I'm rebuilding a '66 Plymouth 273 V8 for my 1950 Dodge Coronet. I got the motor torn down today and I noticed that the cam is showing some wear. What kind of cam would you suggest for a stock 2bl 273 V8? Should I just go with a stock replacement,or can I get away with something a little more? Thanks a lot for your help. Vince.
There's a shop here in Modesto, Ca that has been around since I think the mid 50's, or earlier. They specialize in the mopar engines (but they do all other engines too). They rebuilt the semi hemi (4 humps on valve covers & heads) that was in the '55 Dodge truck that I had. There info is: 2612 Woodland Ave. Modesto, Ca 95355 (209)-529-8016 I'm in no way affilliated(sp) with these guys in any way. David
Drop in a 340 Magnum repro camshaft. Very nice camshaft and inexpensive. The factory camshaft is a solid, so you will need new pushrods also, but can keep the factory adjustable rockers. I would replace the jamnuts on the rockers also since they wear into the push rods. Its very hard to get a mild solid camshaft these days to replace the stock one. So either get a 273HP solid replacement, or change over to a maintainace free hydralic.
Summit sells a cam and lifter kit for a very resonable price. It's Hydraulic Flat Tappet, Advertised Duration 262/272, Lift .420/.442. Is this too much for my 273V8 2bbl? Or can i get away with it?
Thats fine. I would look up sealed power and melling and see if you can find a stock replacement 340 magnum camshaft. You can get them for about $50 sometimes.
i'll second the 340 cam .......i snagged one out of a little red express 360 .....which i think is a 340 grind.....really made the motor come to life.....throw on a 500 edelbrock or a 600 holley and a decent dual plane aluminum intake and your there....switch to the hyd ....you'll like the bolt on aspect.......brandon
See if Mopar still offers the small block "purple shaft" cam. It's widely regarded as the best street performance cam ever made for the A motor. Stock valvetrain should be fine as long as the rockers and shafts aren't excessively worn. Definetly put on whatever valve springs are recommended for the cam you buy.
I put a purple cam in My 3/4 ton pickup 40,000 miles ago. I have a 318 with 360 heads and a 3' single exhaust. The truck runs GREAT. It ran 15.70 at the drags plus tow My racecar, Im extremly happy with it. I run a 550 Holley avenger and it gets 14 MPG. You also will be pulling some weight so with only 273 cu in You could over cam it and have no bottom end at all. Heres the part # for the cam I used. P4452757 HYD 410/425 LIFT 110 C/L INSTALLED 108 248-256 DUR. If i was to buid another smallblock I would use it again. I baught it through Summit. FEDER
Stock rocker arms - yes. Stock pushrods, no. You need some pushrods for Hydralic cam to adjustable rockers or to change to standard hydralic rockers and pushrods. I have a complete set in good shape I would trade you for, but if I were you I would keep the factory adjustable rockers and just get a new set of pushrods. Pushrods are cheap.
okay. so i went and ordered that cam and lifter package from summit. it's pretty close in specs to the 340 cam.. and for $89, just what my wallet can handle. i want to get this right, though... I can use this cam and lifters.. but not with my stock pushrods? will my stock valve springs be okay? thanks a lot everyone for your input and advice... ps. is anyone else on here running a 273?
What is the lift of that cam? Stock 2brl springs are only good to around .430 lift. 4brl hipo springs are better and will be happy with a little over .500 lift
.420 lift on the intake. .442 lift on the exaust. My 273 has adjustable solid rocker arms. How do i adjust them with Hydraulic lifters?
With the lifter on the cams base circle, spin the pushrod with your fingers while tightening the adjuster on the rocker arm. Stop when you feel it getting harder to spin. Then another half turn. 1 turn = 0.042", so one half turn will preload the lifter about 0.021" which is what you want.
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