are there any benfits to running a solid cam in a motor (SB 400) that will never see over 6k? or would hydro be my best bet?
is the only adv of a solid cam that they get more RPM's?
thanks BC

From my vast and impressive carrer in motorsports, since the early 1860's to today... http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif

I can say this, a solid system dosne't use the fluid filled lifters so they rev up a heck of a lot faster. The Hyd. lifters are there tyo soak up the shocks of rapidly changing RPM's, allowing for a smoother ride all around. At least this is how the dude at comp explained it to me. Hyd are fine enough for a well maintained vehicle with good power that won't see crazy RPM's. With a hyd, the crazy RPM's cause the fluid and spring inside to float just like your valves... not good, but not necessarily bad if you never push it that far.

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A solid cam can have higher ramp rates than a hydraulic. Basically, they can lift the valves off their seats quicker. More area under the curve. They obviously have higher RPM potential than hydraulics, but they (can) make slightly more power from idle to redline.



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Ditto above comments. OPne thing you must be careful of is that most solid grinds are big, so cehck out the smallest Crane and the Comp270S. They might be too big for you. But if they;re not, you'll maske more power and rev to 6 much quicker. And dont sweat the lash adjustment, its not a big deal and will not have to be done all the time.

In fact....I adjusted mine ONCE this year......thats a little too infrequent for the kind of beating that I give it.

Solid cams also sound cool

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This article I scanned awhile back provided some good reading on cams. Although the article is centered around a big-block, I'm sure you would notice similar results with a small-block.

http://www.72chevelle.com/lashword.htm

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JeffK ACES #01510
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In response to the adjustment of a solid....a tight lash cam will need to be adjusted more frequently but make alitle more power than ones with a lash of .03 or so. Just something to consider if you go solid. Have you considered hdy or solid rollers? You need figure out what you want it to do to figure out what kind of lifter. I told the cam guys I want to be able to give myself wiplash and I didnt care about cost and how often I had to mess with it so they sent me a solid roller. The lash thing is just another question to ask em cuz sometimes they forget to explain everything. They never told me I just looked at the cam card noticed it had a lash of .016 and said thats why he told me to check it so much......another point to ponder...

[This message has been edited by ratlover (edited 12-04-2000).]

Well the smallest Crane solid goes 238/248 @0.050 which would give you too much cam in a 6000 rpm 400 ( same specs are good for 6500-6800 in my 427 depending on where I set lash). Comp cams 270S-10 has more like 225 duration an almost .500 lift. It would be the preferred choice.

Although I dont like hyd rollers, in your case sicne you have a 6000 limit, they would provide a slightly more aggressive ramp profile than a solid and most likey a few more ponies BUT with an additional $500 price tag.

Take a look at the Comp 270S-10 and see what you think. I think its the only solid grind from the majors I would consider here.

www.compcams.com (http://www.compcams.com)

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Gene Chaas
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thanks for all the replys.....
I plan on calling comp and crane and talking to the tech people.....
I would not mind adj the Mech cam but I think for my 400 with stock bottom end (feel safe Under 6,000 rpm's) I would like to stick with the hydro for now.....
Thanks again.....BC

You also may be able to get a custom grind. I would first decide on the duration you need, then call around and find out if Comp or someone can make it for you. I would think you want something close to the 270S-10 if you plan on going up to 6,000. I have in my 388 a Comp Cams 224/230 @ .05 hyd roller, which everyone says will pull up to around 5,500, but I've found it pulls up to and beyond 6,000. Personally if I was looking for a budget cam with your needs, I'd go for a solid for a couple reasons. More lift for a given duration is a very good thing, that is the whole theory/advantage to rollers. Also, with stock valve springs, I think the lighter lifters will allow you to rev a little more before worrying about floating the valves.

Aren't you supposed to buy a slightly larger solid than a comparable hydraulic because the valve lash eats up some of the duration or something? If that is the case, that 225 duration sounds good, but with stock heads you'd probably want a larger duration on the exhaust.

Rob

Another option is a hybrid set up from Comp Cams. They have a set of Hydraulic lifter that you set at .002-.004 clearance . They have a special retainer that will not pop out. They do not recomend them for a daily driver but for a street strip car they work well. I run a set on a comp cams XE 284 in a 427 and love them. It will rev forever and gives you a bigger selection of cams.

They go by the name " magnum lifter"