Best Cam for Gen1 Small Block?

[The T-man]

I have a 69' vintage 4bolt block, 041 casting small chamber iron heads, dual plane RPM intake, MSD, headers, etc...
It's pulled for the body to go to paint

Back when I built it I used a Crane HMV-272

With cam tech advancing in the last 10 years since I built, what's the hot ticket cam nowdays?

Looking for massive torque, and 350-400 HP

[cheapthrillz]

you could download the cam spec program from ?comp cams? (i think) and play around with it.... it will attempt to give you hp numbers given your inputs

[dstryr]

After losing my flat tappet cam a week ago I'll never go back. Going to a retrofit roller setup.

[68sixspeed]

retrofit hyd. roller is probably your best bet as you likely are not after high rpm duty; but please, please toss those heads! You'll get far more gains in torque and hp with a good set of AFR, Edelbrock, Brodix, etc type heads. You may even get more hp by leaving the existing cam and just doing heads. I don't put huge faith in desktop dyno's, but they are good for comparing relative combos and getting a rough idea. (like anything else, they are only as good as the #'s that are put in)

[Lowend]

Yep - Hyd roller is the way to go. Post up your specs and goals... I'll help ya

[The T-man]

does the older block need any machining to go roller? if so I want to stick with flat tappet

my reasoning is I can just build a whole fresh block and run this older one in the meantime

I thought these 041 were supposedly one of the best old school iron heads? I read that somewhere circle track guys love them and with minor porting(which I've done) they flow nice, for the street anyway.

as far as specs,
9to1 comp,
Perf. RPM manif.,
Thorley triY's,
turbo 400 with around 2200 stall
3.73 posi rear
26" tall tires

[68sixspeed]

no block machining will be needed for the aftermarket hyd. roller.

On the heads, it's just that they've come a long, long way in 30+ years. bigger ports, swirl design chambers, just so much technology that some $1000/pr heads are really good, for under $2k/pr you can have fully cnc ported semi-race heads. For iron heads, the late 90's vortec heads will probably out-do the old 041s. But IMO a good set of smaller runner (195cc or so) Edelbrock or AFR's will get some big gains. There have been some magazine tests in recent months I believe if anyone has links. With a hyd roller and good heads you can't help but make 425+hp and a lot of torque still.

[Lowend]

The Hyd Roller conversion is pretty easy...
You need proper valvesprings, lifters and pushrods. The cam is held in with a $5 brass plug.
The whole conversion costs ~$1300; I like Crower's setup and I've played with a bunch of them

It sounds like a Crower 224HR232 is probably a good match You will also need install kit 84542

[The T-man]

that's the prob, the $1300
not that I don't have the $,
just that the whole block was a budget build to begin with with parts I had laying around, chevy pink rods, the 041 heads. It sounds and feels like 350+ HP right now and it's barely broken in, I'd hate to tear into it

if I go roller I might as well get some aluminum heads, steel crank, etc.=$$$
but I guess that what you guys are saying to do anyway...
I will just run it and build the new Dream motor in the meantime, is around $4or5K realistic for a nice 450hp/450tq small block or am I dreaming?

Don't some new tappet cams have coatings and good lifters so wiping out a lobe doesn't happen?

[Lowend]

I have heard of this... but I'll bet it's as expensive as the roller conversion.

That $1300 is gonna look really cheap if a flat tappet cam goes away and dumps metal shavings into your bearings and rings

[6'9"Witha69]

I went hy droller back in like '99 and never looked back. Can not be happier. BTW, the heads are a huge drawback. Even fastburn heads can be had fairly cheap assembled and get you over 400 hp maybe even with your current cam.

Realistically, 10 years ago my 500+ hp engine was the top of streetability even with AL headds and hyd roller conversion. That is the new entry level number anymore it seems.

[TrickFlowTech]

How much power are you looking to make? We have various top end kits that will give you good HP and TQ.


Check out the link.

http://www.trickflow.com/egnsearch.a...=KeywordSearch

[The T-man]

400+hp and torque
so, I go roller w/ some alum. heads, won't I need a better crank, go for stroking to a 383, etc..???
one thing leads to another...

[indyjps]

I agree the heads will be a limiting factor, vortec (GM truck) heads will be a better head.
If you want to stay with your current set up and run a flat tappet you can get a nitrided cam that will help protect the cam from todays oil and protect from running a flat lobe, this is a surface treatment to the cam that hardens it. I prefer comp and their tech line will set you straight. you didnt metion if youre running a manual or auto trans, what converter your running, what rear gears, do you need vacuum for power brakes. All of these come into play.
http://www.compcams.com/Technical/Camshafts/#CamFam
read thru this, its worth it.

[The T-man]

anyone got some actual part #'s of cams they love? I know every combo/cam is different, I'm asking for your cam favs, ones you have run and liked with a similar setup as mine as well

I think you guys have got me talked into going roller, although I ported the heads myself I hete to abandon them without at least running them a few thous miles

[Lowend]

Scroll up about 8 inches

[The T-man]

anyone else got any actual cam part #'s they've used ?

[69LT1Nova]

Sounds like you are trying to go for the most bang for your buck on stock style heads to save some $$. This is hard to do to get a real 350 HP. I was able to get 330 HP, 350 TQ on a Summit cam - p/n SUM-K1103. 214/224 @ .050". $89 and includes lifters. Worked well in my El Camino. http://store.summitracing.com/partde...3&autoview=sku

I fully agree that roller is the way to go, but $$. If you're into Joe-Touring, then retrofit roller blows your budget out of the water. Better to find a factory gen 1 roller block with the 1 piece rear main seal '87-up. For the old school block, stick with hydraulic.

Also consider where you want the HP and TQ to kick in on your RPM range. The Summit cam in my Elco hit peak HP at around 3,700 and TQ at 2,800.

[The T-man]

I'm convinced to go roller, got any part #'s that you really had great luck with anyone?