World 540 cam

[Gordz32]

Hey guys, I was just reviewing some of the details on the crate engine we got from merlin last year and I had a question about the cam. Now I'm still new to this stuff but it sounds like the cam in this beast is on the smaller side. I have here on the spec sheet.

Specs installed at 114 intake centerline

Intake Exhaust
Duration @ .050" .236" .246"
Cam Valve lift: .325" .335

Lobe Separation 112

Open @.050" 9 BTDC 62 ABDC
Closed @ 0.50" 47 BBDC 4 ATDC

1.7 ratio rockers

Apperently they use this cam in all of the world class and smaller BBC crate engines.

Is this gonna give me a nice lope?
Does this sound a little on the small side?
If so, What do you recomend thats still streetable?

[Flash68]

I am by no means a cam expert, but the 112 lobe sep seems fairly mild, and those lift numbers must be at .050? Advertised lift should be in the .500 range, if not close to or above .600. What is that 540 rated at? Like 650hp/tq or something like that I think? I remember those being pretty mild crate motors, much milder than say the 540's from Shafiroff when I was looking into those. Maybe find someone with a Shafiroff 540 and see what their cam specs are - most of those are in the 700-750 hp/tq range and still streetable. A giuy on here (69 Red 540 I think?) has one of the all-aluminum 540's from Shafiroff over 700hp.
Regardless, that is a sweet motor you have!

[kmcanally]

Those are lobe lift numbers...multiply them by the rocker ratio to get the valve lift. With the 1.7 rockers this works out to .553/.570.

[Gordz32]

It dyno'ed at 580 hp at 5400RPM, and 595 FTLBS. at 3900rpm

[wendell]

lift @ 0.050?

It's a pretty samll cam but should give you all you need. If you've got a warranty on that motor I certainly wouldn't open it up. Let a sleeping dog lay.

[Flash68]

lift @ 0.050?

LOL! Told you I ain't an expert, but I have the basic concepts down, just maybe not the right terminology! haha...

It's a pretty samll cam but should give you all you need. If you've got a warranty on that motor I certainly wouldn't open it up. Let a sleeping dog lay.

I tell you what... if it was me and I paid a pretty penny for a big stroker 540, I would want a helluva lot more power than that. Like I said, that is a great motor, but man it ain't hard to get streetable 580 hp/595 tq out of a 454! Does it have the standard 2 year warranty? That is something to def consider, but as soon as that warranty is up, make some changes, if not before.

Good luck.

[Adam's 55 Chevy]

My Shafiroff 540 engine has I.646" E .652" with 280 & 286 degrees and a LSA of 114. This is for a Procharger.

You have .552" on the intake & .569" on the exhaust. I would say thats a strong torquey street engine. A 'lopey' idle is cylinder pressure escaping from the heads as both valves are open together. Ok for the 60's with 12.5:1 Cr's but not 40 years later.

One way to gain extra lift if you feel you need it is with a set of Harland Sharp 1.8 roller rockers. That would give you .584" on the intake & .603" on the exhaust with the same duration. The valves should handle it fine but I would ask them about piston to valve clearance or work it out from the engine spec sheets.

[Gordz32]

Yea it does have the 2year warrenty, that a good point. Thats part of the reason we went with this engine. So I guess we'll keep her sealed up until for the next year. I must say that I was kinda dissapointed though when I read threw the specs. based on CI's I would think there is alot of potential for more HPand TQ with just a cam change, but we'll keep her street friendly for now I Guess.

[Norwoodx55]

based on CI's I would think there is alot of potential for more HPand TQ with just a cam change, but we'll keep her street friendly for now I Guess.

I agree, that only works out to be 1.07 HP/CI. It should prove to be a pretty reliable combination. Building an engine with 1.2 HP/CI isn't too difficult these days. Your 540 at that level would be nearly 650 HP. Now we're talking!

[My427stang]

Thats a pretty mild cam, matter of fact pretty odd overall. Short duration, wide LSA, but retarded 2 degrees to get it to rev I guess, I dont get it, its not a common cam grind in any way

Depending on quench, compression, and rpm range you want, I'd expect something like 294-300 adv duration, 248-256 duration @ .050, and .600 lift, thats still be mild

In my 489 I run a similar cam as above and its relatively mild

If you had deck clearance, chamber size, dish size, bore, stroke, and rod length I could calculate DCR for you and tell you what that cam should act like, but it seems real odd to me

I think you could make a whole bunch more power with a more common grind, if you post the info above I can give you my 2 cents, done a bunch of Rats in my days and even street 462s made 600 hp pretty easy

[got_hp?]

the cam in my 383 is 238/245 duration which is pretty good size for a 383, but i would think the 540bbc could use quite a bit larger cam than that and still be mild and reliable.

however, they are a well known respected builder, so i trust they put it in there for a reason. i guess reliability and mild street manners + strong low end torque?

A 'lopey' idle is cylinder pressure escaping from the heads as both valves are open together. Ok for the 60's with 12.5:1 Cr's but not 40 years later.

but it sounds sooooo cool !!!!

[Flash68]

however, they are a well known respected builder, so i trust they put it in there for a reason.

Yeah, to minimize losses due to warranty work. Makes sense, and is still is a reliable strong motor, but as everyone agrees, it is underperforming compared to its potential.

Like you said Gordz, drive it for 2 years as is and then make some changes for some serious power. Nice.