Cam selection 455
#1
Cam selection 455
Hello. I'd really appreciate some conversation. I have a 1968 olds 98. Minutes after I traded a car for that car the cam broke in 3, A valve spring broke apart, that valve dropped into the piston, the piston/valve and top of the rod basically exploded and it all went into the oil pan. It was of course rainy on the side of that highway as I tried to get a tow 150 miles home. Afterwards I spoke with the man I traded with and he sent me 2000$ to make it right. I was grateful. I spent that money on the only 455 I could find on craigslist. It happens to be a fresh rebuild marine, e head, with a torker intake. It's sat around for a while without being used. The parts inside all appear new (besides the rockers). The valves seem new but the heads appear stock. I removed the torker intake to install a stock intake. I checked out the cam and it is a comp 280h. That's not at all what I want. I assume the compression ratio is 10+:1 just because of the cam and intake selection and it being built for a jet boat. Here's my question for you fine people..... What cam can I put in this thing to bring it to the closest to a stock runner as I can? I don't have means to replace the pistons. If it helps there's yellow marker paint on the springs. I see the melling MTO 1 cam. It's stage one. That sounds good but I don't really know. It also calls for vs720 springs. I don't know what springs I even have other than the yellow marker paint. Can someone please save the day for me????? It's killing me. I'm a decent backyard mechanic but performance isn't my thing. Im used to knowing what's in my cars and engines because the chassis service manual says so. Thank you for and potential time or assistance.
Brody
Brody
Last edited by Brodewok80; February 6th, 2023 at 05:46 PM.
#6
No. I'm not sure it's 10:1. It was built for a jet boat and from what I've gathered about jet boat engines, it likely has higher compression. There's still assembly lube in all the spots and it has a higher rpm cam. Looking up at the bottom of the pistons and rods, they're all new. I assume performance. I can't tell what exactly they are tho. Also I don't know if the head has been milled down or anything.
Last edited by Brodewok80; February 6th, 2023 at 05:43 PM.
#7
Isnt the rpm range 2000-6000? This car will be a daily driver that will never see 80 mph. Nor will it ever be floored to get up to speed. Obviously I'd like low and mid range ability for traffic situations. I also want zero lope.
#8
BUT that cam will have a slight lope, even in a 455.
So, as i stated before, if you want a stock cam then SU and others will have what you want.
Last edited by cutlassefi; February 6th, 2023 at 05:56 PM.
#9
If you truthfully have 10 to 1 compression you need to be careful not going with too much less camshaft. You really need to be sure before you pick a cam. Can you borrow a bore scope and see if you can tell what pistons are in it ?
#10
I think I can peek down there if that's what has to happen. What are the signs I should look for to decipher the pistons?
#12
RPM ranges given for cams include the entire engine family. That cam will be more mild in a 455 vs a 350 for example. It also takes into account what manifolds will be used and a host of other variables as well.
BUT that cam will have a slight lope, even in a 455.
So, as i stated before, if you want a stock cam then SU and others will have what you want.
BUT that cam will have a slight lope, even in a 455.
So, as i stated before, if you want a stock cam then SU and others will have what you want.
Would the lope in that 280h just sound kinda tough or will it be rumbling? Do you think from this new information the rpm range with the 280h get closer down to the idle or off idle range?
#14
#15
The Melling MTO-1 is:
280/290 advertised 204/214 @.050 .448/.472 lift 112deg lobe seperation
That is very very close to an Erson cam I used in a 425 about 2 years ago and it is very smooth. The 425 I did is around 10 to 1.
280/290 advertised 204/214 @.050 .448/.472 lift 112deg lobe seperation
That is very very close to an Erson cam I used in a 425 about 2 years ago and it is very smooth. The 425 I did is around 10 to 1.
#16
If they used the 995 spring that Comp calls for that cam it will be pushing the open pressure a lot. The Melling VS720 will be around 80 closed and 210 open. The Comp 995 will be 115 closed and 305 open. Probably too much.
Its a tough call on the springs. You really need to pull a couple and measure the installed hgt and the pressures to be certain.
Its a tough call on the springs. You really need to pull a couple and measure the installed hgt and the pressures to be certain.
#20
#21
#22
#23
What octane were you using? I would have ordered this cam already (half blindly) if it wasn't for my vs720 spring confusion
#24
Yep. The intake closing event on a "smaller" camshaft occurs earlier so it traps the air as the piston moves towards TDC, which results in higher cylinder pressure. A later closing event allows the piston to push some of the air out before the intake valve closes and therefore creates less cylinder pressure. At high RPM the velocity of the incoming air "rams" into the cylinder due to the later intake closing event, which then creates higher cylinder pressure than what occurs at lower RPM.
#26
#27
#28
I have a stock GM cam that's NIB, and that # sounds familiar (I can double check to confirm - if needed), but you have to be sure the compression isn't too high (as mentioned).
I'd bought it thinking it was the mild '68 400 auto cam and it wasn't correct. It's milder !
Edit; GM Restoration #400117 or #562303, 1973 & 1974 all 455
The 400165 is the Hurst or '70 W30 auto cam.
I'd bought it thinking it was the mild '68 400 auto cam and it wasn't correct. It's milder !
Edit; GM Restoration #400117 or #562303, 1973 & 1974 all 455
The 400165 is the Hurst or '70 W30 auto cam.
Last edited by 68post; February 7th, 2023 at 04:39 PM. Reason: uh-huh
#29
Can you get a couple of close up pictures of the valve springs from a couple of angles ?
#30
I am sure he is using 93 octane Shell. Your pistons look like the shallow dish so it probably is 10 to 1. I think the Melling cam would probably run fine. I have used a fair number of their "torque and pulling" cams over the years in various engines and they are very mild.
Can you get a couple of close up pictures of the valve springs from a couple of angles ?
Can you get a couple of close up pictures of the valve springs from a couple of angles ?
#31
I have a stock GM cam that's NIB, and that # sounds familiar (I can double check to confirm - if needed), but you have to be sure the compression isn't too high (as mentioned).
I'd bought it thinking it was the mild '68 400 auto cam and it wasn't correct. It's milder !
Edit; GM Restoration #400117 or #562303, 1973 & 1974 all 455
The 400165 is the Hurst or '70 W30 auto cam.
I'd bought it thinking it was the mild '68 400 auto cam and it wasn't correct. It's milder !
Edit; GM Restoration #400117 or #562303, 1973 & 1974 all 455
The 400165 is the Hurst or '70 W30 auto cam.
#32
#33
I have a stock GM cam that's NIB, and that # sounds familiar (I can double check to confirm - if needed), but you have to be sure the compression isn't too high (as mentioned).
I'd bought it thinking it was the mild '68 400 auto cam and it wasn't correct. It's milder !
Edit; GM Restoration #400117 or #562303, 1973 & 1974 all 455
The 400165 is the Hurst or '70 W30 auto cam.
I'd bought it thinking it was the mild '68 400 auto cam and it wasn't correct. It's milder !
Edit; GM Restoration #400117 or #562303, 1973 & 1974 all 455
The 400165 is the Hurst or '70 W30 auto cam.
#34
#36
And, the carbs were jetted to at least be close. Something too many don’t ever address these days.
Last edited by cutlassefi; February 8th, 2023 at 05:34 AM.
#39
#40
In that case, probably not the best choice for a cruiser. Get with Mark (cutlassefi) he can help pick a cam that will do what you want and be compatible with the rest of the combination.