need advice on what cam , springs and things to get for my 340

-

Nat

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2019
Messages
974
Reaction score
620
Location
Canada
just got the speedblaster heads trouble is they are for flat tappet cam , i'm using 1.6 hughes roller rockers and lifters so have to change the springs and need a cam , . now this cam is not for all out speed more of a daily driver if i want to go fast i'll drop the 426 in it . i want it to get 20-22mpg like my last 340 . Already have a vacuum pump in it for the power brakes . car has 3.55 gears with a GV oerdrive .
I Really suck at picking cams always end up changing them looking for 425 hp at least just like the old 340 . and i don't care what it sounds like .
Thanks
 
I guess I missed he said roller
I'd Pick one of these Rollers, For me I'd go For the 2nd milder one.

Voodoo Retro-Fit Hydraulic Roller Cam - Chrysler 273-360 270/279

Retro-Fit Hydraulic Roller. Great mid range torque and power. Likes 2000 RPM stall converter and works great in towing applications with lower gearing. Largest for inboard/outboard performance marine use. ;Advertised Duration (Int/Exh): 270/279 ;Duration @ .050 (Int/Exh): 219/227 ;Gross Valve Lift (Int/Exh): .515/.530 ;LSA/ICL: 112/106 ;Valve Lash (Int/Exh): Hyd/Hyd ;RPM Range: 1800-5800

Voodoo Retro-Fit Hydraulic Roller Cam - Chrysler 273-360 270/279

Or

Voodoo Retro-Fit Hydraulic Roller Cam - Chrysler 273-360 262/270

Retro-Fit Hydraulic Roller. Very strong increase in low RPM torque and HP. Works well with OEM EFI, great inboard/outboard marine cam for economy and skiing. ;Advertised Duration (Int/Exh): 262/270 ;Duration @ .050 (Int/Exh): 211/219 ;Gross Valve Lift (Int/Exh): .507/.515 ;LSA/ICL: 112/106 ;Valve Lash (Int/Exh): Hyd/Hyd ;RPM Range: 1400-5400 ;Includes: Cam Only

Voodoo Retro-Fit Hydraulic Roller Cam - Chrysler 273-360 262/270
 
Last edited:
What’s wrong with the cam from the “old” 340? Sounds like it delivered the power and economy you want?
 
Voodoo Hydraulic Flat Tappet Cam

10200702

Hydraulic Flat Tappet. Mid level performance street cam with excellent drivability. Works well with stock type exhaust manifolds and dual plane intake with mild 4 bbl carb. Great 4X4 and performance marine cam where dry exhaust is used. Improved valve springs and roller rockers recommended.; Advertised Duration (Int/Exh): 262/268; Duration @ .050 (Int/Exh): 220/226; Gross Valve Lift (Int/Exh): .475/.494; LSA/ICL: 112/108; Valve Lash (Int/Exh): Hyd/Hyd; RPM Range: 1400-5800; Includes: Cam Only

Voodoo Hydraulic Flat Tappet Cam - Chrysler 273-360 262/268
I fail to see how this cam will work with his roller lifters. Kim
 
just got the speedblaster heads trouble is they are for flat tappet cam , i'm using 1.6 hughes roller rockers and lifters so have to change the springs and need a cam , . now this cam is not for all out speed more of a daily driver if i want to go fast i'll drop the 426 in it . i want it to get 20-22mpg like my last 340 . Already have a vacuum pump in it for the power brakes . car has 3.55 gears with a GV oerdrive .
I Really suck at picking cams always end up changing them looking for 425 hp at least just like the old 340 . and i don't care what it sounds like .
Thanks
How about some info on the rest of the motor. Do u have hydraulic roller lifters or solid roller lifters. U will also have to change ur push rods. Measure the length a d get them built. Kim
 
What’s wrong with the cam from the “old” 340? Sounds like it delivered the power and economy you want?
it was flat tappet and i lost the paper work 10 years ago forget the specs
 
How about some info on the rest of the motor. Do u have hydraulic roller lifters or solid roller lifters. U will also have to change ur push rods. Measure the length a d get them built. Kim
thought i listed that hydraulic rollers pushrods are easy once i know the cam measure and order
thanks
 
I guess I missed he said roller
I'd Pick one of these Rollers, For me I'd go For the 2nd milder one.

Voodoo Retro-Fit Hydraulic Roller Cam - Chrysler 273-360 270/279

Retro-Fit Hydraulic Roller. Great mid range torque and power. Likes 2000 RPM stall converter and works great in towing applications with lower gearing. Largest for inboard/outboard performance marine use. ;Advertised Duration (Int/Exh): 270/279 ;Duration @ .050 (Int/Exh): 219/227 ;Gross Valve Lift (Int/Exh): .515/.530 ;LSA/ICL: 112/106 ;Valve Lash (Int/Exh): Hyd/Hyd ;RPM Range: 1800-5800

