New cam/old cam question

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NukeBass

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For a car intended to be used as a daily driver type street car, are there significant advantages to using a new cam grind over the stock cam?

After driving my car for nearly a year, I'm still not crazy about the idle characteristics. It runs fine in the higher RPMs, but I still don't think it is well suited for the stop and go traffic I am typically in. Plus, the efficiency isn't all that great, so the car is now limited to occasional weekend driving. I'm leaning towards camshaft replacement, probably in the spring of next year, and I have many options.

Current setup:

1973 Plymouth Duster/1973 340
Comp Cams xe274 camshaft
9.75:1 compression
Edelbrock performer RPM intake
Edelbrock Performer 1400 Carb (600 CFM)
3.23:1 rear gears
Keisler TKO 500 transmission
TTI Headers


I got recommendations from three cam manufacturers and two of them recommended their small 250 advertised duration camshaft, but comp was concerned about compatibility with my compression ratio. The comp cams tech recommended using the xe262 cam on a 112 LSA to smooth out the idle (their dyno sheets show the normal xe262 around 7 inches of Hg more vacuum than the 274) and give it better street manners. But, then, I keep looking at the stock camshaft and wondering if I should use that, instead.

So, fundamentally, for a daily driver street car like I am looking for, is there an advantage to buying a new camshaft grind, like the xe262, or would I be better sticking with the stock MP camshaft? I'm looking for improvements in idle quality and gas mileage primarily.
 
IMO, the Comp Cams guy bit it on the head that with a wider number, 112 vs a 110, the idle will smooth out and behave a bit better.
Generally speaking, besides low speed driving/idle, do you like the power of the cam?
Is it more mileage your looking for?

Stock cams are much smaller and will need more octane to work right. They do not allow the cylinders to bleed down on the compression like the current bigger can does.
It would be a bad move installing a stock cam.
 
I don't know that I get to the point of really using the power of the cam much. I don't dislike the power of the cam, when I get there, but I don't really need it, either. Stock-ish performance would be fine for me from a numbers standpoint, hence the thought of the cam change. Better mileage would be great since I plan on driving it frequently for many years to come.
 
Well, what "I" myself would so is try the XE268. The cams duration works in the 1800-5800 rpm range and doesn't require extra stall from the converter. In other words, mello enough to work ok without issues with a stock trans set up.

Considering your running the 5spd, it should be a real easy in traffic.
I would certainly ask this cam be given that slight adjustment the tech mentioned from a 110 to a 112.
 
You might like the Comp 265DEH? ..... http://www.compcams.com/Company/CC/cam-specs/Details.aspx?csid=635&sb=0


The intake closing numbers are comparable with the XE274, so cylinder pressure wise, it's a wash in my opinion, if pump gas is getting it done now. I have to believe it will seem milder for a driver, but still pull to the upper 5k range when you decide to let her rip :D. One nice thing is, you already have plenty of spring, so cam/lifters and your good.
 
I just installed the XE262h comp cam and love it. It was a huge step down from the radical idle at a stop light. My dart still gives it hell off the line for a fun street cam.

It was some getting use to because my driving habits still expect the radical idle but I love the fact I can have a calm idle with a little lope at the lights and still maintain a good pedal response..

good luck in your choices


[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKOaDh-MaqE"]First road test after break in ... - YouTube[/ame]
 
268 is a great street cam , think you'll get better around town performance and gas mileage . 3:55 gears would help around town as well . I noticed a bit better city MPG going from 3:23 to 3:55 .
 
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