The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop cam and lifter questions

Chris, that same Melling camshaft is very good for the 235 also and I have said here many times I am a big fan of the standard cam that was used in the 1959 and newer 235s. It provided more torque at lower rpms and was one of GMs first attempts at lowering bumper-to-bumper smog (more power at lower rpms meant less gas consumption). Mostly those were ground for hydraulic lifters but the same camshaft was used in most trucks with solid lifters. I say "most" because I'm positive early trucks came with solids...I'm not certain all the later ones did. You do need a different camshaft for hydraulic and solid lifters as hydraulic lifters need a somewhat slower or smoother opening ramp where the ramp on solids can give you faster opening and even faster valve closing. If you study the specs on the Melling cam and the 1959 Chevy 235 cam, you'll see they (like the early Corvette cam) get you to about the same spot. The thing I like about the stock 1959-1962 cam is the torque curve...it gives you almost maximum torque around 1600 rpm and then the torque line goes flat all the way over to around 2800 rpm. Gives you lots of interesting possibilities.