Voodoo Retro-Fit Hydraulic Roller Cam - Chrysler 273-360 270/279

Or

Voodoo Retro-Fit Hydraulic Roller Cam - Chrysler 273-360 262/270

Retro-Fit Hydraulic Roller. Very strong increase in low RPM torque and HP. Works well with OEM EFI, great inboard/outboard marine cam for economy and skiing. ;Advertised Duration (Int/Exh): 262/270 ;Duration @ .050 (Int/Exh): 211/219 ;Gross Valve Lift (Int/Exh): .507/.515 ;LSA/ICL: 112/106 ;Valve Lash (Int/Exh): Hyd/Hyd ;RPM Range: 1400-5400 ;Includes: Cam Only

Voodoo Retro-Fit Hydraulic Roller Cam - Chrysler 273-360 262/270
thanks 2nd one sounds like what i had in my lat 340 not 100% sure
thanks i'll think about both of them with the 2nd one i can probably get rid of the vacuum pump thing drives me crazy sounds like i have a crying baby locked in the trunk
 
just got the speedblaster heads trouble is they are for flat tappet cam , i'm using 1.6 hughes roller rockers and lifters so have to change the springs and need a cam , . now this cam is not for all out speed more of a daily driver if i want to go fast i'll drop the 426 in it . i want it to get 20-22mpg like my last 340 .
looking for 425 hp at least just like the old 340 . and i don't care what it sounds like .
i want it to get 20-22mpg like my last 340 .
It's unclear to me if you are talking about BOTH roller rockers AND roller lifters; but assuming yes both;
Nat, I know you're a smart man.
but 425hp, hydraulic roller cam, 340 cubes, an automatic, and 20/22 mpg?
Good luck with that.
Next;
3.55 gears with a GV overdrive .
Ok now yur talking 65=2260 with 27s. Nat, I don't think this will ever make 20/22 at 425hp; at least not normally aspirated. This is messed up.

But to help you get close;
you will need to pump the pressure to the max with alloy heads. and
Run about 218@.050 on a 110LSA max!
Forget the 425hp.
With 3.55s and an auto you can't get to the powerpeak in first gear until about 40mph, and not to it in Second, until 70.
But you have a GVod. So to make your 340 feel like it has 425hp, in those two gears, all you gotta do is put some more gear in the back
Since you are gonna want to run a 2800TC (guessing), you might as well gear the car for 65=2800 or a hair less. And with 27s that would take 4.30s for 65=2740 at zero-slip, in overdrive.
But the 4.30s will make your car feel like it grew 4.30/3.55= plus 21% more torque.. At 2800 rpm, that Plus21% torque is the equivalent of about 30 hp, so more than one cam size.
And cruising at 2740, will allow you to run more cam without getting into efficiency problems
Couple that with 185 psi versus 160psi and yur looking at what feels like about another 10% more bottom end over the 218/110

Now that we know how to make the 340 feel like a 440 at below 65 mph, you can start whittling it down, to get the best mpg it can, whatever the number might be. And let the horsepower be what it will be.
> yur gonna need the high cylinder pressure, and that points to alloy heads. It seems like only YR can run 170psi with iron heads. I'm NOT dissing YR. He seems to know how to do it; I cannot. But I can run 185psi in a 3.58 stroker,with alloys all day long, and on 87E10, at that.
> yur gonna need to get the stall up some
> and you'll need more than 3.55s with a 2.45 lowgear trans.
> that picks the cam for you, in the range of 218 to 235, BUT, at the upper end (235), you are gonna need to adjust the LSA to compensate for the long ramps on the hydraulic roller cam, so you don't kill the pressure at cruising speed. To make the 425hp you will need to spin that 340 so that points to the 235, but honestly I think that is too far away from your goal of 20/22 mpg. So, in the middle is 226* , which will not get you to 425 no way. Maybe 360hp on a good day. But, a 226 cam will get you to 20/22mpg, just not with 4.30s x .78=3.35 final drive.

So lets back back up the bus a sec..
This combo is screaming for SOLID lifters. The ramps on a Solid-roller are about the fastest ramps out there, allowing you to run about 1.5 cam sizes bigger @.050, (Than a hydraulic roller), without the penalty of lost low-speed pressure.
Ok so 1.5 sizes from 226 is 235ish@ .050 and now yur in the ballpark,powerwise.
With say 39* ramps, you're looking at 274* to zero lash when the cam finally takes up the lash. That will get you an Ica of around 64* and, and with 11.2Scr a pressure of ~187. Now we're talking.
The V/P index is predicted to be 148 so extremely powerful down low. Now we can re-evaluate the stall and gears.
read about V/P here; V/P Index Calculation
Ok so since the VP is so high, we can bring the stall down, say to 2400 about stock, for a stock 340. And you can even try the 3.55x2.45 starter gear=8.70
The 235* cam will powerpeak at near 5300, and on a 110LSA, you can rev that out to 6000 in first/5800 in second, so your speeds will be 48 in First, 81 in Second.
And 65=2260 at zero-slip/ say up to 2350 @4% slip. Good deal. The 235* cam will be out of reversion by 2200 or sooner, so 2350 is right on.
Now getting to 20/22mpg with a solid-lifter cam of this size is a bit of work. She's gonna want about 56* of spark-lead while cruising; plus or minus a couple either way. Once you got that done, you just lean out the primaries, until she won't hold a smooth steady speed any more. I think you'll need a spreadbore carb, or a small 4bbl, so you can get up on the mains.

