Any way to determine cam specs.?

[66FBCharger]

Is there any way to determine what the cam is, in the engine? My 440 was rebuilt at some time before I bought it. I was wondering if there are any ways to get an idea of what the cam is. I don't know if it stock or a little hotter.

[Cooter]

No way on duration specs, but lift you can try. Zero out a dial indicator, set it on rocker tip with valve open at full lift, rotate engine until valve closed. Count revolutions of indicator. (.500 lift would be 5revolutions)

[Ghoste]

Could you not determine the other specs if you measured over an intake and exhaust and compared lobe profiles?

[John_Kunkel]

The inconsistency of rocker arm ratios will skew the advertised lift of the cam when measured directly at the valve with a dial indicator. Place the dial indicator on the end of the pushrod and measure the actual lift of the lobe.

The duration is easy enough to measure with a degree wheel attached to the crank.  It helps to make a timing "pointer" out of a piece of coat hanger to replace the alignment mark on the timing cover. Attach one end to a timing cover bolt, then align the other end of the wire with zero on the degree wheel.  

1) Set the degree wheel to zero with the piston at TDC.

2) Obtain a dial indicator. Mount it so it will indicate the movement of the intake pushrod as the crank turns.

3) Slowly turn the crank clockwise until the indicator shows .050" movement. Write on a notepad the number of degrees this occurs at. Continue rotating clockwise and make a note of the maximum lift observed. Continue rotating clockwise until the indicator is .050" from the "0" (or closed) position. Record that number of degrees. It is important to only make the degree measurements when rotating in a clockwise direction to prevent a false reading due to slack in the timing chain. If you have to reverse the crank rotation, such as when you miss the .050" mark, just go counterclockwise at least 30-40 degrees before turning it clockwise again. That will remove the slack from the timing chain again.

3) Install the dial indicator on the exhaust pushrod and repeat step #3 for the exhaust side.

4) You now can convert your rotation degree readings to degrees BTDC (before top dead center) , ABDC (after bottom dead center), BBDC, and ATDC.

Your cam's LSA (lobe separation angle) and overlap can also be determined by the information obtained above.

The above is for duration at .050" lift, for advertised duration use movement of the dial indicator from/to zero instead of .050".

[RallyeMike]

Alternatively, Pull the rear plug off the back of the engine and see if you can get a part number off the back of the cam.

There is no easy way.

[Ghoste]

A dumb and obvious question, but you did try and find out who built the engine and what they recall?

[66FBCharger]

From what I understand, my car was traded in to a used car dealer in Wisc. for a newer (4 dr.) Charger. The used car dealer brought it to the Mopar Nats and had it in the Car Corral for sale. This was the one year I didn't go through the Corral for some reason. The car was purchased by a father and two sons as a family project. After they bought the car they drove it back to Detroit. They really wanted a '69 Road Runner convt. project. They found a Road Runner right after buying the Charger and decided to sell the Charger. They put it on The Dodge Charger Cars for Sale section as well as Ebay. It didn't sell on Ebay because they were a few hundred short of reserve. I saw the car listed and couldn't stop thinking about it. I called the seller and I said I would fly out to check it out and if it was as he described I would buy it. I bought it on the spot.
Anyway, I got some receipts from the '80s for the engine rebuild. there was nothing about a cam that I could find. There are various names on the receipt and I have been unable to locate these people yet but I will keep trying.
Sorry for the long winded answer!

[Ghoste]

What year was it in the corral at Columbus?

[66FBCharger]

2011

[Ghoste]

I wonder if (and I bet I do) have photos of it there?

[myk]

From what I understand, my car was traded in to a used car dealer in Wisc. for a newer (4 dr.) Charger. The used car dealer brought it to the Mopar Nats and had it in the Car Corral for sale. This was the one year I didn't go through the Corral for some reason. The car was purchased by a father and two sons as a family project. After they bought the car they drove it back to Detroit. They really wanted a '69 Road Runner convt. project. They found a Road Runner right after buying the Charger and decided to sell the Charger. They put it on The Dodge Charger Cars for Sale section as well as Ebay. It didn't sell on Ebay because they were a few hundred short of reserve. I saw the car listed and couldn't stop thinking about it. I called the seller and I said I would fly out to check it out and if it was as he described I would buy it. I bought it on the spot.
Anyway, I got some receipts from the '80s for the engine rebuild. there was nothing about a cam that I could find. There are various names on the receipt and I have been unable to locate these people yet but I will keep trying.
Sorry for the long winded answer!

It's never a short answer or story with these cars, lol.  I'm in the same boat as you; I have no idea what's going on in the block.  Gonna' have to tear it all out and rebuild it someday...

[66FBCharger]

It's never a short answer or story with these cars, lol.  I'm in the same boat as you; I have no idea what's going on in the block.  Gonna' have to tear it all out and rebuild it someday...
[/quote]
At some point I may change out the cam to a new cam. Maybe use a Mr.Sixpack cam.

[66FBCharger]

I

I wonder if (and I bet I do) have photos of it there?

Ghoste,
I'd love to see the pictures if you have them!
John

[Ghoste]

I'll look for them.  There is almost certainly video as well.  I seem to end up taking photos of every 69 Charger I see and I usually have a video cam going when we wander the car corral.

[Ghoste]

A Mr. Sixpack cam?

[66FBCharger]

Yes. Bob Karakashian. He lived near Tom Hoover and used his '69 SixPack SuperBee to help Hoover and Chrysler develop many parts and camshafts.
He has a cam that idles like a stocker but is supposed to make a lot of power.
Here's a link that can tell you more about who he is.
I have not used one yet, but have read a lot of good things about it.

http://sixpacksixbbl.homestead.com/halloffame.html

[Ghoste]

Know who he is, just never realized he was selling a cam.