The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 454 CAM SELECTION

Hello wise ones,
I decided to go ahead and replace the cam in the 454 I am building for my 59 Apache Panel.
I have a Edelbrock performer intake and 750 carb,
Head casting#336781, Block casting#361959 It will be connected to a th400 and 3.07 geared rear end.
I am looking for good daily performance and torque cam. I was thinking about a edelbrock performer cam but have heard that the comp cams 268 is also a good choice please let me know what you think. I would like to keep the cam mild enough to use the stock spring set up.
Thanks again,
Bill

You'll have to change the springs with just about any aftermarket cam, unless the springs have already been changed.

Give me a couple days to look this up, and I'll come back with my ideas.....

chip

I'm still lookin...

another place to ask would be
www.chevelles.com

Summit offers 3 cam/lifter kits for big blocks:

SUM-K1301 266/276 intake/exhaust duration (0.500 lift on both, 2200-4500 rpm recommended range.)

SUM-K1302 276/286 (.540 lift, 2500-5500 rpm)

SUM-K1303 296/306 (also .540 lift, 3000-6500 rpm.)

These come with lifters and sell for $83. "Word on the street" is that these cams are ground by Crane and just have the Summit label on them. I've used 4 or 5 of them in smallblocks and had real good luck with them.

I'd think that for a torque motor you'd want to go with the 1301 or 1302. The 1301 might work with stock valve springs. Not positive on big blocks, but the "rule" for smallblocks is anything over .480 requires spring work.

Just some suggestions,

Since the engine will be used for driving/towing on street with 3.07 gears and stock torque converter, I'd be more conservative with cam selection. I'd suggest a Comp Cams Xtreme Energy grind, perhaps the XE262H or XE268H. Powerband is 1300-5500 RPM for 262, 1600-5700 for 268. A really hot cam like the summits requires more compression, converter and gear than you're prolly going to be using. Refer to CompCams website for more info.

chip

I run a 454 in my '54 3100. I currently have a CompCams Magnum 280, with high-bleed lifters, but am getting ready to replace it with a HE268 and regular lifters. I am running a TH400 transmission, headers, Edelbrock performer manifold, Edelbrock carb, and basically stock internals- other than the cam/lifters. The main reason for change is that I am going to be towing a travel trailer (about 8,000 pounds), and want the lower rpm performance. The high-bleed lifters are noisy, like solids, and even with them the idle is rough. Gas mileage is atrocious. I don't need a high-rpm race truck any more.

Thanks for the replies I am having a difficult time trying to be conservative on the cam selection. I did call crane and comp cams and they both sugested cams with 210/218 [email protected] the crane cam is a 266 powermax and the comp cam is a X4 254H (4X4 truck cam)so rihgt now it looks like one of these or the performer cam 218/228 [email protected]
I really wanted to try the comp cams 268 high energy but the rep said it would be to big for the 3.07 gears. Do you think a 2000 or 2400 stall converter would help or hurt? Please tel me what you would do.
Thanks, Bill

Ahh yes, the stall converter raises its ugly turbine again. A stall converter lets the motor revv into the cam's powerband easier. The "stall speed" is like slipping the clutch on a manual tranny to get a heavy load started moving. The converter slips until it reaches the stall RPM range. The problem is twofold: The vehicle's response below the stall speed can be "mushy" as the engine revvs until the converter "stalls". And while driving below the stall speed, the extra slippage generates heat in the transmission as well as wastes gas. Towing below the stall speed RPM with a stall converter will shorten the life of the converter/tranny. The trick is to use a converter that has a stall speed equal or less than your typical cruising RPM in top gear. That way the converter is "stalled" and not slipping while you're driving/towing.

A converter with a stall speed above 2400 RPM or so is going to be really noticable, especially with 3.07 gears. If you had 4.11s or something, you'd be above 2400 RPM at 40 MPH or greater. With 3.07s, you'll have to go a lot faster before a 2400 converter "stalls". And stall speed is related to engine torque output. The same converter will stall higher with a higher torque motor, and vice versa. This is why rear gear ratio is so important, cus it helps determine converter and cam selection.

Prolly a converter with a stall speed between 2000-2200 RPM would be good for your app. Combine that with a cam that has less than 220 duration. You may give up some top-end horsepower, but the truck will be more responsive around town or starting a load.