cam selection help

[Josh]

I am ready to order a cam for my 540 and can use some recommendations. This is going into a 90% street driven 68 Camaro with hydroboost brakes. 10 to 1 compression, AFR 315 CNC chamber heads, 950 Holley HP, currently with a TH400 but a 4L80E in the works, 2600 stall, 373 gears. I want to go with a hydraulic roller. Streetable is important but I am used to low vacum and moderate chop on the idle, but I want it to remain civilized.
Lunati seemed to have a better selection in my range and a few I have looked at are:
cam-50273
250 in and 255 ex at 50 thou
.629 lift both sides
112 lobe sep.

cam-54870
238 int and 248 ex at 50 thou
lift 640 int and 629 ex
lobe sep = 114

cam 50271
242 i

[Lowend]

The 540 will swallow a lot of cam due to its stroke and overall displacement.
I would be looking at something in the 250+ Duration range. My personal choice for this one would probably be the Crower 01406 You definatley want a Hyd-Roller cam in this application. In my experience Crower's Hyd-rollers are the most aggressive and have the most R&D in their setup.
The extra lift on the exhaust side will help with your inherently non-optimized exhaust system on a street car.

[oestek]

If it helps at all, Comp just made their cam quest software a free download...

http://www.compcams.com/Camquest/

[Josh]

That crower looks nice. I run a BBC now with a lopey cam and a 110 lobe seperation (454ci, 232/239 at 50 thou). That is about as much overlap as I would like, perhaps a tad less. What do you think the Crower in a 540 would idle like?

[rocketman]

with a 540 I would start in the 270's for duration. To me that Crower would be way to little in a 540. I would call Comp ask them, then go one size cam bigger, Comp is usually alittle soft in selection.

[Lowend]

I used this cam in my Buddy Ben's 496 (stroked 454) and it was pretty well behaved. The thing had an idle, but was still perfectly streetable in his '70 Chevelle with power brakes. He also got a ticket for leaving rubber for a full city block from a rolling-start.
The 540 has a lot more stroke than the 454 so you can get away with more duration; if you are really worried you can order the cam on a 114 Lobe Seperation, but I wouldn't bother.

[Josh]

I am glad I asked, I was being a little too conservative it seems. I will make a few calls..

[Josh]

Well both Comp and Crane came back with about the same recommedation which was around 242/ 248 at 50 thousandths and around 575 lift. I think I would run that in my 454, not the 540! I guess I will rely on the experience of you guys here. The Crower 01406 looks good but unfortunately I already have my springs and I am maxed at 650 lift. Crane has a 139661 or a 139651 that looks alright, what do you think?
http://www.cranecams.com/index.php?s...61&lvl=2&prt=5
http://www.cranecams.com/index.php?s...51&lvl=2&prt=5

[Lowend]

They look good, I don't love that there is the same lift intake and exhaust, but its not that big of a deal.
Note that the Crower 1405 is under 650 lift

[Josh]

What does anybody know about Edelbrock cams? I found one at Summit that is 248/256 at 50 thous, 629/643 lift and a 112 lobe seperation. This has the specs I am looking for but I have never heard anything about Edelbrock cams..

[Lowend]

Edelbrock is re-boxed Melling; I've never had very good results with them