What cam for a stock 440?

[AWSOM50]

I have an early 70s 440 block.  I don't know what pistons it has but I think it has stock iron heads.  Car in on a 3.23 suregrip, edelbrock Torker I intake, 750cfm holley and is soon to have headers.  I also know it has a forged crank, 6 pack rods and a windage tray.

I would like to fit a cam that gives me more power, as much as possible really, whilst being driveable as it is used exclusively on the street, so obviously I want enough vacuum to run the power brakes consistently and reliably too.

Any recommendations or advice would be appreciated.

[Chryco Psycho]

I asssume you want a Hyd grind not solid , solids will give more power but are more expensive to set up
I have been using a lot of the Engle & Lunati VooDoo grinds as they have great power & drivability
not sure what converter stall speed you will ahve or wht RPM you want the power , I often use Engle K54-K60 cams in streetable builds Contact Chris at Engle & he can help you pick  a grind that works for you

[Challenger340]

Check out these 2 hydraulics;

1.) Comp grind # 268AH-10, part # 21-305-4, "updated"  Magnum engine Cam, if you want 3 bolt T/chain, change part # to 23-305-4.


and now, one of my favourites for street sleepers, probably won't find it in catalog, sold under Competition cams

2.) part # 24-278-4,  3 bolt cam only/street & strip series for "daily drivers", stock convertor etc.
grind # 278A-8
I'm told it will be going in catalogs next year ?
Anyways, this frigg'in thing makes power in heavy cars with stock heads ! I was SHOCKED !

[AWSOM50]

thanks guys,

Yeah I was planning on using a hydraulic.

I didn't there was a 1-bolt and 3-bolt type. 

Is there a way to tell without taking it all apart?

[andy74]

thanks guys,

Yeah I was planning on using a hydraulic.

I didn't there was a 1-bolt and 3-bolt type. 

Is there a way to tell without taking it all apart?

odds are that yours is a single bolt-most are,with the exception of 440 6 pack and hemis

[AWSOM50]

cool, thanks, well I know its a Jensen motor, exact year I don't know.

This is the info from the previous owner:

Forged Crankshaft
6 pack rods.  2951908 1970-74   440   All HP & HP2
windage tray
double roller chain

So its definitely a single bolt?

[firefighter3931]

cool, thanks, well I know its a Jensen motor, exact year I don't know.

This is the info from the previous owner:

Forged Crankshaft
6 pack rods.  2951908 1970-74   440   All HP & HP2
windage tray
double roller chain

So its definitely a single bolt?

It should  be a single bolt but you never know with Ma Mopar. You really should replace the timing chain & gears when the cam is swapped out. If it's original, guaranteed it's stretched over the years. 


Ron

[andy74]

cool, thanks, well I know its a Jensen motor, exact year I don't know.

This is the info from the previous owner:

Forged Crankshaft
6 pack rods.  2951908 1970-74   440   All HP & HP2
windage tray
double roller chain

So its definitely a single bolt?

It should  be a single bolt but you never know with Ma Mopar. You really should replace the timing chain & gears when the cam is swapped out. If it's original, guaranteed it's stretched over the years. 


Ron

i couldnt agree more with ron,and if you decide to switch to a 3 bolt,the time is when changing cams-your alrady tearing it apart spend the few bucks for the upgrade!

[Chryco Psycho]

Engle wiull grind any profile on a 3 bolt blank , never hurts to have the extra strength

[Challenger340]

If I can, I'll try and find a pattern spec. on this Cam, for you guys to look at.
I couldn't believe the power it made !

I dunno how either ? I looked at it and thought.. "pheewi"

Comp. #24-278-4, grind # 278A8.

Real goofy enhanced & advanced exhaust profile, hence the 108 lsa,  less gross lift exhaust, but really, it makes amazing power to low 5000's with stock exhaust manifolds and NO Compression !
I guess it times the exhaust cycle more conduscive to the long rod Mopar BB's ? ?  I dunno !
TOO FUNNY to find this kind of power nowadays, on an almost 50 yr old design !

