I am going to build a 460 for my play truck. It's a 78 model with stock heads. In other engines I've built the comp cams magnum 280 worked great, so that is what I want to use. On the 460 will I have to use different rockers and go adjustable? How about the valve springs? Just wondered if anyone has ran this cam in one without doing the rocker & spring change. I have a 2,400. stahl converter, performer rpm intake, and a 650 holley I will be using with this cam.
Thanks.

 

You can run the stock rockers. You will have to check push rod length and lifter preload.

 

Thats what I was hoping. I dont mind shimming a rocker pedestal if need be.
Thanks.

 

That cam would not be my first choice. I prefer split duration cams, especially on stock heads. I assume you are running D3VE heads. It would be worth your while to port the exhaust side at least.Do you already have comparable valve springs to what comp recommends for that cam? Do not use 30 year old stockers. Use the springs recommended by cam manufacturer.

No sense running that much duration on something with stock exhaust ports on D3VE heads. What are your goals and nitended use of the truck?

 

It does have D3VE heads, I will replace with new springs but do not want to have the machining done for the ones recommended by comp. I like the sound of this cam at idle and how it pulls to about 6,000 rpms.
My plans for the truck is mostly show, It's a very nice truck.
I will also be boring .030 / flat tops and have the crank turned as needed.
Sound at idle is very important to me, thats where this duration is needed (I want some lope) but I want it to pull to 5,500 - 6,000 rpms without falling on it's face for the occasional mud run. It does not have to be the strongest, best breathing 460 ever I just want it to sound good and run decent. I built a few bbc's with this cam and small port heads, they ran very well. On the 460 I just didn't know about the stock rockers having a big enough slot or the stock type springs binding. Do you think the springs will bind or the rockers will run out of travel? I've even heard of these engines even pinching the valve seals, but I'm hoping thats with a lot more lift than this cam has.
Thanks, Tim.

 

That cam should be alright with stock rockers, just check lifter preload, generally .020-.060 is good. May need to shim but shim kits are cheap. Stock rockers are good to about .550-ish lift. If you're near that check for anything funky in the valvetrain as you manually turn engine over. I run a Lunati 61602 cam in mine with stock rocers and the Lunati recommended springs. Runs nice. I have mildly ported the exhaust side of my D3VE heads. and have 1.75" primary long tubes.

Port the exhaust side of those heads. Shape the smog bump into a vane pointing out the port exit, radius the short turn, smooth the bowl area and deepen the trenches on either side of the valve guide. Beware on the right side looking in the port, chamber up, there is water below that trench, so don't go crazy on that side. Be sure to run headers at least 1.75" primary, 2" would be better. If you don't do these things you are wasting your time and making a typical all show no go poser truck. The cam won't start pulling until the heads are just about done. Sure it'll rev to 6000 with stock ports but power will surely drop off after 5000. My recommendation is to go with a more mild split duration cam if you want horsepower. If you just want a torqueless slug go ahead with the unported D3's and that 280 cam, throw some log manifolds on there for good measure.

 

Well, thanks for your answer again. I never said I wouldn't do some mild porting, I usually did on any engine with a longer duration cam. I still have my porting kit. My question was if anyone ever ran stock rockers and springs with this cam. I've got my own valve grinder and don't want to send them out for spring pocket machining if I dont have to. Theoretically, if I were not going to port the heads, I disagree that the heads would sign off when the cam starts pulling. This cam is not THAT BIG!, (230 @.050 / .526 lift) goodness grief it matches a stock cam on h.p. at 1,500 rpm and makes more power and torque at 2,000 rpms than stock according to comp cams. Hell, it's just gonna be tons better than stock from 2,000 - 5,000. So even if it the engine wouldn't pull to 6,000 rpm's because of the ports, I disagree with your opinion of it being a "typical all show no go poser truck" or as you said "torqueless slug". And don't forget the torque converter, that will get it above any torque loss compared to the stock cam right off the line. FYI If I were not porting, I wouldn't run log manifolds for "good measure" because they just ain't pretty enough.