Camshaft to Small???

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69wacuda

69wacuda

Handling, and a 500ci engine.... All in good time!
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Hey gentlemen, I need some big block camshaft gurus. I just picked up a freshly machined 400 that comes with a lot of new parts. The entire engine is torn apart and I think it would be a good time to adjust parts if necessary. Here's what I have:

76 400 block bored .60 over
440 Source stealth aluminum heads with 2.14/1.81 valves, roller rockers
Kieth Black pistons.
Stock rods and crank
I'll probably go with a Weiand Action+ duel plane intake
Elgin Hydraulic flat tappet Camshaft Part #E-943-P. Cam Specs (see picture)


The intention of this motor is to be a very drivable spunky street motor for my 69 Barracuda.

What do you think???

20171117_130003.jpg


Camshaft Specs.PNG
 
How spunky? I feel it is a little small, you are going to get a lot of different options. My choice would be a roller hydraulic cam or a solid roller if you want to tinker some.
I like cams in the 240 degree range at .050" and lift in the upper .550"

Good luck
 
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Cam is small! I'm with Steven 190, 240 duration cams are neater. I am in the process of putting in a 92/508 old skool mopar purple cam in my hopped up 360! It'll lope with attitude!!:steering::thumbsup:
 
That's pretty small on the lift. I built a 400 with a streetable 484 lift and I wish I had gone bigger. I would upgrade to at least a 501-508 lift and around 298-325 duration.
 
I currently have the 280/474 on a 110 lobe separation. I think the 108 lobe is quicker revving. 110 ah so so not to impressed. One reason why i am not to fond of comp cams. They cookie cut most all of their cams on 110. So will go with the "ancient" 292 moapr cam here.
 
I just sent an info request to Lunati, with all the specs for the engine/car setup. We'll see what they recommend.

Does anyone know what the deck clearance on a stock 400 setup? Off my best guess the compression will be around 9.5:1
 
RustyRatRod said:
Too small for what?
Click to expand...

... For a 400 bored .60 over, Aluminum heads with 2.14/1.81 valves, duel plane intake, whose intention is to be a daily street motor with attitude in a 3000lb(ish) car. As well as it should have good vacuum for the brakes and AOD trans kit I have.

I guess I'm really trying to find peoples opinion on this setup, and if there is a better option for it's intended purpose while the motor is all torn apart. Once it goes into the car, it will not come out till either; it breaks, or I'm ready to stroke it. I was hoping there were some old Mopar gurus out there with expert knowledge/experience on cam choice, because I am not one of them. :(
 
I re-read the OP. It says street car. "Very driveable" and "spunky"

I actually think that while that cam is very mild, it will meet your expectations. Probably exceed them by a good margin with the tremendous bottom end torque it will generate.
 
From an old 2005 post..."There is no high compression factory 400's. Actually according to NHRA Stock blueprint specs, the newer the 400, the higher CR allowed. Reality is often something else; the deck heights and the chamber sizes are nowhere near the blueprint specs, and the true CR may be in the 7's..." They made the 400 to keep the power of a 383 with all the smog crap on it, and still didnt really get that right. 400 can be the base of a very good running motor if you wanna stroke it and with the cheap 451 stroker parts nowadays, its almost the same price.
 
I would sell off the rotating assembly and stroke it. Ur heads will love u for it. And ofcourse a properly matched camshaft Kim
 
You did not mention stall speed or gear ratio. You did say daily street motor and it needs good vacuum for the brakes. You also did not say if its zero decked or how far down the pistons are from the deck a TDC or what size chambers the heads have so I'll assume the block was not decked and you have heads with chambers somewhere between 80 and 88cc chambers. That means its low compression. A small cam is going to work good for this and the cam you showed is small. If it were mine I'd use the cam you have and you can always upgrade later if you want. Daily drivers without big cubic inches, decent compression, converter and gears combined with a big cam are not good combos.
 
Doosterfy said:
You did not mention stall speed or gear ratio. You did say daily street motor and it needs good vacuum for the brakes. You also did not say if its zero decked or how far down the pistons are from the deck a TDC or what size chambers the heads have so I'll assume the block was not decked and you have heads with chambers somewhere between 80 and 88cc chambers. That means its low compression. A small cam is going to work good for this and the cam you showed is small. If it were mine I'd use the cam you have and you can always upgrade later if you want. Daily drivers without big cubic inches, decent compression, converter and gears combined with a big cam are not good combos.
Click to expand...
All good points^^^ the stall speed is 2500,gear ratio is 4.10, deck height (I believe is untouched), head volume is at 80 cc minus ten thousands of an inch milled from the head deck for straightness. I am putting a Performer Rpm on it with a fitech mean street mounted on top. I am thinking of going with this cam... >>> see picture <<<

I do want to test my cat against my brothers 69 Nova 427 and not embarrass myself but that isn't my main concern.

Thanks, Grant
Should I even bother?

Screenshot_2017-12-04-20-36-56.png
 
One step below the venerable 284/484 on lift, one step above on duration.

What's the problem?
 
A quick look in the Keith Black catalog has only one piston for the stock stroke 400. It is a KB240 flat top, 5cc 2V notch, 1.908 ch. The Stealth heads are listed at 80cc but often come 82-83cc. His heads have been milled .010". With approximately 1 cc drop for for every .0065" milled, you can all start guessing the compression ratio the OP may have. Figure a safe dynamic compression and figure a cam that will meet his needs. Good luck all.
 
it looks like you already have the cam.... just put it together and run it, if you want more whats the big deal spending an afternoon swapping out to a bigger one?
 
i put my specs into a CR calculator. and it looks like it's going to be closed to 10.5:1. My question is, how does this related to cam choice?
400 engine compression ratio.JPG
 
Also the summit website said that the piston valve clearance volume is -5, but on this website i'm wondering if i should have put a +5 instead of a -5 for the calculation. if that is the case then CR is 9.5:1.
 
If it is a flat top piston with valve reliefs, that is considered a dish volume, so, +5.
 
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