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camshaft upgrade - recommendations?

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 17 12:52 pm
by rossk
Hi all

Removing the engine soon and was considering changing the camshaft to something a bit more hi-performance while its out?

Any suggestions/ideas/recommendations welcome?

318 V8 1972 Dart, already have a Weiand stealth Intake and Holley Street Avenger Carb if that helps with choice of setup?

thanks

Ross

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 17 1:00 pm
by Blue
Not personally used one but the Hughes whiplash is designed for low compression engines and stock convertors, that's what I would try.

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 17 1:30 pm
by rossk
Thanks Blue

Just had a look on the website, reasonably priced as well.

I particularly like the idle description:

Idle: Like it wants to bite your head off! Very aggressive

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 17 5:36 pm
by ScottyDave
rossk wrote:
Idle: Like it wants to bite your head off! Very aggressive


Like the sound of that myself :lol:

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 17 8:58 pm
by Pete
I had a lot of challenges lately breaking in cams - do not under-estimate the issues nowadays; hydraulic and Flat tappet cams.

Some suppliers will insist on you buying their break in oil or they will not warranty the cam or lifters.

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 17 9:16 pm
by rossk
Thanks Pete good to know

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 17 9:22 pm
by Pete
rossk wrote:Thanks Pete good to know
Yes, it is known as "Pucker Time".....

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 17 11:45 pm
by mopar_mark
Pete wrote:I had a lot of challenges lately breaking in cams - do not under-estimate the issues nowadays; hydraulic and Flat tappet cams.

Some suppliers will insist on you buying their break in oil or they will not warranty the cam or lifters.
Is a hydraulic roller not an option ?

Posted: Fri Apr 07, 17 7:42 am
by Pete
Yes and ££££££££££££££.........

Posted: Fri Apr 07, 17 8:34 am
by rossk
I quite like the simplicity of the current set up Mark, I don't know a great deal about a hydraulic set-up, what are the advantages over the stock option I currently have?

Posted: Fri Apr 07, 17 9:22 am
by Pete
You already have a hydraulic set up if it is standard...no valve adjustment.

Posted: Fri Apr 07, 17 11:00 am
by rossk
oh ok, then yes I do know about the hydraulic set up then!!

what's the roller then, or am I just confusing myself?

Posted: Fri Apr 07, 17 11:39 am
by Pete
Roller cams require Roller lifters to function, and usually adjustable valve gear (Rockers) and probably replacement Pushrods.

Posted: Fri Apr 07, 17 11:57 am
by Blue
Yes it's just muddying the waters, you need a regular hydraulic cam nothing fancy. But since you asked and it's a slow day at work... instead of the normal flat bottom you have on a solid or hydraulic lifter, you have a rolling wheel. The advantages of this are, less friction, the ability to use a much more aggressive cam lobe and the fact that you can swap them around between cams. They also require no break in period like regular cams do, and that break in period can and often is disasterous if things go wrong. Modern V8 engines usually have hydraulic roller cams, serious race cars use solid roller cams. The downside is cost (double if not triple the price),more moving parts to fail and to service, Machining often needed to fit one.

Here endeth the lesson, move along please nothing to see here...

Posted: Fri Apr 07, 17 12:05 pm
by rossk
thanks for the lesson :)