Will it make 20/22mpg?
I think so.( see note-1)
Will it make 425hp?
Not even close.
Will it be fun to drive?
You better believe it! A V/P of 148 is in stock BB territory, maybe better than.

note-1
For a streeter, there are basically three things that kill hiway fuel economy;
A hi cruise Rpm,
an early opening exhaust valve,
and operating in a low efficiency rpm range.

Jus trying to help.

PS
If you run that GVod as a gear-splitter, the above is ALL wrong. Except the part about running a solid; I would still run a solid, but on a 106LSA, cuz the GearSplitter, has a very tight split of 78%
So then your gears would be;
2.45-1.91-1.45-1.13, then straight into third-over .78
with splits of .78-.76-.78-.69, instead of .59-.69-.78in the A727/904s
Since the splits are so tight, the engine will feel bigger than it actually is an ET better as well. So then, you can run the next size smaller cam
PS-2
If you need 425 hp to get a certain ET, well that's a whole different story, and NONE of what I talked about applies. But I fail to see the relevance of mentioning fuel-economy then,lol.
PS-3
If you are stuck with hydraulic roller lifters, budget-wise, and fuel economy takes precedence, forget a 235*@.050 cam; the exhaust valve will open WAY to early for economy.
 
Last edited:
lemme show you something;
here are three cams of the same 235*@.050. To show their worth as to fuel economy, you have to work from the advertised numbers, so, say this 235 cam is 274/282 advertized.
I will show ALL the event durations so you can see what I'm talking about. The first will be on a 112LSA, then a 110, and finally a 108. To be fair, I'll put them all in at split overlap.
intake/compression/power/exhaust/o'lap/Ica/LSA
274/113/105/282/54/Ica of 67*/112LSA
274/115/107/282/58/Ica of 65*/110LSA
274/117/109/282/62/Ica of 63*/108LSA
Notice how the exhaust duration grows with each LSA change, from 105 to 107 then 109, two degrees per 2 degrees of LSA. By the time that the exhaust cycle gets to be less than 105, fuel economy has already been suffering. Out past ~116 is strictly for economy cams. So in the middle is about 110.
Next; notice that the overlap grows twice as fast. Overlap increases the operating range of the cam, and thus the power. 62* is a pretty good street number for a 360. But the 340, to make power,will want a lot more. Like 70/72, assuming cams from the same manufacturer..

Next lets take that 110LSA cam and change the cam timing on it 2* each way from split overlap,

274/117/105/282/58/Ica of 63/110LSA (plus 4*)
274/115/107/282/58/Ica of 65/110LSA (plus 2*)
274/113/109/282/58/Ica of 67/110LSA (plus 0*)
Now you can see, from the power-stroke range of 105* to 109*, that you can take this same cam from chitty fuel-economy at 105*, to merely mediocre at 109*.. If you had lots of compression ratio, you could retard the cam 2* and pick up another 2* of power extraction, but the cam is now losing Effective overlap, so the operating range may suffer.

Next, lets tighten up the duration split from 274/282 to 274/278.
274/115/107/282/58/Ica of 65/110LSA (plus 2*)
274/114/110/278/56/Ica of 66/110LSA (plus 1*)

lookit that, we picked up 3* of extraction, but lost some exhaust duration. No big deal with headers and a free-flowing exhaust. Good deal.

Next; lets go to a faster rate of lift, that has the same .050 numbers (and beyond), but starts out with shorter ramps. Lets knock off 3 degrees at each end, so now we have a 268/272/110 and the numbers;
274/115/107/282/58/Ica of 65/110LSA (plus 2)
268/117/113/272/50/Ica of 63/110LSA (plus 1)
Whoa, now yur talking potential for fuel economy.
Finally, lets put it on a 106LSA for gear splitting
274/115/107/282/58/Ica of 65/110LSA (plus 2)
268/121/117/272/58/Ica of 59/106LSA (plus 1)
Whoa, that's a lotta potential right there!

Lets give some extraction up by going to the next bigger cam.
274/115/107/282/58/Ica of 65/110LSA (plus 2)
268/121/117/272/58/Ica of 59/106LSA (plus 1)
274/118/115/278/65/Ica of 62/106LSA (plus 1)
Now yur talking; this cam has it all;
adequate compression degrees,
PLENTY of extraction
lots of advertised intake/exhaust
a great Ica to work with
a great 106LSA for the GearSplitter
a funtastic 65* of overlap
plus, hopefully, still is a 235@.050

Ok so there's some food for thought...........
 
wel i guess i live in an alternate universe as my old 340 got 20- 22 mpg on the highway all day and it made 425 hp had 11.2 compression and 190 cyl pressure . never got a good et because it would spin through 2nd gear best et was 13.6 ay 103 mph . but i no longer race so don't give a f about et
 
-
Back
Top