I'm building up my 400 now, and I have no clue on what cam I should go with. Please keep it simple for me, it's a '66 442 with the 400, I'm gonna add Edelbrock heads, Performer intake, and a tuned Q-Jet on top of a stock bottom end. That's the plan. What can I use to keep it do-able to still run my a/c, power brakes and still have decent power, smoothness, nice manners and mpg to cruise? I'm gonna put a built Turbo 200-4R behind it to cruise. My Dad says it needs an "RV cam", I need advice!! Part of me just wants to keep it simple and put a new stock 442 cam in it and thinks the stuff I'm adding will wake it up alot. What do y'all think?? Please help!!

 

RV (recreational vehicle) refers to an "off road" profile, designed specifically for '70s "smog motors. It raised cylinder pressures (dynamic compression ratios) in order to recoup some of the power that was lost with the drop in mechanical (static) compression ratios. It may, or may not, be a good choice, depending which pistons you are using.

Since the cam profile is only one part of the overall engine design, it must be chosen to complement all of the other specs.

As for your question, I think, I have far too little information to be of any further help. If you ask him nicely, maybe Spence will tell you how to contact me.

Norm

 

Ok, I'll see him this weekend and ask. He lives only 5 minutes away. Dad says I should put more cam in it to compliment the heads and intake. I'm looking at a stock bottom end, I think the factory comp for '66 was 10.5?? Some have told me that I should be ok with that and running the Edelbrock heads, I'd rather hear from an Olds guy.

 

Can't argue with that logic.

Oldsmobile factory pistons? NOS?

If that is what the manuals/advertising literature says, it must be.

When we do the math, using the actual measurements from your parts, do you think our result will be the same as those factory figures? I doubt if they will even be close.

If it came from a competent machinist, you can believe it. Key word is "competent".

The "Olds" part is not important. The "competent machinist" part is.

I don't remember. Did you say Spence should use a different machine shop?

Norm

 

On top of what 88 Coupe has outlined...

1. What gears do you have?
(This is huge when deciding cam specs)

2. What do you want to do with it?
(daily driver, trips to the track, weekend warrior)

Your 200R4 has a great first gear ratio, but optimizing
your converters stall speed and cam together will really
get you going.

 

Trying to give you an answer to your thread title, not imply any specific recommendations. This link is to an interesting article from a muscle car magazine. Might help with the basics though.

http://www.popularhotrodding.com/tec...ics/index.html

 

I just think Spence went wayyy over his head. The shop is good, no doubt about that, it's just that he ain't even had the thing on the road since he dropped the 425 in, he told me that he has about $11k in that motor alone. Probably will run like mad, I just wish he would get it dialed in so he can enjoy the thing. Kinda waste of a good car/engine/money imo. The pistons I want to use are the same ratio as to what's in there. This same machine shop is the one that told me that I should be ok with the factory comp ratio, and told me the same thing you did about actual ratio. Ever heard of Jim Grubbs Motorsports in Valencia? He's been in various magazines building many engines.

 

1) I would like to get some 3.55 gears or lower (higher #), I figure the trans will make it a nice freeway runner. I've yet to play with the tire sizes since I don't even have the car back from the paint shop yet. I want to really make this car run right all around, not just throw parts at it and make it scream. I'm thinking actually to use a new stock 442 grind from Supercars Unlimited, weren't the stock 442 cams pretty hot?

2) I want it to be a strong cruiser that will see an occasional trip down the 1/4. Mostly street driver, road tripper, nice cruiser, maybe try Power Tour.

 

a 400 or 425 has a good chance of having a 45 deg lifter bank angle instead of the common 39 deg most of the olds blocks have. make sure you buy a cam specific to that otherwise you will have problems

 

For sure mine is a 39* Only the 65 400's had the 45*

 

Short answer? No.
In their day they weren't bad.
But now...
Most have very short lift. -.474? -.484?
Buy a newer grind.

3.55's are good. That will allow you to find plenty of nice cams.
I have 3.90's with a 30" tire...it's a bit too steep for highway
cruising. But with an overdrive...it would be perfect.

 

Enough about Spence, looks like he is beyond my help.

Have you/your machinist done the math? Do not order pistons until its been done.

To make your plan before you execute it?

This would include finding out (for sure) where you are and where you want to go, then planning the best way to get there.

Planning 10.5 is not the problem. Actually achieving it, is.

No. The only time I see that part of the world is when I'm passing through on my way to the Central Valley. If he knows what he is doing, why are you asking these questions on the Internet?

Is he the one who will do your machine work and supply the parts?

Not even by '66 standards.

Compromise is operative word. They had to work with factory heads, and the stock valvetrain, for 100K+ trouble free miles. Not going to happen with any performance profile, then or now.

You have a lot more planning to do, before you can make the final choice.

Norm

 

Planning like what? I'm asking a bunch of ?'s cause this is the first car I've ever built from the ground up and I want it to be right. I ask you in particular 'cause I sorta know you through Spence and the club. Speaking of him, I just got off the phone with Spence and he doesn't know how to get in touch with you, and I don't see myself going to any club meetings in the future 'cause I work graveyard shift.

 

That question is a good start. Asking what cam you should use, is not.

Answering questions, is just as important as asking them.

So do I. It's not going to happen, unless you start at the beginning.

Go to the club mailing list, and send a message to my Yahoo address.

Once we get you pointed in the right direction, we can bring everyone up to date.

Norm