[dodgeterm]

check out http://www.autohobbydigest.com/tables.php?07_RB_camshafts

One of the Racer Browns,  or a Camcraft, if you've got 10:1 compression.  If you've got a low comp engine, look at the High-Energy Comp cams series.  They ramp up faster,  keeping the valve closed longer and helping keep the compression up a bit.   Anything over .488 lift probably minimum 10:1 compression. 

make usre you you have the right valve springs for the job.    If you buy new valve springs (good idea)  make sure you know the diameter of the spring and if that spirng requires machining to the heads...   

with 3.23 to 3.55 gears,  on the street the single plane intake is not as optimal as a dual plane.,,  even a stock 1972-1974 440 dual plane flows good and works better on the street that a single plane if you stay under 6000rpm.

my opinions..,, of course...

[TylerCharger69]

may as well convert to a 3-bolt stick....

[AWSOM50]

Guys, I appreciate the info very much.  I live in the UK and it takes weeks to ship stuff over here, so I really need to get it ordered all at once if possible as I don't want my car sitting for weeks with the top end apart.

To take account of what I am going to need to order: camshaft, lifters, valve springs, 3bolt timing chain & gears, new gaskets

Anything else?

I havent chosen a cam yet by the way because I'm still reading up, and thanks again for all the info.

To dodgeterm:
I know what you mean about the single plane.  The torker is what came with the car and I don't like it.  I plan to either switch to a dual plane or swap the gears for 3.9s eventually.

Challenger340 :
you sell that cam really well lol.  I see its for sale at summit for about 130$.  Do you have the specs on it?

[Challenger340]

Challenger340 :
you sell that cam really well lol.  I see its for sale at summit for about 130$.  Do you have the specs on it?

AWSOM50

I shouldn't be "selling" anything on here. NOT my place.
Apologies if I've been over zealous in that area.
It's just I was really impressed with this cam as installed in a "terd" smogger mule engine a friend did, and stuffed in his ride on stock springs !

I don't play much with Hydraulic Cams in my business, and don't generally like them, Too mushy.
I'm better at fast ramp Solids, and Solid Rollers for the engines I do.
Just trying to give options other than "same old" , "same old".

Check out ALL Cams listed here ! And phone around, you've got lots of time !

Firefighter3931(Ron), & Chyco have TON of experience with Hydraulic cams they've used, check EVERYTHING they recommend !

But this Cam made Buddy's "terd", come alive like I've never seen before.
It is NOT a high revver. It packs it's powerband tight on the 108 lsa. Somewhere's just over 5000 is about it, however, how high are you gonna rev a "stock" engine anyways ?

I guess it IS in the Comp Cams catalog already !
I'll still try and find a rotational sheet I got on it way back, easier to look at. Would be nicer to "see", the ALMOST "marine" style exhaust profile, seemed ODD to me !

Take your time before you buy a Cam. Use it as an educational experience, and have some FUN with it. It's far nicer later, when you do buy a Cam, to know "why", you've selected what you did.

Anyways, whats in the Comp Cams catalog is; Duration @ .050  227/227
                                             Lift;       Int.      .502"/ .486" Exh
                                             Lobe Seperation    108 deg.
                                             Powerband 2000 - 5000 rpm

Write up;   "Street & Strip", "Good Torque & Power for daily driven street engines, stock convertor, Slightly rough Idle. "

Some phone numbers;  Comp  @ 1 800 999 0853
                                 Engle  @  1 310 450 0806
                                Crane   @  1 386 258 6179 (these guys don't seem to much care for older stuff)
                                Hughes @ 1 309 745 9558  ( very Mopar oriented)
Bob out.

[jg68]

Challenger340, what was the comp. on your friends car?

[Challenger340]

8.0:1,  MAYBE !  "popcorn fart engine"  LOL !

