CHEAP 8.1L CAM TEST-HOW TO ADD 30 HP AND 30 LB-FT FOR TOWING. 8.1L DART CARB INTAKE VS EFI-WHO WINS?

January 20, 2026

I love me some 8.1 horsepower, and in the video below our friend Richard Holdener is back at Westech Performance doing some cam testing on his dyno mule 8.1. He also does some testing with a carb vs efi. Everyone is always asking whether or not these engines can make more power and torque with a carburetor, and here is the test that will tell you. Regardless, these 8.1 big blocks make good power, respond really well to camshaft upgrades, and they love boost just like most good engines. You really can’t go wrong with these engines for your tow rig.

Check out the video results below.

Video Description:

HOW TO MAKE 500 HP WITH A GEN 7 8.1L BBC. ARE THERE ANY CHEAP 8.1L PERFORMANCE OR TOWING CAMS? HOW MUCH IS A CAM SWAP WORTH ON AN 8.1L? HOW MUCH POWER IS A DART DUAL-PLANE INTAKE WORTH ON AN 8.1L? CARB VS EFI-WHICH ONE MAKES MORE? DO I NEED SPRINGS WITH A CAM SWAP ON MY 8.1L? WILL MY IDLE QUALITY SUFFER WITH A CAM SWAP? CAN I MAKE 500 HP WITH MY 8.1L? CHECK OUT THIS VIDE WHERE I TESTED THE NEW (LOW BUCK) STAGE 1 RHP/ELGIN CAM FOR THE 8.1L GEN 7 BBC. I COMPARED IOT TO THE POPUALR ZZ502 CAM. I ALSO COMPARED THE DUAL-PLANE, DART CARB INTAKE AND EDELBROCK 850 VRS CARB TO THE EFI INTAKE. FULL DYNO RESULTS-AND THE NEW RHPE STAGE 1 CAM IS AVAILABLE AT RICHARDHOLDENERPERFORMANCE.COM.