440 CAM SELECTION

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Mar 23, 2010 | 06:06 PM

bentstick

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440 CAM SELECTION

I am working on a rebuilt 73 440. Block has been decked .030, flattop pistons, no notches, .040 thick head gasket, 906 heads. Current Comp cam has 274/286 duration with .488/.491 lift. Is it possible to go to a hotter cam without the notched pistons? I guess I am asking what the limit is with this combination. Any help would be much appreciated.

Mar 23, 2010 | 07:54 PM

toad490

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From: Vernon, BC. Canada

Sorry but you're going to have to measure the actual valve to piston clearance. Do a Google search on ''how to measure valve to piston clearance". No way around this.

Mar 23, 2010 | 10:10 PM

1966sportfury

A.K.A Bob Dodge

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From: couer d' alene id.

also overlap and what you degree your cam in at plays a role.or am i wrong?

Mar 30, 2010 | 10:57 AM

deadkelly

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Joined: Oct 2007

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From: queensland Australia

my mopar b/rb book says 509 lift hyd cam was made to work without clearance issues , using std pistons . but who knows whats been done before you got your hands on it . so it should be measured . one other thing is the duration starts to climb quite a bit also with the larger lift cams & those std pistons really won't make sufficient compression . there are some reasonably cheap 1.6 ratio roller rockers around that would increase your lift to about 502 - 514 lift ( guessing off the top of my head ) without increasing duration much, you'll need to check valve springs also .

Apr 7, 2010 | 09:06 AM

OHD

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Nobody over the internet is going to be able to give you any 100% correct numbers, getting the person assembling the engine, to measure what you have, is the only sure way to get your answer.

Apr 7, 2010 | 12:05 PM

MrOldart2U

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Joined: Sep 2009

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From: Amarillo, Tx

Quote:

Originally Posted by deadkelly

I didn't do the math but here is the formula, and the answer is yes duration and overlap will play a part in the clearance also...

CAM LIFT OR LOBE LIFT X ROCKER RATIO = GROSS VALVE LIFT

THIS LEADS ME TO THE NEXT FORMULA TO DETERMINE MY GROSS VALVE LIFT IF I CHANGE MY ROCKER RATIO SUCH AS , INSTALLING 1.6 SBC ROCKERS WITH A COMP. CAMS XTREME ENERGY # XE 268H CAMSHAFT. CURRENT LISTING STATES .477/.480 LI9FT w/1.5 ROCKERS

VALVE LIFT ÷ ROCKER RATIO = LOBE LIFT [ CAM LIFT ]

LOBE LIFT X ROCKER RATIO = GROSS VALVE LIFT

EXAMPLE: .477 ÷ 1.5 = .318 [ LOBE LIFT ]

.318 X 1.6 = .5088 [ GROSS VALVE LIFT ]

NOTE: IF THE CAM HAS A DIFFERENT LIFT FOR THE EXHAUST, USE THE SAME FORMULA FOR THE EXHAUST. ALL OTHER SPEC'S FOR THE CAMSHAFT REMAIN THE SAME.

THEREFORE THE COMP. CAMS #XE 268H USING 1.6 ROCKER RATIO PRODUCES .508/ .512 LIFT.