Ok guys quick question here. I'm putting a new cam in my 377. I'm hearing about these gusy running over .600 lift on a smallblock. Well i was thinking about going as big as i could. But in order to have a cam that big, u have to have high compression right?!?! Well i have 12.5 or 14.5 and i can ony get a .560 lift or something before i get contact. So how can guys run soo much cam??? Dont they have clearence issues?
Thanks
Ed

The pistons we use are cut for a high lift long duration cam.

yea...custom pistons is the way to go. Off the shelf pistons are limited to realitivly mild lifts

It's the lift right around TDC(+/- 10°-12°) that counts in checking clearence. If your cam is .560" at max lift, the piston is over 1.75" down the hole at that point.
To know what cam will fit in an engine, remove an outer spring on intake and exhaust, turn to TDC with no rocker arms on, and measure how far the intake and exhaust valves go from their valve seats to where they hit the piston. This is the room you have to work with. Any competitent cam company can take those measurements and tell you what cam will fit it.
As an example, I have 2 cams, one 314 at .020, 283 at .050, and .640 valve lift; the other 326 at .020, 288 at .050, and .715 valve lift. The have the same lift at TDC, and the same clearance. Another example is my 288/296F solid lifter cam and my 288/296R roller lifter cam. They have the same .020 and .050 durations, the solid has .540/.556 valve lift, the roller has .626/.626 valve lift. The roller actually has .005" MORE clearance at TDC than the solid does!
Just some thoughts.....

UDHarold

wow thanks guys, Harold....I think i already talked to you about a cam for this destroked monster. But i think at the time i was running different heads. I dont remember when me and you talked about it sorry. But, i guess when i take my motor to the machine shop for him to go ever everything...i'lll talk to him about what i can get in there. Then talk to you about a cam. The last solid that was in there was like 545 lift with 1.5 and 300 duration on intake, and 554 with 1.5 and 312duration on exhaust. I dont have the numbers on me...but i want a big lump...i dont drive it much to care about gas mileage. Duration is where the lump comes from right? or is that a centerline thing. I really dont know cams that much...i just know a little.

Oh and also...how does this sound? Hes putting new rings in the block, new bearings...and a new cam for under 500 bucks. He wants to look it over and said since hes in there hes gonna do that. Sounds decent to me, what about you guys?
Thanks guys!!!
Ed