[69 Malibu]

After flattening another cam due to my own ignorance of running the proper oil, I'm rebuilding.
The cam failure took out the rods and mains but the crank is grindable. While I'm in there the flat tops are coming as well. Like everyone else, I'm on a budget. Here is the combo

Mark IV 454 '73 block, 2 bolt main, currently at the machine shop getting lifter bores honed, possibly bored. It's already .030.

'73 781's getting 2.19's and 1.88's put in as we speak. Comp roller tip rockers. They were milled .030 to try and get the compression up, years ago.

Pistons will probably have to be hypers, somewhere in the 10.5 to 11.1 range.

Temporarily going to be running a Performer and a 750 eddy until they go on ebay. Then it will be an RPM and a Holley based carb.

Hedman 1 3/4 long tube headers, 3 inch dumped at rear axle.

TH400, manual valve body, 3000 stall, 4.10 gears in a 10 bolt with a spool. 10 bolt stays until it blows.

This will be no daily driver, just want an evil street machine that may see the track a couple times a year

With $$ being tight, the Comp kits with the entire valvetrain are appealing. I need it all anyway and these seem to be the least expensive way to go.

No money for a roller! This has to be a solid flat tappet.

The 282s sounds decent but I'm worried about it being too mild with 236 at .050 and 561 lift.
The 294s sounds like it my be a little too much. Anyone run this cam?

The voodoo/extreme cams with their aggressive lobes scare me, I can't afford to eat another cam

Sorry for the long post. Any advice is welcome. Thanks.

[bb433chevy]

in the past i use the comp cams 294S in a 427 with about 11.5 comp
that s a good street strip cams i have power brake
i try other cams with 255 and more duration , i buy a used roller cams
i use it about 1000 miles before problem with the NEW lifter.
nowi use a this comps cams 11-551-5 i you prefer a between cams.
this cam are not very agressive i fact the gross duration are rated at 0.020 and the magnum S294 are rated at 0.015 .
http://performanceparts.com/part.php?partID=247100

the cam are ground with 110 sep and the intake center line are 110 degre
so i install it 4 degre advance

you are able to use the 294S with you setup in a 460 cid.

[wildman926]

Originally Posted by 69 Malibu

The voodoo/extreme cams with their aggressive lobes scare me, I can't afford to eat another cam

Those grinds that you are leary of do have the aggressive lobes, but there are many success stories that we do not hear of, only the failures. If they were that aggressive to produce nothing but failures, then they would not be offered.

Anyways, look at Harold's older tried and true designs. With 10.5-11-1 compression, you can run a really nice cam - 402A7
Solid, rough idle. Good cam for bracket racing in 396-454 cubic inch motors. Needs 3500 RPM stall converter, headers, 10.5:1 compression ratio and 4.10 gearing.

Advertised Duration (Int/Exh): 288/296
Duration @ .050 (Int/Exh): 255/263
Gross Valve Lift (Int/Exh): .612/.630
LSA/ICL: 110/104
Valve Lash (Int/Exh): .024/.026
RPM Range: 3000-7000

Whatever you do, buy QUALITY (means no cheapo, may cost $150-$200) edm holed solid lifters. Break in with outer springs only, and use Chevron Delo 400, with a tad bit of STP oil treatment (has zinc and phosphorus). I ran outer springs only for first 20 miles to ensure proper breakin, just kept rpms down.

HERE is a video of what that cam sounds like. You will like it.

I wish I could run it myself in my next bbc, but I don't have the compression, and the truck that it would go in needs to be a little more tame, so I am going with a 402A3.

[69 Malibu]

That cam sounds amazing! What springs are you running with it?

[wildman926]

Originally Posted by 69 Malibu

That cam sounds amazing! What springs are you running with it?

Originally Posted by 69-CHVL

Damn Walt that sounds awesome. What is the combo, and idle rpms/vacuum?

That is not my car, but just an example of one with it. It is one of THE cams that made Harold famous.

Lunati recommends the 73121 spring.

Do a search on this cam.

My little SBC with the 402A4 sounded just like it. My 60234 solid roller of Harolds, sounds like it. Harold's cams have that cackle due to the valve opening rapidly, filling the cylinder rapidly, but gently closing it = LOTS OF POWER...

