Cam Specs

[AirborneSilva]

can someone put these cam specs into plain English?

Adv Duration 280/290
Duration @ .050 214/224
107/117 center line
443/465 lift

Thank you!

[randy73]

Not sure what you are asking for. do need basic understanding of how a cam works and what these specs mean or do you want to know how these specs compare to a stock cam?

[AirborneSilva]

Well I guess there in lies the problem, I haven't a clue what I'm talking about  I guess what I'm asking is when I see people tell others what cam they have it's just a simple set of two numbers, here I have a plethora of numbers and don't know what any of them mean 

[randy73]

Let me ask, what are you looking to do, get a new cam or is this your cam and you want to know what it is doing?

[AirborneSilva]

this your cam and you want to know what it is doing?

Yes, I'd like to know what it's doing as well as when someone asks what Cam I have I can intelligently answer them.  Thanks for your time 

[randy73]

This will give you basic knowledge -

http://www.auto-ware.com/combust_bytes/camspecs.html

This one is more indepth, but read the first one before this one -

http://www.popularhotrodding.com/enginemasters/articles/hardcore/0606em_camshaft_specs/viewall.html

One thing to know, to talk intelligently about the cam, you also must be able to talk about the rest of the engine, i.e. heads, intake, carb and bottomend.
When someone tells you they know what cam works best in your engine, just smile and nod your head and ignore everything they say!!

[cdr]

This will give you basic knowledge -

http://www.auto-ware.com/combust_bytes/camspecs.html

This one is more indepth, but read the first one before this one -

http://www.popularhotrodding.com/enginemasters/articles/hardcore/0606em_camshaft_specs/viewall.html

One thing to know, to talk intelligently about the cam, you also must be able to talk about the rest of the engine, i.e. heads, intake, carb and bottomend.
When someone tells you they know what cam works best in your engine, just smile and nod your head and ignore everything they say!!

[Chryco Psycho]

looks close to a stock magnum cam , low duration @ .050 with mid .400 lift

[AirborneSilva]

thanks guys, I'll read over the two links.

my build is as follows:
383 bored 40 over, hyperutectic (spelling) piston, Rhoads lifters, 906 heads, stock intake, 750 holley, headers, line bored, balanced rotating assembly, forged crank and I think that's it...  She sounds great and fires right up, I can let her sit for three weeks and she fires right up 

[elacruze]

can someone put these cam specs into plain English?

Adv Duration 280/290
Duration @ .050 214/224
107/117 center line
443/465 lift

Thank you!

You have an 'asymmetrical' cam. That simply means that the intake and exhaust don't have the same lift and duration. Most cams, particularly older cams are symmetrical so you only need one set of numbers to describe both lobe sets. Your cam intends to accommodate a more restrictive exhaust, probably intended to be used with stock exhaust manifolds.

[AirborneSilva]

can someone put these cam specs into plain English?

Adv Duration 280/290
Duration @ .050 214/224
107/117 center line
443/465 lift

Thank you!

You have an 'asymmetrical' cam. That simply means that the intake and exhaust don't have the same lift and duration. Most cams, particularly older cams are symmetrical so you only need one set of numbers to describe both lobe sets. Your cam intends to accommodate a more restrictive exhaust, probably intended to be used with stock exhaust manifolds.

Thanks, that makes sense, I've heard cam specs quoted as 485 lift w/300 duration (just an example I pulled out of my head, not actual), so that makes sense about all the numbers my cam has.  When we spec'ed out my cam (I had help with the engine specs), I was figuring on using the stock heads but then after having them checked out it was going to cost more than a set of rebuilt 906 heads so I went with the 906.

[BSB67]

can someone put these cam specs into plain English?

Adv Duration 280/290
Duration @ .050 214/224
107/117 center line
443/465 lift

Thank you!

You have an 'asymmetrical' cam. That simply means that the intake and exhaust don't have the same lift and duration. Most cams, particularly older cams are symmetrical so you only need one set of numbers to describe both lobe sets. Your cam intends to accommodate a more restrictive exhaust, probably intended to be used with stock exhaust manifolds.

The term symmetrical and asymmetrical refers to the opening and closing flanks on the lobe.  An asymmetrical lobe has the opening flank different than the closing flank.  It's not different profiles from lobe to lobe.  This cannot be determined by looking at the cam specs.

The cam that the OP has is basically a stock cam with pretty lazy lobe profile.

[Cooter]

I have also heard these referred to as "Dual pattern" cams.

[BSB67]

I have also heard these referred to as "Dual pattern" cams.

Yes, dual pattern, or split profile, split pattern, split duration all refer to different intake and exhaust lobe profiles.

[elacruze]

The term symmetrical and asymmetrical refers to the opening and closing flanks on the lobe.  An asymmetrical lobe has the opening flank different than the closing flank.  It's not different profiles from lobe to lobe.  This cannot be determined by looking at the cam specs.

The cam that the OP has is basically a stock cam with pretty lazy lobe profile.

You're correct, I mis-termed. See above.