Camshaft suggestions

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Sounds tough..... and running hard....... not always the same thing.

It’s extremely rare where I’d ever use a 204 type cam in something.
Maybe to slightly hot up a stock 318 in a truck or C body...... but I do think a lot of people go 1 to 2 steps farther down the page than they should.
And they often don’t have the support equipment to go with it(gears/converter).......... and then you end with the “underachiever”.
 
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"A little" common sense can turn that cylinder pressure suckin 508 into a barnstormer though. Ask me how I know. @crackedback knows all too well, too.
 
what you are not juggling is that he wanted drive ability in post 1
why would anyone run the old 274 H when the HL is available?
"Sounds tough..... and running hard....... not always the same thing." usually not
making a higher HP higher rpm motor is easy it's the driveability that's tough
 
I suggest to anyone looking at the 508/509 cam... the 484 cam will run right with it, come on earlier and only give up a little bit in the last 400-500 of rpm range.

If you drive around all the time at the top of the rpm band, like an old 125CC motocross bike, have at it with the 508. Otherwise run the 484.

Yep, sounding tough and running hard are lots of times mutually exclusive!
 
Wyrmrider said:
what you are not juggling is that he wanted drive ability in post 1
why would anyone run the old 274 H when the HL is available?
"Sounds tough..... and running hard....... not always the same thing." usually not
making a higher HP higher rpm motor is easy it's the driveability that's tough
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And also POWER but let ignore that one. :)

Who said anything about an old comp 274H grind... Last I saw they had the HE 270h and 280h, and had the DEH series at 275 but no 274? Another in the quiver of nonsense.
xe274H... BIG difference there isn't it. Same grind that Lead69 mentioned. That you think a 204 cam will run with. NOPE!
I said put a XE262 or XE268 cam or a lunati 02-03 in it.

And the SMALLEST HL series is bigger than either the 262 or 268 cam I mentioned. Way to go on that one as well.

Because those suggestions are SO race oriented. LMAO

I'm going to simplify this on my end... no more nonsense.
 
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OK lf I'm putting a XE274H, now who said that

lunati 02-03 much better choice depending on his compression or the 01 if really low compression and mileage is important
 
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Love following this thread, the OP asked about a mild cam for his 360 w/318 heads, low compression w/2.76gears following the last 4pages the cam recommendations get bigger and bigger, the arguments get better and better. I don’t think I need to get into the dick measuring contest, cause mines is like “an acorn in a squirrel’s nest” I’m just here for the party.
 
67/6barracuda said:
Love following this thread, the OP asked about a mild cam for his 360 w/318 heads, low compression w/2.76gears following the last 4pages the cam recommendations get bigger and bigger, the arguments get better and better. I don’t think I need to get into the dick measuring contest, cause mines is like “an acorn in a squirrel’s nest” I’m just here for the party.
Click to expand...
:rofl::rofl:
 
crackedback said:
A comp XE262-268H or Voodoo 02-03 cam would be fine for that build. Springs are the biggest consideration with either of these.

Get the idle tune up right and it will run great. Plenty of them running and the idle manners are just fine.
Click to expand...
these or the Crower267. all good choices. pick one !
 
Michael Paselk said:
Garrett, that’s the biggest problem I think on my end. So many cam choices. I have a hard time with the importantant aspecs and how they will affect the application. A little overwhelming at times. Example:
Advertised Duration
Duration at .50
Lobe Seperation
How all of the various values come into play and depending on the value...affects performance. Again knowledge is somewhat limited When it comes to the internals and matching everything up.
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67/6barracuda said:
Love following this thread, the OP asked about a mild cam for his 360 w/318 heads, low compression w/2.76gears following the last 4pages the cam recommendations get bigger and bigger, the arguments get better and better. I don’t think I need to get into the dick measuring contest, cause mines is like “an acorn in a squirrel’s nest” I’m just here for the party.
Click to expand...
Spot on!! I’m totally confused now!!!!
What should I be looking at? Advertised Diration? Duration at .50? Lift? Ugh!!!
Excuse the ignorance. That’s why I’m here?
I’m trying to find the best solution to a rather horrific problem. The plus sign is that the bottom end appears to be intact and in decent shape.
 
Post #50

I haven’t seen anything posted yet that would steer me away from that cam for this type of application.

It’ll work fine with either the 360 or 318 heads.
 
Poor Guy totally overwhelmed.

Simple 340 Cam, works great 1st time, every time. The Mopar Engineers that designed them ate Steak and Eggs for Breakfast, not Bananas and Pea Pods.

Don't mind me, just having a little fun here . . . lol . .

Good luck with your project.
 
Michael Paselk said:
Thanks again everyone!
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Im running almost the exact combo as you. You will get recommendations all over the map. Cam selection is never a one size fits all solution. I choose to run a smaller xe256hcomp simply because I had the smaller 318 heads, 1.78 valves, and the original 2.93 gears and stock converter. It ran good for what it was. now I’m rebuilding the transmission w/TF2 shift kit, put a 8.8 in with 3.27 gears, and have 915j heads I’m wanting to put on. I also have a 3k stall which in theory is to much probably for my 256 cam, it will want more cam for sure. I might try a lunati 02-03 or something comparable like wyrmrider suggested. If you think you will be building for more performance down the road put a slightly bigger cam in and just now there’s power being left on the table to you build the car with parts that compliment each other. I would still call a few cam manufactures and hear what they have to say. You will hear probably the same thing you heard here. But it will help solidify you decision making process.
 
