Hey Guys,

Looking for some input on what heads/cam to run on my 496 short block. This is for a driver/cruise nite street car that needs fairly mild manners. It's going in a '70 camino with hotchkis rear suspension and Mickey Thompson drag radials (275-60-15's). Short block is a 2 bolt 454 block with eagle forged rotating assmbly and is zero decked. The pistons that are in it should yeild about 9.5:1 with a 118 cc chamber. Car has 12 bolt with 3.55's and TH400 (11 inch converter). Hooker comp headers with 3" mandrel bent exhaust.

I'm wanting to try and stay with an iron head, somthing like an Iron Eagle 308CC. This is going to be an "orange engine" and I'd like it to appear fairly stock but I am open to suggestions. I'm looking for somthing in the 6000 RPM MAX range and I kind of like solid cams in the 235-240 degrees @ .050 range.

Too much compression for Iron? Not enough cam? Wrong head?

Let me know what you think guys. I appreciate the input.

Bill

With that small a cam and 6000rpm max and not much gear I'd go with ovalports.

With that small a cam and 6000rpm max and not much gear I'd go with ovalports.

Me too, 049's 2.19, 1.88 valves and a little clean up and you should be good to go.

Me too, 049's 2.19, 1.88 valves and a little clean up and you should be good to go.

I agree!:thumbsup:
It'll be a torquey little bugger.:cool:

Thanks for the input so far guys. Does the compression sound about right for Iron heads? What cams do you guys like in that range? Also, I have no cylinder heads to start with so I'm starting with a clean slate....I can go just about any direction.

Thanks again and keep it coming.

Bill

Comp. looks about right, should run on good pump gas no problem.
Cam range is good, are you looking for solid flat tappet or roller?
IMO for that size cam are I would be looking for a HYD flat or HYD roller, but it your own preference. No maintenace with a hyd. cam, as it sounds like it will be a driver.

Comp. looks about right, should run on good pump gas no problem.
Cam range is good, are you looking for solid flat tappet or roller?
IMO for that size cam are I would be looking for a HYD flat or HYD roller, but it your own preference. No maintenace with a hyd. cam, as it sounds like it will be a driver.

I would actually like to have a hydraulic flat tappet if I could. Something like the C.C. 292 magnum. It seems that Rat motors have a reputation for eating the lobes off of flat tappet cams...myth?

Thanks,

Bill

Much has been written and continues to be written on this site on BB chev cam lobe problems.

You can read the details yourself, but the jist of it is to use quality components, ensure proper installation, hope your lifter bores are perpendicular to the cam, maybe break in with single spring on dual spring setups, use recommended lube, pre-oil before firing, fire quickly and bring revs up to 1500 - 2000 for a half hour, use an oil like rotella T with the old style anti-wear additives. And hope for the best.

I don't know if the roller cam setups are a perfect solution, because there seems to be lots of problems with roller lifters to, plus they are very pricey in comparison.

I would say that if you keep your flat tappet cam lift and spring pressures reasonable, and follow proceedures described in detail elsewhere, you have a pretty good chance of success, but no guarantee.

I have a comp 280H that so far has not caused a problem in both street and strip use. Lift is very low and so is spring pressure on this cam. Probably about the same as a hi perf factory cam.

Not a myth especially with todays oil.Not worth the chance of ruining your short block to run flat tappet cams. I have a 496 in my 1970 SS ElCamino,10.5 comp. Comp HR 304 Hyd. Roller,Merlin Iron Heads Rec. 308's, 3:31 gears 25.6" tire,wide ratio 4-sp. runs 11.40's on pump 91 w/36 deg. total. I'm also @ 3000 ft with quite a bit of cam so 10.5 comp may be pushing it @ a lower elevation. I have run alot of the Comp HR 290 mag.cams I think it would be a great choice w/9,5 comp.very drivable with nice exhaust note.By the time you buy 049 heads,install guides,hard ex.seats,cut for bigger valves etc. I think I would go with Merlin Cast Iron oval port heads or Edelbrock RPM oval ports best bangs for you buck.NOTE: make sure your pistons are compatible if you use Edelbrock.

