Cam shaft question

[RDC]

Hello Gents,
I have a 440 in my Charger that is origional and has a little over 50000 miles. The motor runs very strong and think there is alot of life left in it until a rebuild is needed. I have decided to pull the motor to paint it, and at the same time I was thinking of changing the old cam timing chain and lifters to something better. I was told the mopar purple cam with the .557 lift and 296 duration would really wake my motor up. the motor is stock except for headers and a dual plane eddy intake and 750 carb. I was just wondering if anyone else has used this cam and how well it worked, or maybe a different recomendation, I value all unput
thanks

[tan top]

 what pistons have you got in the motor ?  is it a real hp motor stock specks ? whats the compression ?  , remember reading  long time ago in the MP engine book  ,  if its a stock 69 & earlier HP motor  with a steel shim head gasket   , don't think you can run much more lift than a 509 , & a 286 or something duration with out valves hitting the pistons,  later lower compression  motors can run a bigger cam with OEM pistons , but then  cancling out the effect of a bigger cam  with the lower compression    
i'm far from an expert . ,  some  of the  engine guys will be along soon     &  will know   & offer best / good  advice  

[cudaken]

RDC, for a stock anything that sounds like way to much cam! I have the 509 lift 292 cam and while it is a mere 383 it is way to much cam!

What year is the Charger, year of the motor and what gears?

I have ran a MP purple shaft 282, 284, 484, 484 cam with 3:23 gears and I liked it a lot! I may pull the 509 cam and install it later.

But, one thing I am starting to learn from the site, MP cams are stuck in the past! I have around 25 years of there catalogs and they all have pretty much the same cam choices? Really? 

From what I understand there are much better cam's to pick from today.

How much more power do you think you need? There is a lot of better options with bolt on parts than a cam change.

First thing I look at would be the Rocker Arms, stock ones are not great. They should be 1.5 lift ratio but stock ones are around 1.35 to 1.43 I have been told.

Cuda Ken

 

[RDC]

My car is a 74 Charger auto with 2300 stall and 3.23 gears. The motor is a 75 from a camper van. I am just looking to wake it up a bit, nothing too extreme. Seems that cam I was told about is too much. I will look at the 484.
Thanks!

[XH29N0G]

I don't know the answer to your question, but some people on here will have very good recommendations.  My understanding is that some of the newer grinds are better suited in many cases, but which one (new or old) depends a lot on all of the other components in your set up.  So I would (1) wait to see if someone suggests something and (2) if none are suggested, I would suggest calling the tech line of the companies that manufacture cams and then post up several options and see whether that generates a response.  

Also look search on this forum other threads.  I just searched "cam low compression" and a few threads popped up.  I found that raising torque was what I wanted.

[cudaken]

My car is a 74 Charger auto with 2300 stall and 3.23 gears. The motor is a 75 from a camper van. I am just looking to wake it up a bit, nothing too extreme. Seems that cam I was told about is too much. I will look at the 484.
Thanks!

Camper van? You mean a motor home, or a Van based camper?

In 75 compression was way down, 8.20 to 1 or something along that line. Good chances the 284 duration may still be to much. Does the Charger have power brakes?

Cuda Ken

[RDC]

A van based camper. The car doesn't have power brakes, was converted to manual some years ago.

[cudaken]

 
Hum, I thought other folks would be all over this by now?

Well here some old school cams that I think might help you out. If the cam is stock for the 440 Van engine this would be the first I would look at.

P4452783 268/284 O-Lap 46 degrees Center Line 115 450/458 power idle to 5800 RPM's. Yep the good old Magnum cam.

P4286677 272/272 O-Lap 48 degrees Center Line 112 455/455 power 1300 to 5700 RPM's.

P4452993 280/280 O-Lap 60 Center Line 110 474/474 power 2000 to 5900 RPM's.

These are old MP cams that are listed in my newest catalog, 2002? 

When I was running the 284 cam, my motor was 10 to 1. I am guessing I had the older version. P5007697 says improved driveablity and has a O-Lap of 56 degrees where mine has 68.

My self, I would pick number 1 or 2 with your compression. You do know you will need to change vale springs right? 

What little I know in 2013 Ken, post again.

[firefighter3931]

With low static compression you need to keep the duration conservative ; something in the 220*@.050 valve lift range is as big as i would use. 

This one would wake the smogger up 

http://www.lunatipower.com/Product.aspx?id=1578&gid=287



Ron

[RDC]

Thanks for the info. Hope to have the motor out in the next few weeks and then I will chose a cam. I plan on changing the lifters, springs etc. at the same time, I think with the age of the motor it will be time well spent. I wasn't thinking of changing the rocker arms, but from what was said about the stock ones I think I will.
Thanks again