I am in the beginning stages of a rebuild and would like advice on cams. This will not be a daily driver and I would like to maximize the mid range hp/tq while keeping a fair idle.
Here's what I have:

396 (L35) +.030
shooting for 10-10.25:1 CR
stock Q-jet
roller hyd lifters
427 forged crank
063 stock heads
067 stock intake
M22
3:31 posi
headers and flowmasters (not yet purchased - no details)

IMHO,I wouldn't spend the money on a roller.If you want to stay flat tappet,the 'ole UD/Lunati 280/288 221/231 @ .050 .525/.550 112 LSA would work best with that compression.

IMHO,I wouldn't spend the money on a roller. I already have the roller lifters - they were given as a gift - I might as well use them!

Neuman,

Very important questions for you? What intake do you intend to use and do you intend to keep the 3.31's?


Next up, are you sure if your compression will be that high? Most of the advertised CR's are actually much lower. So plan on decking the block to near "0" piston / deck and don't sink the valves in the heads. CR drops in a hurry on these motors.

Personally I would shoot for a real 9.7 to 9.8 CR
and go with a cam with about 280- 285 adver. duration on the intake with about 6 - 10 more on the exhaust. Probably don't need lift much beyond .550 - .570, unless you have done a lot of port work. With a 396, M22 @ 3.31's, I would keep the .050 duration at 220 - 224 for a street hyd. roller. That may seem conservative, but you are not getting much from first gear in your setup.

For comparison, I currently have a 408 9.5/1 motor with some decent '290 heads. Crane 286/296 hyd flat tappet, 3000 stall and 3.73's in '69. We picked the parts to build torque and have succeeded - to the point of needing suspension mods and drag radials. If and when I get this sorted out, we will be installing a XR274R solid roller. You could look at the Comp XE rollers, but I don't think they have enough lift for the cost and aggravation, maybe one of the Marine Rollers would be decent for you. Lunati and Crower both have some smaller Hyd rollers that will work well. Be aware, very easy to overcam a 396 motor.

Very important questions for you? What intake do you intend to use and do you intend to keep the 3.31's?

I want to pull as much power out of the stock components as possible so I will be keeping the intake and 3.31's for the time. I have run the numbers on quite a few combinations and am confident I can hit at least 10:1 CR.

I have been leaning towards the Crane HR-276-2S-10 IG which is along the lines of what you are advising, if I read you correctly.

Thanks for your input.

Imho, what's the hy-roller equivalent of the CC XE274??

Their XR276HR which looks about like the Crane except for lower lift and bigger .050" duration numbers..

I donno how much actual diff. there is between the two?? So take your pick..

pdq67