with the goal of achieving 600 horsepower. They start by installing the hydraulic camshaft and make a baseline run to see how the engine performs. The engine produces 504 horsepower, which is a good starting point.

Next, they swap out the hydraulic camshaft for a solid camshaft. They explain that a solid camshaft is stiffer and has more aggressive lift profiles, which means the engine will produce more horsepower but will also be harder to tune. After installing the solid camshaft, they start tuning the engine and make several runs to see how it performs.

Throughout the episode, David, Steve Dulcich, and the rest of the team explain the importance of choosing the right camshaft for your engine and how it affects the overall performance. They also show the viewers how to install and tune a camshaft, which is an important skill for any car enthusiast.

As the episode progresses, the team encounters several challenges, including an overheating issue and a misfire. They work through these issues and eventually fine-tune the engine to achieve their goal of 600 horsepower.

The episode concludes with a dyno run of the 383 small block Chevy engine with both camshafts. The hydraulic camshaft produces 504 horsepower, while the solid camshaft produces an impressive 613 horsepower. The team explains that the solid camshaft is more aggressive and harder to tune but produces more power, which makes it a better choice for racers and enthusiasts who want maximum performance.

Overall, season 1 episode 10 of Engine Masters is an informative and exciting episode that showcases the importance of choosing the right camshaft for your engine. The team at Engine Masters does an excellent job of explaining the difference between hydraulic and solid camshafts and how they affect the performance of an engine. They also show the viewers how to install and tune a camshaft, which is a valuable skill for any car enthusiast.