This is my first post and was wondering if you fellas might be able to help me out on a cam suggestion. I've got a 72 Satellite Sebring Plus (roadrunner clone) with a stock 318 that I've owned for 15 years...it was my first car. I've rediscovered my love for working on it once again and am now trying to get her finally where I want her. I'm happy currently with a small block mopar 318, but am wanting to make it a bit more "hot". This next month or two, Im planning on installing the following that I've bought...a 600cfm Edelbrock carb, dual plane Edelbrock rpm airgap intake and a few other cosmetic bells and wistles. While I'm at it, I would like to replace the stock cam and valve springs with one that's quite a bit larger. I guess I plan on sticking with stock heads. What would be a good cam choice for what I have and am wanting to do?....I would love something that has some thump to it, but would allow me to idle halfway ok. It wouldn't be a daily driver, so I'm not as concerned with fuel economy...however, that would be great too. I've heard some talk about the "purple shaft" .484/284....would that be too much? Any help or input would be greatly appreciated guys, as I'm not as shooled on cam shafts as I wish. Thanks!

 

With an auto trans keep the duration and overlap down unless you are prepared to go with a haigher speed torque converter. Most cam companies list in their catalogs what other changes are recomended with a particlular grind. Most also have a tech line to help you decide.

 

Iam kinda in the same boat as you I actually picked up a cam and still not sure about putting it in.Like Mercury Don said cams are tricky, look for Lobe Separation, lift and duration. From my past builds on chevys anything over 270 duration and 480 lift you are going to truly want/need gears and or a stall if its an auto. Engine is just a pump so big lift and duration allows for more flow at a longer amount time.This is grate high rpms but most of the time not so grate on the street.Also Lobe Separation, anything 108 110 is going to have some chop that makes it hard to drive on the street.You probably know but also good set of long tub headers will help a lot with the sound. My 1972 stock 318 compression is I think 8.5 to 1, so even putting in a big cam wont give the big sound I want like a big compression engine.

this is the youtube made buy some guy of the camshaft I picked up for my car.....its smaller and will work well for me 262/272 .420 .442lift 1200-5000 rpm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk0USBvh8AU

Also may want to check out the comp cams "thumper cams"

let me know what you go with thanks

 

Thanks fellas for your input. Yeah, I've kinda talked myself out of the purple cam at this point...I would imagine that it would be a problem with the torque converter as-is. I took the advice and talked to a cam tech regaurding the set-up as discribed and also what he thought about the .484/284 purple cam...he said it was a little big considering my set-up, but not too big. My gut feeling told me to look for something just a bit smaller that wouldn't totally ruin my bottom end, compression or converter. Currently I'm looking into the comp cams XE268H .477/268 and am awaiting a cam tech response on it....this may be a bad choice, but it never hurts to research. Apparently, with this cam you should be able to stay with a stock converter. The bad thing though (at least I think) I believe you not only have to get the camkit and springs, which I figured would happen, but I think I would have to get something else besides the valve train as well $$$.

I'll look into the cams you listed above and will eventually come up with something. At this point, I'm just hoping I'll have the time to work on it before May gets here. We're expecting our first born this next week, so.....the only projects I'll be working on for a little bit are stinky diapers. lol.

Thanks for your help! Suggestions and comments are always welcome.

 

This aint a chevy....

 

Yes 284 is way too much cam for a stock 318. It needs 3.55 gears or better, Higher compression, headers, hi stall converter and it doesn't like power brakes.. Are you redoing your heads ? Think about having .030-.050 remove when they are resurfaced. Make sure the machinist knows how to do the intake side also so your manifold fits. The 262 should fit the bill for you.
PAY SPECIAL attention to the cam break in procedures !!!

 

Since my original post from a couple months back has resurfaced, I'd just like to say thanks again for the suggestions... when choosing one I'll with out a doubt take all that into account. After thinking about it for a while, I think I may just wait until the winter months to do the cam install and just get the carb, intake, and headers on that I have... That way I can just enjoy driving it this summer without stretching a couple days worth of work into a month. With all the stuff I've got going on outside my little hobby, it would be better to set my goals and timelines to fit my schedule a bit more. Like the last suggestion said though...I do think if I'm going to do it, that a head-shave may be a good idea...I mean, I'll already be going that far anyways. For now I've just finished chasing down some electrical demons, so the next project will be the accessories.