This cam isnt too mild is it? I know a couple of you guys run it. I may have to put on a set of new springs for this cam, but if I go with new springs anyways, maybe I can get a larger cam?

Stock gears and converter though... Basically whats the toughest idle cam I can and should run without gears, lowend-mid power. I will gear it but probably not for a longtime... so for right now. Ok, maybe this is easier...

454 .030 over
90 dome speed pro pistons
1407 750cfm Edelbrock
Dynomax ceramic headers
air gap manifold
stock type fuel pump and oil pump
Mallory HEI or MSD Pro Billet
Alot of stock parts...
Stock gears & converter
Closed chamber oval port heads
Compression I think will be around 10:1

dont think you would want to go any larger....unless you want to live with a sloppy bottom end til you get a convertor. even with the 280 cam they would like to see an aftermarket convertor....2500 stall would work well with that cam in a 454.

without a stall you will be kinda watching the tach climb til it gets to its power band.....before the rpms really start moving........if you go any bigger it will just be worse.......with stock convertor and some kinda gear around the 3.08 mark the 272 crane cams work well......even a 278 crane cam would be the upper limits of stock gears and convertor.....anything above this really needs a convertor.......

i have used the 272, 278 and 284 cams in bbc engines before and the 284 cam needs at least a 2500 convertor but even then it would have been better with a 2800 to 3000 stall.....

i will say if you decide to go bigger then what you have now just dont expect anything special in the low end department til you get a convertor to match it........along with some gears....

Agree with Dennis. And I think you got the "toughest idle" deal nailed. Smidge smaller might be better but ( unless its 10.1+), run it!

Thanks guys, it's a done deal.
smile.gif

my buddy has one in his 396 and it he is running a stock converter with 3.08 gears in a 66 chevelle and it runs pretty good. doesn`t seem to be to lazy down low. it`s basicaly a 325hp 396 with the comp 280 magnum. another friend of mine ran on in a 427 but it was a 4spd car and it was very powerfull. again it was a basic 10 to 1 stock closed chamber head motor and he was running a tunnel ram with 2 600 dp`s. it was in a pro street 55 chevy p/u with 4.11 gears. fastest truck I`ve ever been in. a comp 280 is a great cam, you`ll be happy.

I ran one in my 9-1 454 with 3" exhaust and 3 chamber flowmasters....sounded amazing.

I also ran 12.75 with this combo with a M20 and action plus intake / holley 750 DP.

Buddy of mine had the 280H in a 427 with stock closed chamber ovals with the 2.06/1.72 valves, Vic JR, TH400, 3500Stall and went 12.30's!

A great street cam INHO.

Have fun.

I just built one exactly like that but it's still on the stand. Let us know how it runs. I think you'll have enough torque to come out of the hole street wise fine even without torque multiplication and a high rear end. You'd have to have it geared correctly to race it but I doubt you're building it for that.

pnutkemist,

If you want a "knarly" sounding cam instead of one that runs good in a stock configurationed car, then consider a 270 to 274 cam ground on 106 centers!!

It will cackle quite well and still run good due to being that duration!! As always, jmho..

pdq67

I guess I don't understand the desire to have a "bad" sounding cam unless you want the car to run as good as it sounds????
The 280H will have a decent crisp sound. Not bad ass, but decent.
And in the 454, with the correct setup, it will run hard.
I can repeat my setup from about 10 years ago in a 70 Chevelle SS.

461 CID
105 CC heads, I can't remember the casting #. They were the stock 402 heads, and also were the same for the LS5 454, in 1970. Maybe someone here knows the #'s. I just can't find the info sheet I made up.
I pocket ported them myself, and had the machine shop do the guides and valve job. I used the stock 2.06 and 1.72 valves.
I bought the 425 horse 427 springs. GM used them in the LS6 as well.
The short block used TRW CAST flat top pistons. I bought one of the Summit rebuild kits. I also bought truck rods. The crank was forged (I got lucky) and it was a 2 bolt block. (I still have the block....it's now .070 over and has been converted to 4 bolt mains.) I did not have this setup balanced......
For the intake I used a Performer RPM with a 750 3310 Holley.
Distributor was a curved HEI.
Headers were 2" Hooker comps into 3.5" head pipes that transitioned to 3" using Flowbastard reducers. Muffs were at first Flowbastards that rotted out and later the big Dynomax turbos. 3" Torque Tech tailpipes.
This engine BTW was 8.75:1 CR.
For a trans I had a TH400 with a 10" B&M Holeshot. They were called Super holeshots at that time.
Rear gears were 3.55's. I used a set of the Lakewood Slapper type bars....a little strange for the Chevelle 4 link, but they worked damn well. I ran M/T 10.5 x 28 slicks on 8" ralleys....of course! 60ft right at 1.70
This car always threatened the 11.99 zone, so I ran with the aircleaner on. With it off, and on decent air days, the car ran low 11.9's @ 111-112. No roll bar, and they just didn't like that.

These cars are more than just the cam....they are a system. Get it all decent and dialed in, and 454's run damn hard.

BTW....stock torque converters suck, and you ought to spend $200 more and get one that will let the car perform.

Thank you very much,

Ron

Those '70 heads were the 290 castings.

I have the Comp 280H in my 489. When it was a 454 I had the XE274 in it. I think the XE was a little snappier than my 280. It does pull pretty hard to 6000 and lots of torque. I have a 2500 stall and would agree you should step up your convertor and add a shift kit like a Trans Go. My rear gears are 3.55. I have not been to the track yet because I have a stock 10 bolt posi. It sounds a little lopey but I also went with the fast bleed lifters and have a vacuum canister for brakes. Not sure I really need it though.

Comp reccomended the cam and so far its OK. I will go roller some day.