Experience the Power of High-Performance Cams & Valvetrains: Theory, Technology, and Selection

Camshafts are the driving force behind any four-stroke engine, serving as both the coach and conductor. Whether you're dealing with a classic flathead or a cutting-edge Formula 1 machine, the performance of your engine hinges on the precise timing and operation of its valves. While valvetrain configurations may vary across applications, the fundamental principles remain constant. That's why this book delves into the language, setup, dynamics, energy, and pressure aspects of valvetrains, offering insights applicable to engines ranging from sub-15-hp go-karts to 500-plus-hp street beasts and modern 1,500-plus-hp NHRA Pro Stock monsters.

In High-Performance Cams & Valvetrains: Theory, Technology, and Selection, Billy Godbold—a former farm kid turned physicist—shares his extensive quarter-century of experience working with valvetrains at renowned companies like Comp Cams, Lunati, Crane Cams, and Edelbrock. Drawing from his collaborations with professional teams in NASCAR, NHRA, road racing, dirt track racing, offshore racing, and land speed racing, Billy provides a unique perspective on valvetrain systems. Through his lighthearted and analogy-rich approach, this book simplifies complex concepts without compromising essential details.

Featuring specific configurations and applications, High-Performance Cams & Valvetrains equips you with practical techniques and examples for optimizing camshafts and valvetrains in various scenarios. Whether you're working with intakes, headers, superchargers, turbochargers, fuels, carburetors, or modern EFI applications, this book offers invaluable guidance. Whether you're building a classic hot rod (Chevy, Ford, Chrysler, and more), a modern performance machine (LS, Hemi, Coyote, or Godzilla), or a competition engine (road racing, circle track racing, or drag racing), you'll discover how to modify your valvetrain system effectively to unlock the maximum potential of each component, ultimately helping you achieve your unique goals.

Why Choose High-Performance Cams & Valvetrains?

1. Unlock the Complexity: Cams and valvetrains can be daunting subjects, but this book simplifies the functionality of these intricate systems, making them easy to comprehend.
2. Expert Author: Written by Billy Godbold, an industry veteran with over 25 years of experience working for top camshaft and valvetrain creators in the automotive industry, this book offers unmatched expertise and insights.
3. Visual Learning: Packed with hundreds of charts and graphs, High-Performance Cams & Valvetrains provides a visual feast, helping you grasp every aspect of selecting the right camshaft for your vehicle.

About the Author

Billy Godbold's journey began on a rural Mississippi farm, where his love for science and internal combustion engines took root. Combining these passions, he pursued a Master of Science degree in physics from Florida State University. Throughout his career, Billy has collaborated with legendary figures like Glidden, Lingenfelter, Jenkins, Pink, and Elliot, eventually becoming a trusted consultant for engineering-focused NASCAR teams and original equipment manufacturers. Thanks to his unique background,

The GM LS Gen IV engine dominates the high-performance V-8 market and is the most popular powerplant for engine swap projects. In stock trim, the Gen IV engines produce class-leading horsepower. The Gen IV’s rectangular-port heads flow far more air/fuel than the Gen III cathedral-port heads. However, with the right combination of modification procedures and performance parts, you can unlock the performance potential of the Gen IV engines and reach almost any performance target.

Engine building and LS expert Mike Mavrigian guides readers through the best products and modification procedures to achieve maximum performance for a variety of applications. To make more horsepower, you need to flow more air and fuel into the engine; therefore, how to select the industry-leading aftermarket heads and port the stock heads for superior performance are comprehensively covered. The cam controls all major timing events in the engine, so determining the best cam for your engine package and performance goals is revealed. But these are just a few aspects of high-performance Gen IV engine building. Installing nitrous oxide or supercharger systems and bolting on cold-air intakes, aftermarket ignition controls, headers, and exhaust system parts are all covered in detail. The foundation of any engine build is the block, and crucial guidance for modifying stock blocks and aftermarket block upgrade advice is provided. Crankshafts, pistons and rods, valvetrain, oiling systems, intakes and fuel injection, cooling systems are all covered so you can build a complete high-performance package.

A massive amount of aftermarket parts is available for the Gen IV platform, and this new book provides guidance and instructions for extracting top-performance from these engines.