Replacing cam, want suggestions

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64physhy

64physhy

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As some of you know, I wiped out the cam on my 414 stroker, so now I'm trying to decide on a new one. The previous Hughes 3742 Hyd cam probably had too fast of ramp speed and lift with the 1.65 rockers (.602/.611), so I'm going to tone it down just a little.

The heads are Hughes ported Iron Ram heads with 2.055/1.620 valves and beehive springs at 1.850 installed height with 129 lbs seat pressure and 323 lbs at .600 lift, with a 1.090 coil bind. The heads supposedly flow 298/203 @ .600.

I want an aggressive cam, but still streetable. The car will be raced weekends, and street use will be an occasional cruise night, and maybe driven to work once in a blue moon.

Right now, I have 4:10 gears and a turbo action 2500 converter that I'm told is loosened up and closer to 2800 by the guy I bought it from who had it in a high 10 sec Barracuda.

The cams I'm considering right now, from biggest to smallest are:
COmp XE285HL, XE 275 HL, or Lunati Voodoo 60404. Also considered the 60405, but it's pushing it on the lift.

Since I've busted so far over what I originally planned on this anyway, I'll step up the converter if needed.

Which one is going to take advantage of the combo best (see sig for rest of combo)
 
Mopar Performance 557/296
 
What about the engle solid cams? They've got some nice grinds available.
 
StrokerScamp said:
Mopar Performance 557/296
Click to expand...

Thanks, but that would put the lift at about .614 or so (off the top of my head) and with a 296 advertised duration, it's probably about 256 @050. Duration's ok, but I think it's pushing it on lift. Don't want to go much over .600 (with the 1.65 rocker arms). .545 with 1.5 rockers= .600 with 1.65 rockers.
 
Rockerdude said:
What about the engle solid cams? They've got some nice grinds available.
Click to expand...

I'll check them out. Does anything special need to be done with a solid, besides setting lash and adjusting frequently? I've really never considered a solid lifter cam before, but since it won't be street driven very much, I might consider, if the pros outweigh the cons.
 
You shouldn't have to adjust it but twice, initial, break in and once there after. Maybe once a year (Spring time) if you drive it alot. You'll know when, when it clatters a bit.

I went with huges engines and there adjustable pushrod checker and then ordered the pushrods. It is an expensive way compared to owning your own tool and cutting it yourself. Also consider I have nmothing to start that with and would purchase every tool in order to do it....so it just became cheap in a way.

With a solid, steeper ramp, and speed of the ramp not an issue like with Hyd. lifters, more RPM, bigger lifts compared to Hyd at the same durations. Custom grinds are not expensive ethier.
 
I,m running a custom grind CompCam solid roller with .631 lift 252@258 with Pro Magnums 1.5,s.I have custom made Manton push rods.I,ve made 35 passes at 11.2-11.3@118mph with no issues to date.I will only run solid roller cams,they,re a little more expensive but well worht it.good luck
 
Here's a dumb question: Does the 1.65 rockers change the duration, too, or just the lift?
Also, should I follow the guidelines of of the cam (ie stall, compression, etc) I'm looking at, or of one that has the amount of lift mine will have at the valve due to the longer rockers?
 
I have a hard time believing the heads go 300, but I'll operate under the acceptance they do. For an Engle solid, I'd go with an EP series lobe. They are fast rate and asymmetrical which means they lift open and close at different rates.
EP-55/EP-55 on a 108°LSA. That lobe is 296°advertised duration, 259°@.050 .584 w/1.6s
 
Ok, here's a solid FT I found that looks like it should get me where I want. It' the COMP XS274S
236/242 @.050
.502/.511 with 1.5 rockers
.552/.562 with my 1.65 rockers
110 LSA

Its advertised for 2200-6200 RPM, but I think that should move up to about 2500-6500 with the added lift of the rockers.

It's less lift and duration than I was originally looking at, but I think it would be a better choice. It's streetable. Would it get me in the mid-hi 11's?
 
With the converter you have now it be a good choice. The stroker may like more cam but you could always change cams later. I think it be more of a street cam than strip. Maybe go the next size up but yeah your converter should be a 10 inch or smaller if you go bigger than the 274, imo
 
What about selling the 1.65 arms and getting some H. Sharp 1.5 rockers, which I hear are really like 1.55. Why ask the cam to lift quicker than it was designed for?

