trying to pick a cam

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Mar 16, 2015 | 10:46 AM

HVACTOM

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Feb 2015

Posts: 305

Likes: 2

From: Wayne,CO Mich

trying to pick a cam

Hello all I am trying to choose a cam and going with a 524 524 for a ford 400 Cid it says it's a lope idle what is the down fall to this should I find one smaller? Thankyou all for your time.

Mar 16, 2015 | 10:53 AM

Conanski

FTE Legend

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 31,930

Likes: 1,499

From: Ottawa, Ontario

What trans, gearing, and tires does the truck have?
What do you use the truck for?
What kind of powerband do you want?

Mar 16, 2015 | 11:01 AM

HVACTOM

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Feb 2015

Posts: 305

Likes: 2

From: Wayne,CO Mich

it has a c6 trans and 15 inch tires I just want something that is good for the street and the only reason I wanted loap was sound but I want low end to mid range power. This is my first build I'll put up a link to this cam it says that the stall and gears not need to be changed just aprings

Mar 16, 2015 | 11:49 AM

bkaul

Posting Guru

Joined: Aug 2010

Posts: 1,761

Likes: 8

From: Knoxville, TN

A cam with bad idle is going to be one with lots of duration and overlap that's set up for high-rpm power. Great if you're building a race car and spinning your engine at 6000 rpm + all the time, but the wrong direction to go for a truck, IMO. One that's good for low-to-mid-range torque will generally have a fairly nice, smooth idle.

Throw Flowmasters on it and set the idle speed a little on the low side, and you'll have a pretty good, low tone though.

Mar 16, 2015 | 12:03 PM

HVACTOM

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Feb 2015

Posts: 305

Likes: 2

From: Wayne,CO Mich

Ok that's what I hear guess I'll go smaller to .494. 262 duration

Mar 16, 2015 | 12:05 PM

Conanski

FTE Legend

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 31,930

Likes: 1,499

From: Ottawa, Ontario

If the motor is all stock then it won't benefit from a radical racing cam, pick something that is designed to work in the rpm range you will use which in this case will be something with about 260-270deg total duration(200-215deg 0.050" duration), and about 0.450-0.500" lift. You could pick something a lot more radical that will sound all bad assed but that's all you will get.. sound, you won't get useable power.