Comp Cams Thumpr vs. Xtreme Cam Sound Comparison

Today I'm comparing the sound difference between two Comp Camshafts after a recent rebuild of the engine. The Specs can be found below.
The car is a 1990 Third gen Camaro with a Small Block Chevy 350 with Vortec heads.
The exhaust is shorty headers to 2.5" dual exhaust to Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers.
Also running a Holley Sniper EFI as well as Holley Sniper Hyperspark ignition system.
This is a fresh rebuild and I am in the process of breaking in the engine and getting back on the road.


New Camshaft:

Comp Cams Xtreme Energy Cam
Part # 12-234-2
Lift: .447 Intake / .454 Exhaust
Duration @ 050: 212 Intake / 218 Exhaust
Lobe Separation Angle: 110

Old Camshaft:

Comp Cams Thumpr Hydraulic Flat Tappet
Part # 12-601-4
Lift: .489 Intake / .476 Exhaust
Duration @ 050: 235 intake / 249 Exhaust
Lobe Separation Angle: 107

[FloorItDuh]

I have a mutha thumpr cam in my truck. Did some other things to go along with it. After 2 years or so now and being a daily it's just nice to have something that has a little more power and sounds good. I'm not really looking to win race's, just have something to enjoy driving that has some character. It took a short time to get used to driving with it on a stock stall but once I did it's not really a problem. Driven it in snow and ice too. It's actually kinda nice to have the powerband the way it is because it allows me to dictate when I want the power depending on how I'm driving. It's just fun enough and sounds good enough that for me it was worth it.

[flik]

Nice comparison video. Side note with that Sniper, if you haven't done it, try installing and setting it up for progressive linkage. It is insane, the difference in drivability.

[mlr]

Always buy a cam for the way your going to drive and how your vehicle is set up. Gearing, converter, intake and weight all play a role in it. I love the sound of a lot of overlap but it suffers on the driveability

[Thirdgen]

It's running extremely rich. That's where the soot is coming from.

[samiayyat]

This is a great comparison between the two cams

[magster]

I know the thumper cams aren't very good but they sure sound good.
I'm sure the car is much better with your new extreme cam. Good decision and thanks for the vid!

[t.j.johnson]

The thumper sounds much better, but the extreme energy will have better performance.

[BDauto]

Pretty obvious where the spot came from. The thumper sounds badass but you can tell the milder cam is more suited for your build, much better drivability on streets too I'm sure.

[billythomas]

Saying one makes more power over the other is not an entirely accurate statement.
It depends on where and when you want the power.
Thumpers are a great cam if you are reaching a bit higher and have all that it needs to go with it.
Calling it a "sound" or junk cam just because most people buy cams these days for that sound doesn't make it so.
Comp doesn't make junk. My opinion

[jonprice]

I actually always like the 256H XE cam but something that happens a lot with thumper cams is a lack of static compression ratio. With even the smaller one really needs 10.25:1+ on a sbc 350. If running your dynamic compression will be really low and if will feel sloppy and sluggish. It will also will be a lot harder to tune. The XE256H is great for a 9.5:1 sbc 350. Like most flat top with valve reliefs will make.

[j_johnson_music]

I was checking old dyno sheets from the danger mouse build, this cam is quite impressive and beat out the following 2 larger cams below 5200, in both HP & TQ, and that was in a 9.25:1 350, with stock 194 heads, with roller rockers, and an RPM air gap intake. The test they didn't do was this cam with Vortec heads.

[hickbone]

A lot of work went into designing the Xtreme Energy cam. They learned how to reduce lifter dribble using accelerometers, which means you can actually get away with more duration than possible with their other older cams. I ordered a really hot BBC Xtreme Energy cam for a friend, and he called me up pissed because it was hitting so hard. He said, "I only have a 3200 stall and 3.73 gears." This bitch is going to be a dog with my 33" Mickeys. Yeah, he was pissed, but he called me back and said he pulled into the road and stomped the shit out of it, thinking it would fall on its face. He said he hit it, and it blew the tires off. He took it to the track and the car went from 8.90s to 7:40s. The way it was explained to me, by one of their engineers, all lifters jump the lobes and dribble, which basically adds duration and its uncontrolled.
He also said the old way of making cams is obsolete. An obsolete design will have the same lift and duration for both intake and exhaust, and there wasn't much thought or testing that went into that cam. That makes sense, because the Intake and exhaust strokes are doing very different jobs.
I used to have high praises for Comp Cams, but I continue to read about people wiping lobes during break-in, so dont think I work for them. They need to fix their reputation.

[tradmanmike]

REALLY LIKED THE SOUND OF THE THUMPER CAM! GREAT VIDEO IDEA! THANK YOU! NEW SUB. THUMBS UP!

[americanfreedom]

466 lift. Slight lopey idle, good on fuel, holley 670 and runs really good. Lites the tire easily from a dead stop and hits 2nd and 3rd real hard too. It's to easy to go big on a cam if you're not careful.

[sanchoramirez]

That's right don't compromise performance for sound👍

[zombieking]

I just built a 355 Holley sniper Edelbrock intake hooker headers vortec heads thumper cam. Just ordered the xtreme energy cam too.
Thanks for the video, I love the Camaro.

[johnk]

Man the old thumper cam definitely has a distinctive sound

[gdaytrees]

Thank you for your video. I know now that i want the thumper soundtrack. Music. Sweet violent music

[onefastgmc]

That smaller cam will make more power and enhance driveability over the thumpr cam. That's why I'm going through the trouble of swapping the one in my 383.

[James-aaron]

I have compared several cams and believe it or not, the thumpr cams do make good power and very strong torque when used with the right compression ratios and decent heads.