[jg68]

8.0:1,  MAYBE !  "popcorn fart engine"  LOL !

Thanks Bob, looks like it should work in my 7.9.1 440, but dosen't seem like a good nitrous cam.

[Challenger340]

Nope, probably NOT a good "steroids" Cam with the 108 lsa. Nitrous likes wider for sure.

[firefighter3931]

8.0:1,  MAYBE !  "popcorn fart engine"  LOL !

Thanks Bob, looks like it should work in my 7.9.1 440, but dosen't seem like a good nitrous cam.

Joe, have a look at the Crower HDP271 grind. Split pattern, wide lsa....perfect juice cam for a smogger.  

http://crower.com/misc/cam_spec/cam_finder.php?part_num=32242&x=37&y=10




Ron

[jg68]

8.0:1,  MAYBE !  "popcorn fart engine"  LOL !

Thanks Bob, looks like it should work in my 7.9.1 440, but dosen't seem like a good nitrous cam.

Joe, have a look at the Crower HDP271 grind. Split pattern, wide lsa....perfect juice cam for a smogger.  

http://crower.com/misc/cam_spec/cam_finder.php?part_num=32242&x=37&y=10




Ron

Thanks Ron, alot of duration on the exaust side, good for the juice

[MOPARHOUND!]

Challenger340 :
you sell that cam really well lol.  I see its for sale at summit for about 130$.  Do you have the specs on it?

AWSOM50

I shouldn't be "selling" anything on here. NOT my place.
Apologies if I've been over zealous in that area.
It's just I was really impressed with this cam as installed in a "terd" smogger mule engine a friend did, and stuffed in his ride on stock springs !

I don't play much with Hydraulic Cams in my business, and don't generally like them, Too mushy.
I'm better at fast ramp Solids, and Solid Rollers for the engines I do.
Just trying to give options other than "same old" , "same old".

Check out ALL Cams listed here ! And phone around, you've got lots of time !

Firefighter3931(Ron), & Chyco have TON of experience with Hydraulic cams they've used, check EVERYTHING they recommend !

But this Cam made Buddy's "terd", come alive like I've never seen before.
It is NOT a high revver. It packs it's powerband tight on the 108 lsa. Somewhere's just over 5000 is about it, however, how high are you gonna rev a "stock" engine anyways ?

I guess it IS in the Comp Cams catalog already !
I'll still try and find a rotational sheet I got on it way back, easier to look at. Would be nicer to "see", the ALMOST "marine" style exhaust profile, seemed ODD to me !

Take your time before you buy a Cam. Use it as an educational experience, and have some FUN with it. It's far nicer later, when you do buy a Cam, to know "why", you've selected what you did.

Anyways, whats in the Comp Cams catalog is; Duration @ .050  227/227
                                             Lift;       Int.      .502"/ .486" Exh
                                             Lobe Seperation    108 deg.
                                             Powerband 2000 - 5000 rpm

Write up;   "Street & Strip", "Good Torque & Power for daily driven street engines, stock convertor, Slightly rough Idle. "

Some phone numbers;  Comp  @ 1 800 999 0853
                                 Engle  @  1 310 450 0806
                                Crane   @  1 386 258 6179 (these guys don't seem to much care for older stuff)
                                Hughes @ 1 309 745 9558  ( very Mopar oriented)
Bob out.

That is a 426 Hemi cam, designed for the street.

Years ago the Direct Connection book use to recommend a 426 Street Hemi cam for the RB's, believe it was a Racer Brown grind.

I chose the larger of the two cheap Summit $99 cam and lifter kits in a recent street 440 build.  It's a Crane Cam, put in a Summit box.

Summit #6401K   282/292    224/234   .464"/.488"   114 LSA

Better cams out there, but if you're on a budget, it's an improvement over the stock cam.  Ground on a 114LSA for good idle and vacuum.

The Crower 271HDP is also a great choice.