Cam Help

niles · #1 (**permalink**) 12-19-2003, 11:22 AM

I am rethinking my choice of cams and am considering going from a solid flat tappet to a hyd roller.
Both Crane and Comp cam have retrofit HR's and cams. The Comp rollers/cam are considerable cheaper than the Crane. Do any of you have good/bad experiences with the comp? Or can shed any light of which would be the best way to go. Has using the "melonized" steel distributor gear with the steel roller cam solved the gear wear problem?
thanks

gn

HighPlainsDrifter · #2 (**permalink**) 12-19-2003, 12:50 PM

Hi,
Either cam company is good. Comp cams has a cam help # and will give you the exact cam that will work for your set-up. Going to a roller cam will free up a few more ponies also. The ramps on a roller cam are more agressive than a tappet cam so you will probably need to change your valve springs also along with shorter pushrods.
Good Luck,
Perry.

Hotfingrs · #3 (**permalink**) 12-19-2003, 02:16 PM

First all the cam company's have a help dept for picking the right cam...Get the dyno 2000 program and play with the different cams and see which one best suits your needs...i spent 2 months this fall going through back issues of magazines and inputting cam specs to see what they would with my engine....actually the best specs I found were in a 351 Ford cam, so I called Crane told them the specs and found what I wanted in a SBC cam...only thing I changed was the CL ....CompCams will NEVER get anymore of my business....I've lost roller lifters the last 2 years...this year there was 2 broken lifters and 4 without bearings in the roller when I pulled the engine....gets expensive spending 5 grand a year, just for a rebuild....both Crane and Crower have pressurized roller lifters for oiling the the roller...I'm going with the Crower this year and hope they last...

ENTDOC · #4 (**permalink**) 12-19-2003, 04:30 PM

Grover,my 351c has a comp cams retro fit roller in it as well as lifters. no problems chuck

Daniel Jones · #5 (**permalink**) 12-19-2003, 05:06 PM

Check page 28 of the 2004 FRPP (Ford Motorsport) catalog for the new 351C steel distributor gear for hydraulic roller camshafts. P/N M-12390-J.

Dan Jones

niles · #6 (**permalink**) 12-21-2003, 08:28 AM

Thanks; Dan
you have email

gn

Perf. Eng. Eric · #7 (**permalink**) 12-21-2003, 08:21 PM

Niles, We have used Comp Cams hydralic retro roller cams with no problems in approx. 100 of our small block engines. If you want,you can use the Crane link bar roller lifter on the Comp Cams camshaft. This is the same set up we use on our 427W stroker engines. A steel gear works great with this type of cam and we have had no gear trouble at all.As mentioned , you will have to check your rocker arm geometry, and purchase the correct push rods. Hope this info helps.