I have a original 396 in a numbers matching 69 Chevelle - Just restored, but we bolted on some speed parts including an Edelbrock RPM Manifold, and Cam - 240 and 246 degreees at .050. Headers, flowmasters, HEI and Opened the iron oval port heads up to accept 2.25 and 1.88 Ferra valves ... and now have well over half inch of lift .... issue and question to you guys is about the real lack of power actually under 3,000 rpm - but the motor comes on like gang busters over 4,000 and revs to 6,500 plus with no float ... but nothing down low. Son and I installed the cam straight up, then we advanced it 4 degrees ... and it improved helped a little. Rear end gearing was 3.55:1 and launches were horrible with no power, and no vacuum under any load off the line - So we just swapped out the 3.55 rear gear to 4.11s but the weather closed in and we haven't tested it yet. I'm thinking of getting a differnet cam - one with less duraion, to get back some low end so I can burn the tires easier cryising around ... maybe a custom grind or just a Edelebrock Performer plus. ... What has been your experience with different cams?

I did a 396 for a buddy of mine and our package was similar to yours, the cam was .575/.595 lift and 308 on the duration side, we put it in straight up. It made killer power between 4500 and 7000. we had the same problem you have, we fixed by putting a bigger convertor in it. We put a coan 3800 in it and it works great. if you have an auto that is the next thing i would do.

The Ede cam has slow ramps ans probably a wide LSA for the duration which makes it lazy. I would move the about 225-226 @ .050, LSA of 112 or 110. You can shorten the duration all the way to 220@ .050, but run a 110LSA dn have that nice perf idle quality, yet make a lot of power from idle to 6000 in a 396 motor. I ran a Crane H286 Powermax in my 402 motor prior to running the Hyd Roller in it now. It had good off idle power (3.73 gears and a 10" 3000 stall converter though) yet would pull to 6200 or so.

Imho, a good old CC 282S solid cam will do you nicely!!

And if you want MORE lowend, a 270S should down-right explosive, imho!!

pdq67

Thansk - I have a 4-speed Munice M21 close ratio. That's the problem - I have to slip the clutch too much off the line with this cam and he 3.55 rearend - That's why I changed it to a 4.11

Thanks - thios sounds more like what I'm thinking - I have a 4 speed - sorry I left that out in the original post.

Imho, a good old CC 282S solid cam will do you nicely!!

And if you want MORE lowend, a 270S should down-right explosive, imho!!

pdq67
What's "CC" ... Crane Cams? sorry a little new at this -

The Ede cam has slow ramps ans probably a wide LSA for the duration which makes it lazy. I would move the about 225-226 @ .050, LSA of 112 or 110. You can shorten the duration all the way to 220@ .050, but run a 110LSA dn have that nice perf idle quality, yet make a lot of power from idle to 6000 in a 396 motor. I ran a Crane H286 Powermax in my 402 motor prior to running the Hyd Roller in it now. It had good off idle power (3.73 gears and a 10" 3000 stall converter though) yet would pull to 6200 or so.
Beautiful Photo - I'll have to figure out how to do that - I have a 4 speed M21 close ratio ... so no stall converter ... You think the Crane H286 might be good choice ?? I'll be calling the cam copanies and disusing it this time around.

What's "CC" ... Crane Cams? sorry a little new at this -

Its Comp Cams. The 270S and 282S are two of there Magnum Solid cams. Very good reliable cams.

Ron, I just finally yanked the 402 motor today, to make room for the 454 I have. While I had everthing apart, I dropped the H286 back into the 402 motor. I felt it was a very good all around cam. One thing I like about Crane is their cams are easy on parts. May not make the peak HP "claims" of Comp, but I can honestly say, I never had one go bad,

This is why I say I roll my car out of the hole AND then nail her!!

To be easier on the clutch!! BUT I AM NOT dragging her!!!

Easy out, hit the cam's sweet spot AND nail her and haze the tires!!

pdq67

PS., HE, He!! when my PP went away daily driving her years ago, I used 3rd and 4th!!

Clutch disc still looks pretty good too.. PP shot!!

It was h-ll the short time back then starting it in gear in reverse, killing her and then starting her up in third until I parked her back in '87!!

I'd run the 280/288, .525/.550 lift cam from lunati that UDHarold designed. I think the part number is 302A7lun. Ran it in a low compression 408 with 4:10's and a m20 tranny and it ran hard from idle on up with the gears. Nice lope and had decent vacume.

What kind of compression ratio are you running?

I would think to make that cam work properly you would want about a 10.5 cr. Low compression and big cams really makes for a soggy bottom end.

The 4.11 gears should help quite abit, but with the M-21's 2.20 1st gear, it may not be enough overall 1st gear ratio (9.04:1)

I was running around 9.1 or a tad more. My combo had a performer rpm intake, holley 750 vs, msd ignition, hedman headers, oval port heads, and flowmaster exhaust with ultra flo mufflers. My bottom end wasn't soggy at all but it might be a little different for him because he has the different first gear.