OK...512 Stroker going together...now what cam does everyone like?

[Mfr426]

Hey Folks, I just talked with my machinist and he has the motor out getting line bored. Next he will be boring and honing and then he'll put the cam in. I need to decide on the right cam. Here is the info:

This is a 69 RT clone car that I will drive on Sundays and to car shows. I want it to have ample power but be very driveable. I have power disc brakes. The car has a racing kit trans rebuild (TSR I think is the company). I have a TransGo TF2 shift kit. Rear is 3.23 SG. Driveshaft has been balanced. The torque converter is bone stock. There are the motor specs:

68 440 block bored .30 over
440 to 512 kit (dished pistons) with all new bearings (including crank bearings)
440 Source said compression should be about 9.5-9.75.
Main cap stud kit
windage tray
High volume oil pump
Eddy RPM Heads

I dont know on the intake or carb yet but would like some recommendations.

I need a cam and timing gears to send to this guy. I've had great luck with 440 source. Should I be calling them for the cam/timing gear advice?

Any comments are always appreciated.

Mike R in Reading PA
69 Charger R/T Clone Stroker 512
Not sure on the intake and carb for now

[67_Dodge_Charger]

What type of idle are you looking for? Rough, slightly rough or smooth.  I would go with the 509 purple cam so that you can unleash some of that power.  What is your stall on the torque converter?

Sounds like a good combo.

Robert

[Mfr426]

I want the car driveable. I figure with the projected 550-600 I'll have plenty of torque but I also want road manners (yeah I want it all).

Are you referring to Purple Shaft cam? I have one of those in my 383 now and am not impressed? I thought they were old grinds (seems to have been the consenses on this board)? Perhaps I'm wrong?

I have no idea of the stall speed. It's a stock TC from a 71 383 motor.

[firefighter3931]

The Mp cams are not what  would run in something that you wanted to make into a cruiser. The big diplacement will eat up a lot of duration so you can go bigger on the cam than you would on a 440 and still keep it very mellow. Something in the 230-240* duaration @.050 is what  you should be looking at, inmo.

The Street Dominator intake with an 850cfm carb will be fine on the induction side.



Ron

[Mfr426]

Thanks Ron, any particular manufacturer that you like?

[Rolling_Thunder]

How about an Engle K-60 or K-62 grind...   I put one in an engine I built and it seems to be a pretty nice cam...    you'd be looking at 238* or 244* @ .050...     

[firefighter3931]

Thanks Ron, any particular manufacturer that you like?

Mike, you can't go wrong with an Engle cam. For this application it will be a custom grind. 


Assuming you want to go with a hydraulic cam.......The k60 ground on a 112* lsa would work great. This cam will work fine with the stock e-head springs and you can use the MP heavy duty stamped non adjustable rocker arms and a set of thick wall pushrods for a durable and maintenance free valvetrain.  On a 512ci build this grind will idle smooth and make lots of manifold vacuum for power brakes.





Ron

[Mfr426]

I suppose I should call them and give them the info and let them make the recommendations? Thanks guys.

[firefighter3931]

I suppose I should call them and give them the info and let them make the recommendations? Thanks guys.

Sure....might as well get a few opinions. Outline the build just like you did here and see what they say. If you end up ordering from Engle....specify that you want the 3 bolt upper gear as opposed to the single bolt. 

I'll be interested to hear what they say. 




Ron

[Rolling_Thunder]

I just called them last week to get a cam for my boss's 68 hemi...        They recomended a K56/K58 on a 110*LSA...      I'll be picking it up tomarrow....          These guys are VERY helpful and will do anything for you...      cant recomment enough

[Mfr426]

Hey Ron, what's the signficance of the 3-bolt end? Is that a strength issue (so if I bust the single bolt I woud bend up my nice, new, expensvie motor)?

[firefighter3931]

Hey Ron, what's the signficance of the 3-bolt end? Is that a strength issue (so if I bust the single bolt I woud bend up my nice, new, expensvie motor)?

Ya Mike....the 3 bolt is more secure. The 440 6-pack and hemi engines came with a 3-bolt. Most aftermarket solid cams also have the 3 bolt. Having the cam custom ground gives you that option. 



Ron

[Mfr426]

Just ordered the cam and lifters from Engle. I worked with "Chris" and he was very helpful. Based on what I have and what I am after, he suggested the K56, 110 lobe, 224/504 and three bolt. He said that it will work well for my desire to be very driveable but have good vacuum and plenty of torque.

Thanks all for the help. I direct shipped this to my machinist and was told 1-2 weeks.

Mike R in Reading PA

[firefighter3931]

I want the car driveable.

I figure with the projected 550-600 I'll have plenty of torque but I also want road manners (yeah I want it all).

The K56 will meet your first objective but it will fall way short of the second, unfortunately.

A 224@.050 is considered mild for a 440ci engine....on a 512 with the additional 70 cubes it's gonna sound smoother than a 318 2bbl. Not that that is a bad thing but you're leaving a lot of power on the table. That cam in a 512 will be "all done" at 4500 rpm. You have to remember that long stroke engines absolutely devour duration....they eat it for breakfast.  The cam i outlined above would have still made 16in of vacuum at idle yet had a wider powerband in to the 5500 rpm range.

Try it out but my guess is you'll be back here looking for another cam recommendation after you've driven it for a few months.



Ron

[471_Magnum]

I'm with Ron. That's not much cam at all. That would be tame in 440.

[Mfr426]

Hey Ron, I AGREE! I called Engle today and changed my order to a K60, 238/285 .534 lift and 112. I got a different guy today and dicusesed my conerns. He he agreed that my choice was too mild. It's not their fault though as I really dont have a good enough grasp on cam specs to realize what I am ordering. Obviously you guys do.

Thanks for the followup. The last thing I want to do is have this work done and then realize that I wimped out on a cam selection.

OK, now lets crack a cold beer.....it's FRIDAY!

[firefighter3931]

Mike, that's good news !  The k56 would have been a disappointment for ya. I'm surprised they even recommended it because i wouldn't even consider it in the ballpark for that type of build & displacement. Maybe there was some type of miscommunication ?

Regardless, the issue has been resolved.  This cam is still gonna be pretty tame in your 512 but it will have a nice broad powerband that can take advantage of all that displacement that you're going through the trouble to build. 

The bottom end power & torque will be incredible....you're gonna be obliterating the tires with a stab of the pedal. 



Ron

[Mfr426]

if there was miscommunication it was on my part, not Engles...

[Rolling_Thunder]

I'll just pat myself on the back   (see my first suggestion)        you'll enjoy that cam

[Mfr426]

Yep...your pat is deserved...

[firefighter3931]

I'll just pat myself on the back   (see my first suggestion)        you'll enjoy that cam

Yep, you were good on the grind....but it really needs a 112* lsa. 



Ron

[Rolling_Thunder]

I'll just pat myself on the back   (see my first suggestion)        you'll enjoy that cam

Yep, you were good on the grind....but it really needs a 112* lsa. 



Ron

112* lsa...    hmmmm     learn something everyday