My 406 budget got a boost this christmas and can afford a roller cam setup. With all the posts about wiped cams, I have become paranoid and understand rollers don't have that problem. Question is; is it really worth it - piece of mind and any more performance? Right now, I have a comp XE284 setup that I have pieced together.

64 chevelle
4.10 rear but have a 3.08 from parts car,
700r4 automatic overdrive

Current engine specs are:

400 sbc bored out to 406 , zero decked.
Static compression is around 10.6:1 with Flattop pistons with 4 valve reliefs -6cc volume (H616P) and Pro lightning Iron Heads (200cc runners, 72cc chambers, straight plugs). .039" head gasket.

Eagle crank and 5.7 rods - rotating assembly balanced.

Comp magnum roller rockers, Victor Jr. intake. Carb - right now I have a 625 Edelbrock from my 327 but will go larger.

Headers TBD, leaning towards 1 5/8 dynomax ceramics.

This will be in a more daily driver but still would like to get on it from time to time.

I was looking at the Comp Magnum 280HR kit. It fits comfortably within level of rpm, peaking around 5500. So what are your opinions? Thanks – John

I have a 280HR in my 406 and it is an awesome cam. Excellent low end but still runs 6100 in the lights. I have 4.10 gears and a 700R4 and the car goes 11.70's @ 117.

10.6:1 compression may be a problem with a 224° cam, though.

Onovakind67,

Yes, it's borderline.

I will need to adjust the cam timing by 4 degrees, to bring intake valve closing to 70 degrees. That drops the dcr down to 8.17:1. Below the 8.3 suggested max.

I am also pondering the 286 Magnum Roller, retarding the cam 4 degrees to bring the dcr to 7.95:1.

Of course, alot depends on the chamber size. 72cc is the stated minimum size. Most likely will be more but you never know until you measure them. Each cc difference from 72 adjusts the compress by .1

What compression are you running?

- John

The ONLY decission for installing a roller, is, does it fit into your budget.

The compression is about 10.2:1

For what its worth, I have always ran SBC's and cam failure was never a worry. Unlike a BBC, SBC's have good cam lifter geometry, so as long as the spring pressure is correct, the cam is set in the block correctly and the engine is prelubed well, you should not have a problem with virtually any flat tappet cam. If cost is no object, go with the Roller. The power figures will improve somewhat overall both in torque and HP. My current 408BBC was all ready to go, but last minute I decided to go Hyd Roller. [Not to be offensive, but in my case money was really never the obstacle, it was just committing to tearing the motor back down]. I have ran the numbers through DD2000 many times for my current engine combo. The power gains are realistic. The question you will have to address is do you want to convert to a roller with the same advertised duration as your current cam { this will have a milder smoother idle but overall produce more power} or do you want to match your current cam's .050 duration numbers {definitely overall a much bigger cam}. For comparison, I have settled on a Hyd. roller from Reed Cams for my 408BBC. [ I.228@.050 .578lift / E.238@ .050 .578 on 112 LSA.] Total overlap at .050 will be 9* so idle quality will be manageable. I will be running this with 3.73's and 3000 stall. Also, plan on running factory A/C.
On a small block based 406BBC I would keep the .050 intake duration for a hyd roller to the same 228 @ .050 or less. Something in a 220* @.050 should be fairly smooth. You could even go down to 210 - 215 @ .050 and still make huge power over a broad RPM range, ideal for a daily driver. Interesting, when you talk to the techs at the cam companies, they always steer us to the smaller profiles in the rollers for true street cars. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the input.

As my luck would have it, the clock is against me. I found a good deal on cam kits but I could not get one here soon enough before the club build project coming up (building my engine up for the demonstration). Unless someone else from Northstar Chevelle wants to have there engine built up by Gary. Pipe up, now's your chance.

So I will go with the XE284 flat tappet setup. It does produce pretty good power.

- John