camshaft tutorial

[1930]

Hi guys, I am in the process of choosing the best camshaft for my hydraulic engine, I am looking for you guys opinions of the best ON-LINE tutorial of cam basics.

I understand clearly the terms lift, duration and lobe separation but Id like to use these terms in relation to my particular engine, Id like to know for instance what exactly the 105 lobe separation means in terms of diveability/engine performance versus a 107/108/110 lobe separation just as a for instance and as one example.

I am not a complete novice too these things but its not something I deal with everyday and even past experience was VERY limited to specific engines other than the slant six so an article that one of you might know of that is dummied down as far as possible might be a good starting point for me.

I want to choose a cam that will optimize my particular vehicles performance so I am going to attempt to learn whats needed to be known to do so. I do enough work on different vehicle that I am hoping that I can take whatever I learn and use it for various applications from flat-heads to V-8s.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[BillGrissom]

Your car would be most drive-able with a mild lift cam (~0.44" intake max at valve) and good intake-exhaust lobe separation.

Many people like a "lopey idle" with "race car sound". You get that from both high-lift (>0.5" intake) and exhaust overlap. The later makes a lot of tail-pipe noise at idle. Those cams are marketed with names like Voodoo and Mega-Thumper. While the engines develop more HP at high rpm, they can barely idle, pour out noxious fumes, and get crappy mileage.

The easiest way to get a balance between the two is to use Rhoads leak-down lifters. However, I haven't seen any for a slant engine. The slant's hydraulic cam oiling is a bit unique, so even if you found a Rhoads of the corrrect bore, you would have to see if it would work right.

 

[1930]

Your car would be most drive-able with a mild lift cam (~0.44" intake max at valve) and good intake-exhaust lobe separation.

Many people like a "lopey idle" with "race car sound". You get that from both high-lift (>0.5" intake) and exhaust overlap. The later makes a lot of tail-pipe noise at idle. Those cams are marketed with names like Voodoo and Mega-Thumper. While the engines develop more HP at high rpm, they can barely idle, pour out noxious fumes, and get crappy mileage.

The easiest way to get a balance between the two is to use Rhoads leak-down lifters. However, I haven't seen any for a slant engine. The slant's hydraulic cam oiling is a bit unique, so even if you found a Rhoads of the corrrect bore, you would have to see if it would work right.

Thanks BIll, got it