428 cam selection

[jschiller]

I need help from Club Cobra members in selecting the cam for my 428 under construction.

My HP goal is a modest 400-450 hp using CJ iron heads, 2 Holley 450 CFM carbs on a Blue Thunder med riser intake. My CR will by about 10.5 to 1. It is going to be backed by a WR Toploader with final gearing to be 3.31 or 3.54.

I am inclined toward a hydraulic cam but if a solid is a better choice, I can go there too.

If anyone has a cam in their 428 that they are happy with, I would like to hear from them.

Anybody have any thoughts?

John

[BB427]

If you are leaning toward a hydraulic the Edelbrock Performer RPM cam has an impressive history for making alot of power for the money.

Brent

[Clois Harlan]

John,

I have had both hydraulic and a solid lifter cam in my 428. I am extremely happy with my solid lifter cam (592 lift and 235 dur @ .50). I run adjustable Sig Erson roller rockers and heavy duty Crane springs and Smith Push Rods. My machinist made the initial adjustment with the build. After a couple hundred miles he came over to my house and we ran the lifters again gapped @ .022. Since that time I have ran seven races plus an avg of 150 - 200 miles a week of street time. After the Tulsa race I re-checked everything and nothing had changed everything was still gapped perfecty except two rocker arms and they were within .002 of my original settings.

I love my setup and I will definitely go back to solid lifters again.
Plus I can turn a few more RPMS (6000 RPM Shift light and 6500 RPM rev limiter). I haven't dyno'd my engine since I changed my cam, lifters, manifold, and Speed Demon but I am making significantly more hp. Old numbers were 385 hp at the rear wheels w/392 ft lbs torque from 2600 up to 5600.

Clois

[jschiller]

Thanks for the info Brent--have you used an Edelbrock cam? Would you also use their lifters and springs?

Clois--
Is this a custom grind you are using? Your lift numbers might exceed the limits I can get out of my CJ heads but I've never seen max lift numbers posted for the iron heads. Thanks for your input.

John

[BB427]

John,

I do not run that cam but I know quite a few people that do. Most of them run the heads and intake as well.

My camshaft is pretty big for a street car. It is a solid lift Comp Cam .651 lift, 260 duration at .050, 306 advertised ,on a 110 centerline.

Brent

[Clois Harlan]

jOHN,

My solid lifter cam is not a custom grind. I bought it from one of the speed shops here in Tulsa. It is a Comp Cam and I have the part number at home. I am running Edelbrock Alum heads and my first set up was using the Edelbrock Performer Rpm specifications (lift, dur., spring rates, etc). I did however, have to go with a Lunati cam since the Edelbrock cam was on backorder at the time. Engine had a nice rumpty rump to it and dyno'd at about 380 or so horsepower at the rear wheels with the Edelbrock Performer RPM intake. I later installed an Edelbrock 2 X 4 set up that made a lot of horsepower for drag racing but it was not a good set-up for road racing.

I now have an Original Ford Medium Riser Alum manifold, Speed Demon 750 carb.


Clois

[jared1970]

I had Cam Research do a custom grind for my 428. They do a lot work with FE's, so I chose them to grind my cam. I've been working a lot of hours lately, and the engine build is dragging along at a snail's pace, but I hope to have the motor done and in my car in a few weeks. I'll let you know how I like the cam. If you want more information you can contact Scott Main at Cam Research (303) 762-0022.

[jschiller]

jared1970--


I will be interested in the result of your build.

Please post your impressions when you get it running.

What components did you select for your engine build? Heads, pistons, CR, etc.

-John

[jared1970]

It's a .030 over 428.
Stock rods with ARP bolts
Speed-Pro 10.25:1 pistons
Edelbrock RPM heads from Keith Craft with back cut and swirl polished valves, better valve springs (most people told me the edelbrock supplied valve springs suck)
Edelbrock RPM intake
New adjustable rocker arms, shafts, stands from DSC Motorsports
Rocker shaft end supports from Cam Research
Edelbrock water pump
Carter fuel pump
Jet Performance custom Holley 750, vacuum secondary, electric choke
Hooker Super Comp 1 3/4" headers
D.U.I custom distributor

The motor is going in a 1970 Mercury Cougar with 3.70's, and a C6 automatic. Mostly street cruising, and a little strip action. With the FE in it, it should weigh around 3600 lbs. With the above specs on the motor and car, Cam Research said the optimal cam grind would be:
Hydraulic Flat tappet
Intake lift: .540" Exhaust lift: .565"
Advertised Duration: Intake: 291* Exhaust: 295*
Duration at .050: Intake: 226* Exhaust: 234*
Lobe Seperation: 109*