vacuum reading at idle

[willy]

I have a 1968 Dodge Charger R/T with a 440 hp engine. the person I bought it from said it had a mild cam installed but everything else was stock. I'm only getting about 12" of vacuum at idle. I had to add a vacuum canister to get enough vacuum reserve to work my power brakes at low speed. How many inches of vacuum would I have at idle with a stock cam?
Thanks, Willy

[resq302]

On a freshly rebuilt engine, with stock everything, I would assume it would be between 16-18" of vacuum.

[willy]

Thanks, resq302 for the info. I'm wondering if anyone has a stock 440 with the purple cam in it and how much vacuum do you get at idle?

[resq302]

If I remember right, my 383 that has a purple cam that is possibly bored 30 over, (cant remember) gets around 16".

[willy]

thanks again, It sounds like I must have a more radical cam than I thought since my vacuum is so much lower. I may need to change it to the purple cam. I want to get away from the vacuum canister for my brakes.
Thanks,
Willy

[Ghoste]

If you are thinking about changing the cam there are several choices out there that are much better than the "Purple Shaft" series. 
FWIW, I have one of the Purple cams in my 383 (there are several in that family but mine is the Street Hemi grind one) and it doesn't draw what your car does for vacuum.

[elacruze]

What's your initial timing? Maybe you could use a little more.

[willy]

I have my initial timing set at 12 degrees. I am also running a pertronics ignition instead of points.

[BSB67]

What is the vacuum at idle in gear?  What is your timing at idle in gear?

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

When I was running the .484" PS cam in my 440 I was lucky to get 10" of vacuum

[Ghoste]

Yeah, that's about all I get Chris and I have plenty of timing in it.  They were a great cam in their time and still fine enough in their own right but they have become an antique grind and there are plenty of better choices out there today.

[willy]

I would like to thank everyone for their input. In my service manual it says that the dur at .050 is 268 int and 284 exh. It doesn't say what the lift is. If I wanted a stock cam what would I buy? Year One Says the stock cam has a lift of .450 int and .458 exh centerline 115 is this truly stock or is there a better choice? I don't race my car so I'm not looking for 1/4 mile times but I do get on it occasionally and don't want it to be a dog. I'm just looking for more vacuum at idle so I can eliminate the canister for the brakes.
Thanks in advance,
Willy