[69-CHVL]

Originally Posted by wildman926

Those grinds that you are leary of do have the aggressive lobes, but there are many success stories that we do not hear of, only the failures. If they were that aggressive to produce nothing but failures, then they would not be offered.

Anyways, look at Harold's older tried and true designs. With 10.5-11-1 compression, you can run a really nice cam - 402A7
Solid, rough idle. Good cam for bracket racing in 396-454 cubic inch motors. Needs 3500 RPM stall converter, headers, 10.5:1 compression ratio and 4.10 gearing.

Advertised Duration (Int/Exh): 288/296
Duration @ .050 (Int/Exh): 255/263
Gross Valve Lift (Int/Exh): .612/.630
LSA/ICL: 110/104
Valve Lash (Int/Exh): .024/.026
RPM Range: 3000-7000

Whatever you do, buy QUALITY (means no cheapo, may cost $150-$200) edm holed solid lifters. Break in with outer springs only, and use Chevron Delo 400, with a tad bit of STP oil treatment (has zinc and phosphorus). I ran outer springs only for first 20 miles to ensure proper breakin, just kept rpms down.

HERE is a video of what that cam sounds like. You will like it.

I wish I could run it myself in my next bbc, but I don't have the compression, and the truck that it would go in needs to be a little more tame, so I am going with a 402A3.

Damn Walt that sounds awesome. What is the combo, and idle rpms/vacuum?

[69-CHVL]

Todd, being that you ate 2 cams, I'm a little worried that it may happen again. Possibility that the lifter bores arent straight. You can get a sweet HR used for around ~100.00. Lifters are a bit pricey, but if you figure the cost for the lifters that Walt mentioned plus the cost of a new flat tappet cam, we're not too far off from going to a roller. I think that Morel or somebody has a "budget" lifter in the 350.00 range. Chris Straub would know. Of course, you will need different pushrods and springs, but nothing exoctic. I found like new, or actually new pushrods, for pennied on the dollar.

Just something to consider.

[69 Malibu]

Originally Posted by 69-CHVL

Todd, being that you ate 2 cams, I'm a little worried that it may happen again. Possibility that the lifter bores arent straight. You can get a sweet HR used for around ~100.00. Lifters are a bit pricey, but if you figure the cost for the lifters that Walt mentioned plus the cost of a new flat tappet cam, we're not too far off from going to a roller. I think that Morel or somebody has a "budget" lifter in the 350.00 range. Chris Straub would know. Of course, you will need different pushrods and springs, but nothing exoctic. I found like new, or actually new pushrods, for pennied on the dollar.

Just something to consider.

I'm a bit worried as well....my 268 high energy lasted 15 yrs before I pulled it out. It looked perfect, only when I deciced to go with a 274Xtreme hydraulic did I flatten one. I used crap oil, (my own stupidity) and when I pulled it I had one lifter bore that got messed up when removing. (again, my own stupidity). At that point I just needed to have it running so I flushed out the metal, threw in a summit cam 218/228 at .050, 500 lift and cheap lifters. It wiped the same lobe as the one I messed up before. This time I'm ready to do it right. The machine shop said the lifter bore will hone out fine and he'll hone them all.
I'd LOVE to run a roller but it's all coming down to cost. If I find one for a good price, I'll jump on it.
Thanks for the replies, guys. Keep them coming.

[wildman926]

Chris_69_SS, one of our members here had the same build up, and it made 605 hp. I don't know why he got rid of it, and went to an L34 clone...bless his heart.... I found a posting of his with his old combo -

454 .030 over
10.2 comp.
049s
Vic JR
950 HP (stock jets 78/78) 3.5 PV's front & rear (squirtes don't remember off hand.
UD solid 288/296 110 - .612 /. 620
2" headers
3" exhaust
9" 3500 stall
4.10s
28" Rear tire (BFG radial)

You can read it HERE

[69 Malibu]

Update:

Going to spend the cash now and go to a solid roller. I like the looks of Mark's kit, just want to go with a solid. He's got them, just have to get some specs from him.

I'll definitely listen to any reccomendations, nothing too crazy. I won't be spinning this to the moon, cast crank and 2 bolt mains but I want as much as I can get out of it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=280344386862

[Bob West]

Going to spend the cash now and go to a solid roller.

Wise move

[496malibu]

im running a 256/260 @.50 666/623 lift lunati solid roller. times in sig with a 78 malibu.