Cam opinion

-

Kendog 170

Let the boy go !
Joined
Mar 10, 2016
Messages
4,661
Reaction score
4,145
Location
Reading Ma.
So, I really like the performance of my Hydraulic cam in my RB 500 Stroker. The cam is noisy. Been like that for 8 years. That's another story. I now have a few spongey lifters. I'm going to change to solid cam and lifters (non roller). I already am using adjustable roller rockers. Here is my cam card and a similar cam but a 108 lobe separation not 110. Should I just have a cam ground by Howards or am I going to regret going 108 LS. Also, I assuming I am losing some lift from valve lash adjustment so I think someone more knowledgeable than me could give me some input.

Cam Card 1.jpg


Cam choice.jpg
 
Looking at your '68 Dart in the garage items (nice ride, BTW!), it would probably benefit from more converter than the B&M Holeshot 2800 after the cam change. No doubt a purpose built converter would probably make a significant improvement in the car as is. What gears, tire height, and weight and compression? The solid cam also calls for 925-16 springs, but I don't see any real disadvantage with going to that particular solid. But given aftermarket quality control with hardening and the like, I'd probably talk to Racer Brown about a custom profile and send the existing cam core in for a regrind to a solid profile.
 
Since you asked for opinions……..

My thought is the only real benefit that particular solid cam would have over that particular Hyd cam is better upper rpm stability, by virtue of nixing the Hyd lifters.
That Hyd cam has more lift and more high lift area than that solid cam. If the lifters were able to keep up, the Hyd would make more power.

There are better choices/options to be had.
 
I think if solid is your aim your choice is pretty good. That being said I'm a small block guy and with that many cubic inches your motors your comfortable RPM range, stroke and other factors will all play in to it. I don't think there's any real advantage to going to solid over a good working hydraulic roller setup in anything less than 6,000 RPMs and up.
 
Looking at your garage closer, I see you've got stealth heads on your 440 source stroker. Of course it would have to be checked as you already know, but you should be good for .600 lift along with the piston reliefs. In the theme of "only slightly bigger is better" I like Oregon grind #1281, but if you only have enough room for the .612 exhaust lift with accompanying springs. I'm pretty certain that you'd probably need to upgrade the converter (with the 3.23 gears especially), but I myself would honestly have to try it first. It should be pretty close to matching (and probably exceeding) the performance of the existing cam.

Specs are 260/266 @ .050 - 292/298 @ .020 - .388/.408 lobe lift (.582/.612) - LSA 108 - ICL 104 / ECL 112 and it lashes at .020/.022.

Mechanical Camshaft Specifications
 
@Kendog 170 I have a Howards 260-264 @ .050, edm lifters and set of springs I'd be willing to part ways with.
Just Dyno time.
 
Just use solid lifters with the existing cam that you like!! Set the lash 0.006-8" hot, job done.
 
Well, I appreciate all the feedback. I won't be doing this until early spring, so I have time to mull things over and save up some cash. I need to start selling a few things.
 
My opinion, For the two cams in your first post, the hydraulic 295HL verses the solid QTX286.

At the given lash, the QTX will idle better and have more vacuum. It will build a little more cylinder pressure. It will be a little snappier and stronger during normal driving. Mid range WOT will be better.

The on paper comparison suggests the hydraulic will make more upper rpm power. My experience says the hydraulic will either not make more upper rpm performance, or if it does, you will not notice it. If you currently have valve train stability issues, the solid will make more upper rpm power too, and hang on longer.

If you currently have a high cranking cylinder pressure and are close to detonation the solid could push you over. The edge. The solid lash setting will make it noisy. A beautiful sound.
 
Last edited:
-
Back
Top