Technical How do you decide on an aftermarket cam?

I have looked thru the Isky, Crane and Competition websites and read the descriptions for each cam.. Each manufacturer offers many cams for my engine and theres lots of cam companies. Competition Cams has 8 different cams that sound good, how do you decide which is best?

 

Call the cam manufacturer. Tell the tech how you plan to use the vehicle (be realistic), and what all the specs are.

 

thanks. Lunati wanted me to buy a roller cam. Its just a daily driver, and trailer puller.. I'm not building a fancy race car engine

 

You got to be careful, the manufactures will often want to up sell you, but for the most part, the techs are good if you provide them with accurate information. Post your details up here, some of us may be able to help you.

 

I only run roller cams, unless there are none available. Roller rockers, too. Friction is the enemy.

 

I don't worry about getting the "best" cam...since I don't really know the exact details of how I will use the engine, how the car will be set up when it's all done, etc. I settle for getting close, and usually close is within 95%, so it works fine.

the info you need mostly concerns what the intended RPM range is that you want the engine to work efficiently at. Roller cams can give a broader RPM range, and they are less susceptible to lubrication problems, but they cost more, too, since they require more complicated lifters, and some other different parts.

 

X2 on call the cam companies with your info. Bet you will find a common "range". Make sure the engine is sound. Rollers are often better but they sure cost more. Good luck

 

thanks, Merc.

This 1973-78 460 is in a 1960 F100, 3:10 gear, 30 inch wheels and often pulls heavy loads thru the hills of north Arkansas. That said, 95 percent of miles driven are not pulling a trailer and more pep would be nice. The truck weighs about 3400 pounds. I have a 350 gear but hope the 3:10 may help gas mileage. I also have some DOVE 429 heads that I can use.

I already put in a 69 timing gear and chain. I bought shorty headers for it and these pistons Ford 460 Speed Pro Hypereutectic Coated Skirt Flat Top Pistons Set/8 STD

 

Comp Cams list some that sound good to me. 255DEH, 252H, 4XE262H, 4XHE256H, 4X4256H, XE256H, 34-225-4260H. Any advice?

 

Rollers are the common way to go now because of the lack of zinc content in todays oils, You can by zinc additive to add every oil change but gets to be a pain. Another benny is that one does not have to go thru a mandatory cam break in like a non roller does- its good to go at the start.

 

Ditto to dreracecar
No zinc in oil

 

thanks dreracecar
I always thought rollers were for expensive race engines.This is just a daily driver. You really think I need roller rockers and lifters?

 

High lift, shorter duration will give more low-end torque. Roller will pay off over time.

 

just read all the responses, looks like all you guys like rollers.

 

rollers are the standard for all modern day engines , they are a bit pricey but the cost of the zinc supplement isn't cheap either and the power under the curve of the cam will be better and you will make it up in milage

 

It ain't 1957 anymore.

 

mechanical roller or hydraulic?

 

I always get mine custom ground for my application. For a $50 more you can get a flat tappet ground for your exact use rather than a generic one size fits all deal.

Randy


Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!

 

Hydraulic roller lifters for a mild engine like that. I doubt you'd be able to notice a difference in the performance with the half dozen cams you listed...yeah, it's tough to decide when there are that many choices.

 

Hydraulic roller. Quiet, no adjustments once setup.

 

Hydraulic flat tappet. Quiet, no adjustments once setup.

460 Fords aren't the best with hydraulic rollers due to valve angles, pushrod lengths, rocker arm relationship.....
Stick with a flat tappet cam it's not a SBC.


Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!

 

A properly designed set of roller lifters, on a properly designed roller cam will not have any of these issues.

 

One NEEDS Air to breath, food and drink to starve off hunger, and the love of a good women (notice I said "GOOD")
Nobody "Needs" a roller cam and lifters, but in todays world,a roller set up is not a bad thing to have and they have certainly come down in price over the years

 

Based on the speed pro pistons its a nice driver rebuild. Why spend extra $ on a roller that is not at all needed on a 350-400 hp motor?
The pistons are already going to be to be 50/60 thou in the hole a later 10.32 deck block.


Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!

 

Buy from the company with the best lookin' wimens in their adz!!!!!!!!

 

That there is why I drink Olde Frothenslosh.

 

Rotella alone isn't good enough for regular oil changes with a flat tappet cam? After being properly and successfully broken in, that is. Folks with experience, good and bad, please chime in!

 

The cam is the 'brain' of your engine, and will pretty much dictate how it runs regardless of most other mods you may perform. If you want a civilized daily driver, be conservative. A few general rules to think about....

Duration is what gives a 'performance' idle sound, but the lumpier the idle the poorer the low-end power. With that said, larger engines need larger cams, so a cam with specific lift/duration specs that will be a lumpy high-rpm-only beast in a 302" motor can be fairly docile at 460". Roller cams offer several improvements; not only less friction (which can be worth several percentage points in mileage), but you can run more lift at a given duration spec thus gaining high rpm power without sacrificing low end. As many have said, roller cams are really the best choice these days and are one of the big reasons why the late motors make so much power.

 

I use about 4 oz. of Lucas oil zddp additive with 15-40 rottela in my 460. It has a few thousand miles on it with no issues.
Cam is 219/230 @ .050 .530in .540ex with comp cams 924 valve springs.


Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!

 

The smaller the cam, the more likely you can get away with running a flat tappet (non-roller) lifter without problems. It's another one of those tough decsions, do you want to spend more money and effort to get a little more performance and reliability? or not? we can't decide for you.