A guy I work with is in the process of swapping a bone stock 74 454 into a 79 Camaro. He was wanting to swap in a mild cam while he had the motor out. His plans was to install an aftermarket dual plane intake (maybe a Performer RPM Q-jet??),reuse the q-jet and a set of 1.75 headers and 2.5" dual exhaust (no cats).

As far the drivetrain: stock TH350 and converter, and for now a mid 2-something gear (might be a 2.41). The gear will most likely change in the future (maybe in a couple of years as funds allow). We were thinking maybe a 3.50ish gear.

As far as cams go, I had two in mind and wanted some input to see if they would work ok with the gears he has now and the stock torque converter.

http://www.cranecams.com/?show=browseParts&lvl=2&prt=5&Vehicle_Type=Auto&Cylinders=8&Engine_Make=CHEVROLET&Year=1974&Engine_Size=396-454%20C.I.&partNumber=103052&partType=camshaft


Grind No./Type
· 264-MEGA HYDRAULIC Tremendous torque & good mid-range power. 9-10.5
· 1 compr. good idle stock converter. 3.23-3.70 axle ratio. Up to 625 CFM Carb. RPM-Range
· 2000-5800 Valve Lift - INT
· .525 EXT
· .525 Valve Lash Hot - INT
· .000 EXT
· .000 ADV Duration - INT
· 264° EXT
· 264° .050 Duration - INT
· 214° EXT
· 214° Lobe Center
· 108°

I was leaning toward the Isky for the fact it would build more DCR, but was not sure how the 108 LSA would work with the stock converter.
Thanks in advance. smile.gif

The Isky will come on a schosh earlier and create a higher DCR due to the 264 advertised duration vs the Cranes 272..

(Isky=60 IVCP at (108/108) vs Crane=61 IVCP (110/105)... Not hardly enough difference to even think about????)

And the Isky will talk to him a little more then the Crane b/c of the 108 thing vs 110....

The Crane however will pull a schosh higher again due to it's 272 number vs the Isky's 264...

BUT, imho, both will run great in his application b/c of the highway gears..

Tell him to take his pick...

pdq67

These cams are perhaps just abit closer to each other than they look.Crane rates their hyd cams advertised durations @ .004 and the Isky Mega Cams @ .007.If you actually measured the Crane @.007 it would ofcourse be less and if the Isky was rated @ .004 it would be higher.... It's a coin toss as either cam should work pretty deciently.

You have a typical mid 70's low compression 454..best cam for that motor is a Crane 272H Energizer 216 @ .050 .515 on the intake/exhaust 110 LSA
This cam has worked well for me in a stock 1973 454 and a 1970 402,both 4 speeds with M20's and 3.31's..and I ran it with exhaust manifolds.
Keep in mind your compression is about 8.0 to 1 tops
This cam will work w/stock valve springs too.
A 2500 stall will really help too.

I strongly suggest NOT running stock BB valve springs b/c they are pushing the limit at just .50"!!

My Buddy I got my core motor through found this out the hard way with no more then a CC 280 Magnum cam...

Look at Comptition Products for decent inexpensive springs or buy a Crane kit...

If nothing else GM BB take-out springs from C-P will do nicely...

AND you might want to consider 3/8" hardened pushrods and guides if your motor has 5/16" ones...

pdq67

Originally posted by pdq67:
I strongly suggest NOT running stock BB valve springs b/c they are pushing the limit at just .50"!!
My statement came from my experience,and confirmed with Harold/UD
No more than .515 lift with stockers
I wouldn't set out to use them in a new motor or with head work,but for a running big block,yes.
Especially with a budget build,and again,a good running stocker.

Originally posted by mr 4 speed:
You have a typical mid 70's low compression 454..best cam for that motor is a Crane 272H Energizer 216 @ .050 .515 on the intake/exhaust 110 LSA
This cam has worked well for me in a stock 1973 454 and a 1970 402,both 4 speeds with M20's and 3.31's..and I ran it with exhaust manifolds. Chris,

You stated that you used the Crane and it worked well but you had a stick and 3.31 gears.
Do you think that either of these two cams will work okay with a 2.41 gear? This gear will most likely be temporary, but he will have to get buy with it for a year or two.

Also, I was wondering what the Isky cam would "act" like if it were custom ground on a 106 LSA instead of a 108? I was thinking about advance the cam 3 or 4 degrees when installing.

Would this be too tight of LSA? Would the stock converter still work? I was trying to build as much DCR and low/mid range punch as possible.

Thanks again for all your input. graemlins/thumbsup.gif smile.gif

Darren,2.41's are pretty tall..with a TH350,you overall 1st gear ratio is 6 to 1,where as with an M20/3.31 combo it 8 to 1 so you can't expect miracles ;)
The 272H will be fine with that gear.I would use a mild convertor,and keep the tire diameter short..like 26" or less
A 235/60/15 is perfect.

A tighter lobe center like a 106 will have a higher peak HP. You would actually create too much overlap with a 106. A 110LSA is a good compromise. Personally, I would even consider a 112LSA in your application. I ran a Crane 272 Econopower cam years ago (very similiar to the 272 Powermax). Ran it 4 degrees advanced from the cam manufacturer's ground ICL. Most 112LSA's are ground for 110ICL. I ran mine at about 106ICL. Made all the difference in the world. I would also look at one of the smaller 4x4 truck cams for this setup. If you get a cam that has that lopey high performance sound because of duration and overlap, it will cough, sputter and be plain embarassing with the 2.41 gear. Set that motor up to run like a tow truck motor.

here ya go guys when i first entered into the dark side in the very early 90's i had a 396 bbc built for me (800 bucks) it was a 396 .030 over with cheap stock replacement pstons which gave me 7.7 to 1 compression with a bone stock set of 118cc open chambered heads (2.06/1.72 valves) along with a 272 crane cam with stock valve train the springs werent even replaced. it had the low rise cast iron intake on it with a stock uncurved hei from junk yard. cheapy headers that i gave 20 bucks for.i had an adapter plate on the cast intake with a 600 vs carb from holley and it had 150 psi cranking compression in each hole.....with a stock th350 tranny and convertor with a 2.56 open rear end it ran 14.40's at 99 mph my first pass was in the 14.80 range and i got it worked down because i was learning how to feather it off the line so i wouldnt blow the tire off.....my best 60 ft time was 2.19 and for the most part i was getting 2.20-2.25 depending on how i left......this car was a blast to drive and could lay one black mark for well over a block long..........the track times was with open headers.......and shifting at 5500 rpms.....

i would think a 454 with a 272 cam could do just alittle better then myself.....