SOHC "Cammer" CSX 4786 No Reserve in Monterey

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by TimG427

What is it like driving with one of these engines compared to a 470 or 480 aluminum motor?

The power doesn't go away above 6500.

[bmalone]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

The power doesn't go away above 6500.

Good one.

What I think most people don't realize is the staggering amount of torque these engines produce in comparison to the wedge motor. Drive off any corner (15 mph) from 1000 rpm and not a hitch. I only ran to 3000 rpm on a chassis dyno to troubleshoot a distributor problem, but it already was making 490 ft. lbs., off-idle.

That's the first thing the old-timers say - torque.

[mhacars]

Bill,

Your point is well taken as when I got the results of my cammer on the dyno I saw that the torque curve was pretty flat at over 500lbs at very low rpm and it moved up moderately and stayed there at over 7000 rpm. It is a world apart when compared to my wedge. Jim Barillaro, the person who built it made the same remark that you did.

[ERA Chas]

It's a little strange when you think about it; stroke is the same for both wedge and hemi. The Cammer has greatly increased breathing (although I never saw flow figures on those or Coon's heads) than the wedge. Conventional wisdom says that's a HP booster. So what accounts for the greater torque spread so low-down on the Cammer?
Given the stroke is the same, I can only guess the cam profiles on the Cammer promote torque earlier. Possibly the VE of the Cammer is superior at the 2500 RPM level where the wedge usually needs 4000+ ??
Keith, Brent, Barry-you guys have built and dynoed these. Care to enlighten?