New Solid Lifter cam for my FE 427

Clois Harlan · #1 (**permalink**) 10-21-2014, 08:34 AM

My current cam is fine and works extremely well on the track but as I am thinking of retiring my Cobra from the track I will need a little different cam for primarily street use. Plan on keeping it a mechanical cam but I will need a power band around 2000-6000 RPM. Does anyone have in practical experience with a good street cam that keeps the attitude but allows for easier driving.

My current cam is a 600 lift cam that comes in between 2500 and 6500 RPM's. I beleive my duration is 271/268 with a 108 seperation.

Just looking for some suggestions. I know I once had a real nice setup with my 428 FE but i CAN'T find my old notes.

Clois

CHANMADD · #2 (**permalink**) 10-21-2014, 09:24 AM

More duration ..less lift..or just less lift

Clois Harlan · #3 (**permalink**) 10-21-2014, 09:53 AM

Probably a little less of both. I have been searching for my old threads that may have listed my other cam specs but I can't find it. I just need something a little more tame.

blykins · #4 (**permalink**) 10-21-2014, 10:33 AM

Be glad to help you out Clois, give me a call....

Clois Harlan · #5 (**permalink**) 10-22-2014, 05:08 AM

will do Brent.

Jerry Clayton · #6 (**permalink**) 10-22-2014, 08:30 AM

C8ae 6250 c

Clois Harlan · #7 (**permalink**) 10-22-2014, 10:32 AM

Thanks Jerry, good to see you back on the board again. I traded my Blue Thunder intake for a Edelbrock Performer RPM so I was wanting to detune my cam a bit.

Just for the record: I have an orig 427 C.O. bored 15 over with JE Pistons, Alum H beam rods, PC Rings, Alum Edelbrock heads, Adjustable Harland Sharpe roller rockers, Smith Push Rods, set up for 671 lift with behive springs. Of course I have all the other stuff too MSD, Holley, etc.

NOS-EDDIE · #8 (**permalink**) 10-22-2014, 11:53 AM

Why don't you give someone like comp cams a call and give them your info like final drive ratio,tire size, where you want your power range,type of idle,smooth or rough etc,and have them grind you one that is matched for your application.

Dimis · #9 (**permalink**) 10-22-2014, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NOS-EDDIE

Why don't you give someone like comp cams a call and give them your info like final drive ratio,tire size, where you want your power range,type of idle,smooth or rough etc,and have them grind you one that is matched for your application.

I've seen this before... It ain't as wise a thought as one might think.

Comp cams don't build engines, and while they can tell you how a cam might work, they never seem to take into consideration the sum of the parts. Just what their little spec sheet, play book says. Anecdotally it often misses the mark.

Hitting up an engine builder like Brent for instance, who has multiple build experiences to draw from. Plus I think he actually has a Zen feel for how fuel charge and exhaust particles are effected with subtle changes in lift, duration and lobe separation etc etc... It's a good call.

Just my humble experience.

Clois. I'd live to know where you end up.
Your cam does seem pretty big for 430odd cubes.

saltshaker · #10 (**permalink**) 10-22-2014, 02:07 PM

I run a Comp 282S in a 428 and it is very street able, great manners and I can drive in 5th gear (.82 od) @ 1300 rpm w/ 3.50 gear
Jon

Clois Harlan · #11 (**permalink**) 10-22-2014, 05:40 PM

Jon that is the same cam I was looking at. Great to hear you like it. Giving Brent a call tomorrow. Work got n the way today.

Demise... it was set up for track duty and it worked pretty well at the bigger tracks like Road America and Texas World. Smaller tracks it was more me than the car and sometimes I wasn't very good. But I had fun. Trying keep my rpm above 2500 in town is not always easy.

Clois Harlan · #12 (**permalink**) 10-23-2014, 09:47 AM

Brent I don't have your phone number. I sent an email to Mat T but he is sitting a well in Western Oklah.

blykins · #13 (**permalink**) 10-23-2014, 09:48 AM

5027591431

Clois Harlan · #14 (**permalink**) 10-27-2014, 05:25 AM

Brent finally getting a break so I will call you this morning about 9:00 cdt.

Clois

blykins · #15 (**permalink**) 10-27-2014, 08:48 AM

Clois,

Let's do it this way....

Here's how I would narrow it down:

If you have out of the box heads, I use a custom Bullet solid flat tappet cam, 240/246 @ .050", .600" lift, 108LSA on a 104 ICL that my customers love....sounds good, pulls hard at any rpm.

If you have ported heads, the Comp Cams 282S is only beat by a custom Comp Cams cam, with similar to the same specs, but more exhaust duration.

Clois Harlan · #16 (**permalink**) 10-28-2014, 05:39 AM

I was leaning toward the Comp Cams 282S. I will be pulling the engine and trans in a few weeks. Thinking about changing out my Toploader w/ a TKO too. I just need to refurbish the whole car and bring it up to date. Still looks and drives great but it will be much better next spring. Coupe has hit a snag for now (having roll cage completely cut out and properlly fitted) so I need something to work on this winter. Brent I still need to talk to you later today.

vector1 · #17 (**permalink**) 10-28-2014, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clois Harlan

Coupe has hit a snag for now (having roll cage completely cut out and properlly fitted) so I need something to work on this winter.

Hi Clois, if you switched from an open plenum to a dual plane, that can make it drivable at low rpm and off idle, reduces the amount of reversion from one cylinder to the other with the higher overlap, etc. It is possible changing to a smaller cam with the dual plane you increase low end hp and could end up with not what you are looking for.

Shootnride · #18 (**permalink**) 10-28-2014, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blykins

Clois,

Let's do it this way....

Here's how I would narrow it down:

If you have out of the box heads, I use a custom Bullet solid flat tappet cam, 240/246 @ .050", .600" lift, 108LSA on a 104 ICL that my customers love....sounds good, pulls hard at any rpm.

If you have ported heads, the Comp Cams 282S is only beat by a custom Comp Cams cam, with similar to the same specs, but more exhaust duration.

Brent,

Could you elaborate a little on the matching of these cams with the heads. It seems counter intuitive to me to match the 282S cam with less duration and lift to the ported heads.

Thank you,

Ted

blykins · #19 (**permalink**) 10-28-2014, 08:44 AM

Hi Ted,

A well flowing head (read ported, more efficient) will require less camshaft to get to the same point as a poorly performing head. You can picture this in your mind, if you think about for a given valve event, a better flowing head will pack more in, at a higher velocity. It makes the cam's job easier.

Shootnride · #20 (**permalink**) 10-28-2014, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blykins

Hi Ted,

A well flowing head (read ported, more efficient) will require less camshaft to get to the same point as a poorly performing head. You can picture this in your mind, if you think about for a given valve event, a better flowing head will pack more in, at a higher velocity. It makes the cam's job easier.

Brent,
Thanks for taking the time to explain. It does make sense, especially when you stated "to get to the same point". Could I assume that as a general rule that matching the longer duration/higher lift cam with the ported heads would likely get beyond that "same point" in terms of HP/torque gains ?

Thanks again,
Ted