Need my cam specs explained.

[Jesus5150]

Hello all.

I'm building a 400sbc. I'll have 64cc aluminum heads, 10:1 compression (cast bottom end) , and 650cfm carb, and ARP everything.


As of now, that is All i have nailed down. I have a torker 2 intake but have access to others.

I planned on running a solid lifter 292 voodoo cam, but i just got offered a pair of cams in trade for an old nitrous bottle. Here are the specs,

Manley 18545, solid lifer. Lift .493/.511 Dur @.050 257/270 LSA 114 This is a copy of GM's 2nd design offroad oval track cam. This one comes with used Isky lifters, marked as to where they go. $75.00.

2) Crower 00321, solid lifter. Lift .481/507 Dur @ .050 240/248 LSA 114 $50.00.

Knowing that I'm shooting for a nasty sounding Street/strip truck with 400+ horse, which will work better, or are they too big?

Also, what kind of head work will I need?

[GASoline71]

Are they used flat tappets? If they are used... me personally, I would pass on them.

Gary

[Jesus5150]

Yep all used stuff. Care to elaborate?

[GRX]

Yeah, I would pass on the used cam & lifters too. Two hard surfaces which wear together. Even if marked correctly is it really worth the risk just to save a few bucks? One wiped lobe and you are back here asking if the whole engine needs to be torn down to clean out the metal particles that have been pumped throughout the engine. To which the answer is 'yes'.

[Jesus5150]

Wow. OK, well thanks.

[BADAZ chevy guy]

This guy seams to know what he's talking atout. Here's a video on cam specs.
>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUnJXSOSRU4

[Captainfab]

Those are my cams......didn't know that was you texting me.

IMO a used cam will survive if installed with new lifters and properly broke in. I listed those on CL mainly for the roundy round guys.

[Jesus5150]

Good to meet you captain fab. What a small world. Well in your opinion, how wwouldthey do?

[Captainfab]

The Crower cam would be better on the street than the Manley cam. I had the Manley cam in a 12.5-1 355 and it was more cam than most would run on the street. But keep in mind that the same cam in a 406 is gong to be milder.

[Jesus5150]

I'm honestly looking for sound more than performance. I just want it to be fun. What I'mworried aabout is that cam needing more rpm than a stock bottom end will allow.

[Captainfab]

That's why I said the Crower cam would be better for what you're doing. When in the 355 the Manley cam didn't like to idle much below 1200. The recomended idle was 1400, and it would turn 8000-8500 no problem. The Crower cam is marketed as a 'Pro Street' cam.

http://www.crower.com/camshafts/chev...-cam-4842.html

[Jesus5150]

OK great, I'll come meet you tomorrow

[Captainfab]

Call or text when you know when that may be.

[geezer#99]

Originally Posted by Jesus5150

I'm honestly looking for sound more than performance. I just want it to be fun. What I'mworried aabout is that cam needing more rpm than a stock bottom end will allow.

You'll certainly get the sound (ticka, ticka, ticka) you want with a rumpity idle and your buttometer will like that screaming rush from 4500 to 7000 rpm.
And it might be fun at first, but it'll wear on you popping the valve covers off and tweaking your valve lash every sunday morning after a saturday night cruisin' the Dub!!
But it will be a super experience for you and your post count will rise into the stratosphere with all your new threads asking how to tune 'this' or fix 'that'.
And all us 'old' guys that have been there and done that will enjoy helping you work thru it. That's why we're here!!
Let the games begin!!

[Redcap]

Solids are tedious on the street. At minimum, you need to throw a set of new lifters on the cam.

[GASoline71]

Cams for "sound" = Thumpr

Gary

[Jesus5150]

No thumpr... Not solely wanting sound. Just making a point that it is important to me. II've heard some guys that get a performance cam that is made to keep it sounding stock and comfortable idle.

I don't want that. I rarely drive this truck. It's for fun weekends at the track or with buddy's. Bring on the cackle!

[Redcap]

Thumpr = garbage cam.

[Jesus5150]

Agreed. I'll Just stick with the voodoo line.

[Marv D]

Wait... You think the "THUMPER' line of cams is a bad idea,, but you are..

I'm honestly looking for sound more than performance

and it's not going bump that maybe your goal is exactly what the 'thumper' line of cams is,,,, a bad idea!

Originally Posted by wise old man

There is Cake,,, and there is Eating... If you want to sit at the table and eat your cake,, don't complain about the fork

[GASoline71]

Yup... agree.

Figure out what you want from your engine and then pick a cam. Not the other way around. Seriously... If all you want is sound... you're chasing your tail.

Those 2 cams are pretty rowdy cams, that will need some RPM to get any benefit out of them. Not to mention you better have some good heads with the springs able to handle it. You'll need at least a 3,000 stall too.

As far as using a used camshaft... even with new lifters... is still a crapshoot if you ask me.

Gary

Gary

[PGSigns]

I'll use a used solid roller but never a used flat tappet. Just to risky. I would make a list of what I need from the engine and the truck and the parts you have for the engine, trans and converter, gears and tire size and call folks like Comp cams and get some suggestions. This way you can get the sound you want and the performance you need. Everything needs to work together.
Jimmy

[Jesus5150]

Will do. Thanks guys.

[cableguy0]

Im gonna throw in my 2 cents here. Both of those cams are circle track cams. They will absolutely suck on the street. The lift is low and the duration is high to get around the rule book. Unless you plan on steadily turning 7500rpm you wont like those cams. Chasing sound is stupid and will lead to a poor running engine that doesn't make power in a useable place. If you want the sound of a nasty cammed engine than build an engine as well as the drivetrain to support that cam. Unless were talking roller cams you couldn't GIVE me a used cam for and expect me to put it in an engine. There is entirely too much risk. Solid lifter cams are not a good option on the street. Modern hydraulic cams can be pretty nasty and will make more power than older solid lifter cams.

[Jesus5150]

OK people are clearly misunderstanding me.

I never said that I ONLY care about sound...

What I said was that sound is important to me, and I'd sure hate to spend money on a cam/intake/bottom end and still sound like grand-dads Buick. (even if it performed) and I'd be
OK with losing a few hp to achieve that. (a few.... Not 70)

I plan on going 10:1 compression with dart heads but I haven't decided on a style of cam (roller, solid etc) then ultimately a little nitrous if the block will hold up. I was hoping to get some opinions about a good cam profile to go with for my intake, or conversely, a different intake suggestion and maybe some helpful cam homework.

Another concern was that I had heard a 114 lsa tends to reduce the effect of a long duration and diminishes that fun hot-rod lope. I know very little about circle track and the things that they do differently so I thought I'd ask here.