I have a 1978 440 that cam out of a Winnebago with 30,000 miles that I picked up for $1000. I have added a few things to it, but now Im looking at cams and push rod lengths. I figured yall will know way more than I do about what would be the best cam for it. Im putting it in a 65 Coronet. It will be a street car, but I was wanting some lope to it. Suggestions would be great, thank yall.

 

I know the pulley's in the picture dont match up, i havent swapped them

 

65 -

What do you plan on putting the 440 in (assume a 65 Coronet?) and what do you plan on doing with it? Trans, TQ converter and rear gears factor in too.
The cam may be the what controls the air pump, but has to be matched with the rest of the car.

Archer

 

for a very streteable cam this might be good. P4286675. my list says it is 260 degree. and .430 lift. i had a 65 300 L 413 with a 268 degree .430 lift. VERY streetable. it gave the 413, 20 more horses, 360, than a new yorker with a 248 degree .389 lift. with the same MPG. i think the cam i listed first the 260 degree is not the right number. just a guess

 

For a street only car you can't go wrong with 440 six barrel cam.

One of the best cams Chrysler developed.

Knowing your compression ratio or cranking cylinder pressure would help in selection too.

 

Would it be better if I said the things that have/will be done to the engine? I plan on taking this car to strip from time to time.

 

If you could tell us what rear gear ratio and tire size would help. Is it manual or automatic?

Do you know the engines compression?

 

I know the gear ratio is just stock from when it had a 318 in it. Im trying to look it up to find out what it is exactly. The tires are 255's in the rear and it is an automatic.
Im trying to find out the compression exactly, but I know it is low.

 

65 -
"Stock" rears could be as low as 2.73s.
That could really limit your choice of cams.
Jack the rear up can mark the drive shaft and a tire with chalk.
Spin one of the tires 360 degrees and see how may times the drive shaft spins.

Archer

 

The compression ratio is really the most important factor in making power. Now that the engine is off the car is the time to replace the pistons to high compression ratio (10:1 or so).


If the differential is not the 8 3/4, you may want to consider if the differential can handle the 440.


As for the cam, it depends what you want it to do. I am not interested in drag racing, and got a cam for an Imperial with 2.94 and larger diameter tires than your car. I also have some head work on the 906's and larger valves. I have the 0.477 intake 0.480 exhaust cam (with total duration comparable to stock HP cam). I have not finished tuning the car, but it moves the car around well at low speed. It will not win any traffic light contests, but it is pleasant to drive in traffic. My focus is on high speed cruising and high speed acceleration.


If you are interested in low speed tire spinning, and retain these rear gears, you may want to get a more conservative cam.