I suggested the Comp xe262H/XE268H or the Voodoo 02-03 (262/268) camshafts. DEFINITELY, not that other guy... LOL The nice thing about the comp grinds is they recommend a single spring and are easy on the factory rockers (no crazy open pressures). The DEH line from comp has some good choices, crower Compu-pro/hiperf compu-pro... there are a ton of decent grinds out there and you don't have to go small. Stick with something about 220-230 @ .050 and 450-500 lift I'd prefer a 108 LSA but a 110 would be ok too. Simple and it will run fine if installed on an adequate centerline (102-104)

There are people that will argue theory until blue in the face. The reason this went off track was Lead69 mentioned he put an XE274H in a similar build and it ran well. Others think that's too big and a 204 cam would be better. Not if "POWER" which was also in the original post was desired. Drive ability was also in the first post which comes down to TUNING. Some people can get things to work that others say no chance. I takes work to get stuff to play well together sometimes, isn't any magic wand that solves things. :)

Everything is a trade off on these deals unless you are working with computer controlled current tech stuff. You want more HP, there is a trade off somewhere else in the spectrum. Especially, if you want to run a carb. I want 1000hp, a smooth idle, 40+ mpg, 9.0-150mph 1/4 and all current emission standards met for $50... good luck.
 
all good points crackedback
Me I look at seat timing and duration at 200 where air is really flowing and power is made
which is why I would pick a 262 Lunati over a 268 comp
and the 256 jones will run better than either one of them problem is price and delivery
you are right about springs which is why the howard is a tough call
I use oil through the pushrods lifters and pushrods which really helps on the cups in the rockers
.050 duration is sorta useless except for degreeing the cam, there is so much variance in ramps
cheers
edit Jones is 120@200 but about the same as a 318 cam seat to seat.....
Jones is still relatively bigger at .275
to compare with Crane Jones is 264@004 and crane has a 268 special with 127@200 that looks about right if someone wants a little more duration than jones
but as you say you trade off on the bottom end
no free lunch
 
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Arrived today with other goodies!

798D3631-357F-4DF4-968D-10183A427517.jpeg
 
Okay all.... Thanks for the all of the advise and much needed help!! Re-assembly has started and I have a question about the Timing chain gears Install/setup.
-Camshaft/Crankshaft gears/Chain install dot to dot. I get that.
-When dropping the distributor in...does the timing chain/gear assembly get rotated 180 so the gears(Dots) are set up 12 o'clock (Camshaft gear) 6 o'clock (crank gear)
then drop in the distributor with the rotor facing Cylinder #1 ?
Again... sorry for the Newbie question. Just want to make sure everything is correct.
 
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Michael Paselk said:
Okay all.... Thanks for the all of the advise and much needed help!! Re-assembly has started and I have a question about the Timing chain gears Install/setup.
-Camshaft/Crankshaft gears/Chain install dot to dot. I get that.
-When dropping the distributor in...does the timing chain/gear assembly get rotated 180 so the gears(Dots) are set up 12 o'clock (Camshaft gear) 6 o'clock (crank gear)
then drop in the distributor with the rotor facing Cylinder #1 ?
Again... sorry for the Newbie question. Just want to make sure everything is correct.
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If you are at dot to dot(crank at 12, cam at 6) now, rotate the crank 360 ( cam turns 180) so that both gears are at 12. That's #1 firing.
 
***Update***
Thanks everyone for your help! That's why I love this forum!!
Got her back together and the Cam broken in! What a night and day difference! Can't believe the difference!! Going to dial in the timing today! Hopefully will post a video after that. Thank you all so very much!! Much appreciated!!
I will keep you updated.

Mike

360comp.PNG
 
Michael Paselk said:
***Update***
Thanks everyone for your help! That's why I love this forum!!
Got her back together and the Cam broken in! What a night and day difference! Can't believe the difference!! Going to dial in the timing today! Hopefully will post a video after that. Thank you all so very much!! Much appreciated!!
I will keep you updated.

Mike

View attachment 1715370671
Click to expand...
Glad to hear, that cam will probably like somewhere around 18-20* of initial timing, 32-34* total. Every motor wants it’s own perimeters but a good starting point.
 
Update!!
Done!!!!!
After screwing around for two days we finally have it done! Made our first celebratory beer run! (And gas...and food)
So the QFT carb is a piece of garbage. Have no idea what is wrong with it. After getting the timing dialed in the car just would not run right (Stalls, hesitation, too rich, vacuum secondaries do not work) I threw on a Edelbrock 1406 with Mech. Secondaries, made some adjustments to the air/mixture and there it is!!! The thing runs fantastic! Drove it around all day with no issues. Can’t believe how good it runs!!!
Thank you again to everyone out there!!!!
I didnt mention this before but this was a father/ Son project that we have been trying to get together for the last 5 years. It’s been one thing after another and a very long journey!!! My son is grinning from ear to ear!!
Thanks again everyone!!!!!!!!
 
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