Best Cam for 390?
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: North Carolina
Best Cam for 390?
I have a 66' 390GT motor. It has an Edelbrock Performer Rpm intake, Hedman hedders, a 33-270-4 Comp cam, 350 gears, and a 2500 stall. I dont like the sound the Comp cam makes in terms of that lopey sound. Comp said go with the 33-280-4 which is 530 instead of the 519 of the 33-270. Crane told me to go with the 343801, but then I seen on here someone had that cam and said it was far from lopey. Any help is appreciated! 
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 510
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From: Charlotte
The 33-280-4 will have a pretty good lope at idle, if that is what you are looking for. I have a custom grind with .520 lift and 290 duration @.50 and it is about as far as you can go without a stall converter, which you have. You can probably go bigger, but think about driveability and whether or not you plan street/strip action.
My only advice to you is, if you do go the bigger cam, make sure you get the matching valve springs. Further advice would be to do the K kit and swap your timing chain while you are in it unless you have done so recently. Good luck. Sounds like a rockin setup when done.
My only advice to you is, if you do go the bigger cam, make sure you get the matching valve springs. Further advice would be to do the K kit and swap your timing chain while you are in it unless you have done so recently. Good luck. Sounds like a rockin setup when done.
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From: North Carolina
I am looking for a more radical idle.
Intake Duration 050 inch Lift: 222
Exhaust Duration 050 inch Lift: 234
Duration at 050 inch Lift: 222 int./234 exh.
Advertised Intake Duration: 278
Advertised Exhaust Duration: 290
Advertised Duration: 278 int./290 exh.
Intake Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.548
Exhaust Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.580
Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.548 int./0.580 exh.Lobe Separation (degrees): 112
That is the specs on the Crane 801
I told you the wrong part numbers on the Compcams they are 33-226-4 and a 33-230-4. 519 and 530 lift.
33-230-4 = Exhaust Duration 050 inch Lift: 230
Duration at 050 inch Lift: 230 int./230 exh.
Advertised Intake Duration: 280
Advertised Exhaust Duration: 280
Advertised Duration: 280 int./280 exh.
Intake Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.530
Exhaust Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.530
Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.530 int./0.530 exh. Lobe Separation (degrees): 110
Intake Duration 050 inch Lift: 222
Exhaust Duration 050 inch Lift: 234
Duration at 050 inch Lift: 222 int./234 exh.
Advertised Intake Duration: 278
Advertised Exhaust Duration: 290
Advertised Duration: 278 int./290 exh.
Intake Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.548
Exhaust Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.580
Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.548 int./0.580 exh.Lobe Separation (degrees): 112
That is the specs on the Crane 801
I told you the wrong part numbers on the Compcams they are 33-226-4 and a 33-230-4. 519 and 530 lift.
33-230-4 = Exhaust Duration 050 inch Lift: 230
Duration at 050 inch Lift: 230 int./230 exh.
Advertised Intake Duration: 280
Advertised Exhaust Duration: 280
Advertised Duration: 280 int./280 exh.
Intake Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.530
Exhaust Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.530
Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.530 int./0.530 exh. Lobe Separation (degrees): 110
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,934
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From: iowa
what about the comp exteme series, like:
274/286
230/236
106/114
110
.562/.565
Its a little bit better than the crane 801 imo. And the 801 isn't really bigger than the 280 magnum. I would say the duraton and lobe seperation will play the biggest part in the lopey sound.
274/286
230/236
106/114
110
.562/.565
Its a little bit better than the crane 801 imo. And the 801 isn't really bigger than the 280 magnum. I would say the duraton and lobe seperation will play the biggest part in the lopey sound.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 126
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Cam
pbear, I think what you are looking for is the Comp. 292H.
244 duration @ .050 Intake & Exhaust , .560 lift , 110 lobe sep.
Works real good in a 390 installed straight up ( which is actually 4 deg. advanced) w/ 4bbl. carb decent intake & headers. Can be used w/stock non adj. rockers & stock length pushrods. Has pretty rough (racey) idle.
244 duration @ .050 Intake & Exhaust , .560 lift , 110 lobe sep.
Works real good in a 390 installed straight up ( which is actually 4 deg. advanced) w/ 4bbl. carb decent intake & headers. Can be used w/stock non adj. rockers & stock length pushrods. Has pretty rough (racey) idle.
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 44
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From: Saybrook,Ill
I ran a Comp cam 292H for about 7 years of mostly just riding in an old car on weekends.It did not have a radical idle more like a racey idle.The idle had to be set at 1200 to 1300 rpm to idle ok.I like the cam really well and I ran the motor to 7500 with this cam breaking rocker shafts and bending pushrods.The engine was a balanced 390 with tripower.I just recently took the cam out and replaced it with a grind more close to the old 406 and 427 cams.You have to remember the 292H I don't think is for the everyday driver. I was told years ago when you are shopping for a cam the idle and the way a cam will drive is determined by the duration at .050. Around 220 and you will start to notice idle.At 230 vacume starts to go.Years ago I had a 67 GT motor in a 65 Ford truck.I ran a C8AX-6250-C cam in it and it had a noticable idle.The truck looked like a junkman's dream.I got into a streelight brawl with a brand new Z28 one nite and he just couldn't give it up.He finally had to stop me and ask "What the hell you got in that thing?". That's been a long time ago. Again, the 292H is a good performer but I wouldn't use it to drive to work on.
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 112
Likes: 1
pbear6969,
Have you thought about getting a custom ground cam with a tighter lobe seperation on it.
Tmod
Have you thought about getting a custom ground cam with a tighter lobe seperation on it.
Tmod
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 314
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From: North Carolina
I'm not driving this truck to work or everyday. This is just truck I bought from my grandfather that has now passed on and I am restoring it in his memory. It will be just a play toy with a big motor. I plan on just showing it and maybe from time to time leaving one of the little want to be hotrods in the dust. LOL
And to answer the other question about the custom grind cam.... No I don't know enough about it to do that.
And to answer the other question about the custom grind cam.... No I don't know enough about it to do that.
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 44
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From: Saybrook,Ill
If you are just using the truck as a weekend pleasure ride I would go with the 292H comp cam.You will need to buy the lifters and springs that go with it.I would also get hardened push rods.I think with the 292H you may need adjustable rocker arms.I can't remember if that was a requirement but I already was running them.You will be pleased with the idle and the way it performs.
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