Edelbrock cam
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Edelbrock cam
I have a 351M with an Edelbrock 2172 cam in it. We think the previous owner lost the oil-pump and upper-end -- new camshaft, lifters, etc. and oil-pump -- and neglected the lower-end -- it smokes like Keith Richards.
I've got one 351M that I want to freshen-up, possibly do a mild upgrade. Another, I'm hoping for something close to Hot Rod's 400 HP build when it's all said and done .
Is the 2172 mild or wild? I'm trying to decide if I should pull it for one of the target engines, or if I'd be better off leaving it and rebuilding the lower-end as a spare.
I've got one 351M that I want to freshen-up, possibly do a mild upgrade. Another, I'm hoping for something close to Hot Rod's 400 HP build when it's all said and done .
Is the 2172 mild or wild? I'm trying to decide if I should pull it for one of the target engines, or if I'd be better off leaving it and rebuilding the lower-end as a spare.
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Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Delaware
Edelbrock makes some nice stuff, but based on the 2172 cam, they should stick to manifolds.
What kind of use do you plan for this motor. A stump puller, or tow a trailer at highway speed, or run around town burning gas and sounding bad.
Look at Comp Cams 255DEH or XE256 for the stump puller, or a 265DEH or XE268 for the highway speed motor.
What kind of use do you plan for this motor. A stump puller, or tow a trailer at highway speed, or run around town burning gas and sounding bad.
Look at Comp Cams 255DEH or XE256 for the stump puller, or a 265DEH or XE268 for the highway speed motor.
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Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Delaware
The Edelbrock 2172 cam has slow ramp rates. They do this so they can use weaker springs. As a result the cam has lower lift, more overlap and later Intake Valve Closure than a cam with similar duration and faster ramp rates.
The lift of the 2172 is probably adequate for a stock 400 head, but the late IVC will hurt the low end torque. The increased overlap will make the idle a little lumpy, but do little else positive.
As a result, the 2172 cam is not a good choice for a motor with high torque at low RPM, or a motor with a wide torque curve, or for high RPM performance. In my opinion it fails on all counts.
You should try to sell it, and buy a cam that is suited for what you want your motor to do.
What do want out of your motor? I'll suggest some better cam choices.
The lift of the 2172 is probably adequate for a stock 400 head, but the late IVC will hurt the low end torque. The increased overlap will make the idle a little lumpy, but do little else positive.
As a result, the 2172 cam is not a good choice for a motor with high torque at low RPM, or a motor with a wide torque curve, or for high RPM performance. In my opinion it fails on all counts.
You should try to sell it, and buy a cam that is suited for what you want your motor to do.
What do want out of your motor? I'll suggest some better cam choices.
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This particular motor, I'm not sure. It's currently sitting in a '78 Marquis that, I think, was intended to "run around town burning gas and sounding bad" -- lots of show & rumble on city-streets. I bought the car mainly for parts for one of my project trucks -- Sunpro tach & cluster, Edelbrock intake & 4bbl, American Racer rims, new tires, oil & fuel pumps, fan, chrome valve covers.
I want a (mostly) stock daily-driver & a showier stump-puller -- two different motors that I already have in progress. Or intended to be in progress. In the planning stages. OK, a distant dream. This third engine, I don't know -- the best idea I've heard so far is to swap on stock parts for the aftermarket ones I remove, then sell the hulk for a demo derby.
I want a (mostly) stock daily-driver & a showier stump-puller -- two different motors that I already have in progress. Or intended to be in progress. In the planning stages. OK, a distant dream. This third engine, I don't know -- the best idea I've heard so far is to swap on stock parts for the aftermarket ones I remove, then sell the hulk for a demo derby.
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Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Delaware
Originally Posted by Torque1st
Sounds like a nice fit for a comp cams 255DEH. 
I'll second that!
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Eastern Pa
The edelbrock cam youi have works well when your'e having a party with a pinata. It doesn't take too many wacks with that thing to bring it all down.
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