OK... I've found that all too often, the old phrase, "You get what you pay for" is very much true. What about Crane Energizer series cams? Jegs and Summit sells these awfully cheap. IS that because they are crap, or am I being paranoid?

I would think that you can trust the Crane name, but ya never know. Price seems too good to be true for a quality cam/lifter set.

Im getting around 400 hp out of my 402 with an energizer cam. No complaints here.

Steve

Good older style less aggressive grinds. They are all single pattern I believe, same lift and duration on intake and exhaust. If your heads flow good on the exhaust it'll work just fine. The dual pattern cams will help help with a less efficient exhaust. If I'm wrong, someone correct me. The powermax cams use the same lobe designs with a dual pattern.

Then why so cheap? It still takes "x" hours of labor and machining to grind a cam, and the cores all cost the same (I assume everyone buys from the same places). I would think they could easily price them in line with the Comp HE / Magnum cam & lifter sets, instead of being $60-70 lower in cost (based on Summit pricing).

Then why so cheap? They aren't selling very well I guess?

Don't know why they're cheap, but I've used several with no problems. I think they're old Cam Dynamics parts which Crane got with their purchase of Cam Dynamics.

I've run several Crane cams over the years, and only had a problem with one of 'em.

Ran nothing but Energizer cams in the Camino until I went to a Crane Powermax Solid grind. Still very happy with it.

The reason they're not very expensive is that they're mass produced, the R&D was paid for years ago, and they're not in line with the latest and greatest cam technology. They're mainly for mild street engines, not modern race engines.

Yes, you do "get what you pay for", but that doesn't mean that the $100 Energizer is a bad product. Just don't expect to win "The Nationals" with one in your driver. ;)

I've used atleast 6 of these in various engines .. One did go flat quite quickly, but that engine sat for over a year after it was assembled .. and then installed and I wasnt there for the break in ..so I have no idea if it was done properly .. all the others are still running fine.

The reason they're not very expensive is that they're mass produced, the R&D was paid for years ago, and they're not in line with the latest and greatest cam technology. That's what I was hoping to hear, and it makes sense to me. Hopefully "mass production" does not sacrifice accuracy and quality.

We put a 272 Energizer cam in a 3700 pound, 8.2-1 454 Chevelle and went 13.6s at 102.4 mph. That with 2.2-2.4 60 foot times. With slicks it would probably run 13.3s. The cam ran for 5 years with no problems.

CC is probably high-priced b/c of all the advertising they do, imho...

pdq67

I think that the Summit cams are great. I have had no problems with them over the years. I have asked Summit about them and they have said they are the same cam as the Crane Energizer without the price. You pay for the advertising.

You gotta love the 272 H10 for stump pulling torque. It might run out of steam around 5500 but that is all I will need with the 3.36 gears.
I can't wait to ditch my XE284 Flat hydraulic for the 272 Crane. Might lose 15-20 hp but it will be a lot more streetable.

I'm running a Crane Energizer. I've had zero problems with it.

It might not be on the cutting edge of cam technology, but it's still a heck of a nice camshaft.

Mike

Unclepennybags... my application is virtually identical to yours, except I will be using GM iron 64cc heads. How's power in the 3000-5000 range with that cam? I am running a 'glide, so midrange is very important to me.

I ran a 284 energizer cam i liked it alot. I think the cam and lifters were $89 thats been a few years back. My 355 ran 13.0`s with a mild setup.

IMHO, the old Crane/Cam Dynamics 272 Energizer is just about the best cam you can install in a mild 10 to 1 CR, 327 motor!!!

In fact, I am of the opinion that any of the older cams in this range such as the 268HE to 274H06 advertised duration cams are great in the little motor...

pdq67

PS.
Crane 266/210 Energizer, is slightly small but great lowend.
CC 268HE and 270 Magnum.
Isky 270 Mega.
Crane 272 Energizer and finally the 274H06....

ALL great old style cams in the little motor..........

So the Summit cams are pretty good eh?

Originally posted by novadude:
Unclepennybags... my application is virtually identical to yours, except I will be using GM iron 64cc heads. How's power in the 3000-5000 range with that cam? I am running a 'glide, so midrange is very important to me. Power is very good in that range. Get a 2400-2600 rpm stall converter and you will be all set.

I ran a 274H Energizer cam. Not bad at all. When I took it out I saved it so I could use it in something else it looked so good. They are cheap because as mentioned before they aren't the latest greatest cams, gentle ramps, relatively moderate lift, but not of low quality construction. On the plus side, they can last for a very long time as well as not beat up related valvetrain parts. For a driver engine I feel they are a really good way to go, cheap and last a long time but still provide reasonable performance. How can you go wrong?

I run an energizer 284 h12 in my 406, 10.5:1 compression, afr 195 heads, rpm air gap intake and 750 vac sec holley with proform main body
In my 68 chevelle with 3.36 gears and street tires(bfg t/a radials) It just went 12.80 @109mph on sat. with terrible 60 ft times.
http://www.cranecams.com/?show=browseParts&lvl=2&prt=5&Vehicle_Type=Auto&Cylinders=8&Engine_Make=CHEVROLET&Year=1972&Engine_Size=262-400%20C.I.&partNumber=100072&partType=camshaft

i know this thread is old, but i think its worth keeping it going.

i am using the 284 in my 400 with afr's new 195 eliminator head. i just got it fired a coupled weeks ago for the first time. it has the slightest of lope to it, but makes fantastic low end torque in my 75 nova. i cant comment on how long it has/will last, but if anything goes bad i'll be sure to let everyone know.
just for anyone who might ask for the rest of the combo: 9.5 comp, 2.5"exhaust, th-350 with 2000 stall, and 4.10 gears. so its extremely streetable and an absolute blast to drive.

so far, im alot happier with the crane that i was with the prior cc xe 284. but then again, i liked the summit 224/224 better than that comp cam.

I've said this alot and probably to the point of getting some upset with me!!

But just b/c a cam is an older, milder grind, doesn't mean it isn't still a dandy when used in the application that it was designed for!

A good old crane/Cam Dynamics 272/272 Energizer in a 283 and it is almost radical!

And it will flat turn a mildly built 300hp/327 motor RIGHT-ON!!

And in a 350 or a 383, it turn's into a real stump puller!

You generally just have to match the CR. with them a little closer than the newer, more aggressive cams is all!!!

AND to me, the price is generally very good to boot!!

pdq67