I would go the next size up on the Comp 274, get a 10 inch or better converter and some 1.5 rockers. Yeah, $$$$
 
I wouldn't change the converter. With the light weight of your car, PLUS the added torque of the stroker, PLUS the low gears, getting your combo moving shouldn't be a problem especially being its not a strip car...
 
dodge freak said:
What about selling the 1.65 arms and getting some H. Sharp 1.5 rockers, which I hear are really like 1.55. Why ask the cam to lift quicker than it was designed for?

I would go the next size up on the Comp 274, get a 10 inch or better converter and some 1.5 rockers. Yeah, $$$$
Click to expand...

I haven't seen Harland Sharps for Magnum heads.
 
if your magnum heads have studs in the them ....3/8 probably...any small block chevy 3/8 rocker will work.
 
70aarcuda said:
if your magnum heads have studs in the them ....3/8 probably...any small block chevy 3/8 rocker will work.
Click to expand...

wow, not sure but if so Ebay could be your friend, lol. There is lots of Chevy rockers on ebay. I never used those Magnum heads, I though this was a la shaft head. I have hear of Chevy's pulling out the studs at higher rpm use, the pressed in ones.
 
if converted to studs...they would not be pressed in ..they would be drilled...small block chevy 3/8 rockers...
 
They are studs, but the are threaded. I also have a set of factory magnum heads that are also threaded. Didn't know they had press-in studs.
 
Decided I'm going with a Hyd Roller now that Hughes has the new hyd roller lifters out. Still need to figure out which one. By my calculations (1.850 inst ht- 1.090 coil bind- .060), my coil bind is at .700, but I don't want to go much over .600 gross lift. I'll get a new converter if I need to.
Lunati has one, 60412 (not on their website yet), that's 231/239, .535/.550 (.589/.605) 110*LSA that I'm considering, but the duration seems low.

I'm not going to change the rockers. I'm already way over my head, and now pile $355 for the lifters and about $300-350 for the cam plus push-rods on top of it all....I'd like to get the new shaft mounted rockers that hughes has, but not now.
 
64physhy said:
Decided I'm going with a Hyd Roller now that Hughes has the new hyd roller lifters out. Still need to figure out which one. By my calculations (1.850 inst ht- 1.090 coil bind- .060), my coil bind is at .700, but I don't want to go much over .600 gross lift. I'll get a new converter if I need to. Lunati has one, 60412 (not on their website yet), that's 231/239, .535/.550 (.589/.605) 110*LSA that I'm considering, but the duration seems low.
Click to expand...

That's pretty cool you are going to use the new hydraulic roller setup that Hughes has. I was interested in those and wonder who is going to try them. Let us know how it works out. Have you talked to Dave? I'm sure if you guys talk for a few minutes, you will be able to figure out a cam for your needs no problem...
 
Haven't talked to them yet. The Lunati cam looks like it fills the gap between the Hughes HER2228 and 2836 as far as lift goes, and has slightly more duration and less LSA (110 vs 114). The hughes lifters look like the way to go now with the lower groove, but I don't don't know if I'll get their cam. I'll ponder it some more, don't totally understand overlap, opening/closing degrees, and LSA, other than smaller LSA lowers torque RPM.
 
I think hydraulic roller would be the way to go.

I'd call Comp and get a custom grind. For the buckage you're spending its the same price.

Steve
 
64physhy said:
Haven't talked to them yet. The Lunati cam looks like it fills the gap between the Hughes HER2228 and 2836 as far as lift goes, and has slightly more duration and less LSA (110 vs 114). The hughes lifters look like the way to go now with the lower groove, but I don't don't know if I'll get their cam. I'll ponder it some more, don't totally understand overlap, opening/closing degrees, and LSA, other than smaller LSA lowers torque RPM.
Click to expand...

I ran the HER2228 with a 110 CL (IIRC). It's great for the street with enough vacuum for brakes but its not particularly mean sounding. Hughes said it was right for my stock Eddy Magnum headed 408. You'll have to look at spring ratings too because the hydraulic rollers are heavy. I ran Comp Cams Pro Magnum Chevy rockers.
 
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