You can run a flat tappet cam, but just ensure you run the Shell Rotella, Chevron Delo, or any diesel oil. Or, you can just buy a can of Chevy EOS (engine oil supplement) every time you change your oil and add it with your change.

I run a solid ft in my sbc, and 2k miles later so far so good, no issues. It is actually as quiet as my current hydraulic ft in my 454 which will soon to be solid ft as well in my 496 build, if this continues to go well.

I've NEVER had a flat tappet cam failure using Rotella/Delo in the crankcase, priming the motor throughly just before firing, AND adding EOS while breaking in the motor. :cool:

Hey Bill I’m running close to the combo your looking for, It’s a 489, with Iron Eagle 308 heads and a solid flat tappet (used Rotella T for break in) 10:1 compression. Runs awesome on 92 octane. Here is a link to the dyno sheet if interested…
http://www.mnrollingthunder.com/489dynosheet.html

Oh yeah, here is one of the Dyno pulls...
http://www.extreme-engines.com/Video.html

You need to get a copy of DRAG and run your engine power numbers from D2k through it..

Guys I know this is all sim, but the trends seem to hold good, imho...

And fwiw, D2K say's my mild 9.8 to 1 CR 496 with no more than a good old CC 282S solid cam should produce like in the neighborhood of 550hp at 5500 rpm and 580t at 4500 rpm. Tow-truck motor POWER, imho!!!

Inputting these numbers into DRAG with my light '67 First Gen Camaro car with M-20, 3.31's and 26" tall GOOD tires, IF it will hook AND not break anything, I am looking at 130mph and 10.5 seconds in the quarter!!

Heck, I will be tickled to death with an 11!!!!!

How often do you go to the track Paul? When was the last time you made a pass down the track Paul? How light is this Camaro? Let me know if you ever make a trip to KCIR.

I know Bob, I'm dreaming..
pdq67

Hey Bill I’m running close to the combo your looking for, It’s a 489, with Iron Eagle 308 heads and a solid flat tappet (used Rotella T for break in) 10:1 compression. Runs awesome on 92 octane. Here is a link to the dyno sheet if interested…
http://www.mnrollingthunder.com/489dynosheet.html

thanks for the info Brent. What was your experience in running the Iron Eagles? Any road bumps? I'm mostly talking about special intakes or header issues. Looks like you are running a rec port victor Jr? Lastly, about what is your cam duration?

Thanks,
Bill

Bill,

Ya gotta watch those Cessna wings, there's only two bolts holding them to the fuselage and one bolt to the brace!

Always wear a parachute!

Bill,

Ya gotta watch those Cessna wings, there's only two bolts holding them to the fuselage and one bolt to the brace!

Always wear a parachute!


:D

I know Bob, I'm dreaming..
pdq67

I'm serious Paul, if you ever head to KCIR next year, let me know. I'd like to check out your ride and meet you. I was hoping to do KCIR this fall with Garret til I found I had problems. Garret likes the track and I want to check it out. I wanted another top 10 in points,and got that this year, I might opt out of points this coming year just so I can visit more tracks and not have to rush around to get back so I can run for points. Sometimes it gets hectic, and its hard to keep it all in one piece and ready to go when you run for points. All the running around I did last year, my car only missed one points race, entered the truck and still made it to the finals!!! Didnt mean to steal your thread:(

I've NEVER had a flat tappet cam failure using Rotella/Delo in the crankcase, priming the motor throughly just before firing, AND adding EOS while breaking in the motor. :cool:

Exactly what I did. I primed the crap out of it, put an extra can of oil for the extra splash, used the EDM hole lifters. I still use the Rotella oil for extra insurance.

thanks for the info Brent. What was your experience in running the Iron Eagles? Any road bumps? I'm mostly talking about special intakes or header issues. Looks like you are running a rec port victor Jr? Lastly, about what is your cam duration?

Thanks,
Bill

Hey Bill
The Iron eagles work great as far as headers, Intake and the accessories bolting up, no issues at all:thumbsup:. Yes its a rec port Jr, I only had an 850 Holley at the time of dyno:(, probably should have had an 950 or so but it still pulled well up to 6500rpm. I cant remember the exact specs on the cam but it was real close to this... 256@50 intake/262@50 exhaust, Lift is 608in/612ex (I thought the lift was kinda low).