Author Topic: Good cam for 340 (Read 4732 times)

Volvolution · « **on:** February 20, 2007 - 10:44:03 PM »

Hopefully soon I'll be able to start building up my lil ol 340....... I was thinkin a good 400 hp er so for crusing/highway and a race every once in a while (fry some rice and a few imports too.), and was wondering what would be the best lift/duration in a cam for this. And i'm pretty for sure I'm going with rollers.

Oh, and do X-pipes really work? I've been debating one for some time.

Chryco Psycho · « **Reply #1 on:** February 20, 2007 - 11:58:18 PM »

Ummm
ROllers / CAm or rockers?
what type of cam do you want?
I would suggest a mechanical cam , are the heads ported , what rpm range what other parts do you have to go with the cam , Headers , what intake etc?

Volvolution · « **Reply #2 on:** February 22, 2007 - 08:08:07 PM »

For the rollers I was thinking of going all the way and doing the cam and rockers. But, I still don't know too much about them. I still haven't opened 'er up so I don't know exactly whats in there but it seems like a mild performance cam. It has a decent RPM range but it feels pretty close to stock. HP comes in about 3500-4000 er so up to the top ( I think the rev limiter is set at about 5500. maybe 6) but it kinda.... lacks balls if ya know what I mean. But, then again, I haven't exactly gotten round to tuning it up since I live 3 states away from it. So I imigine it would have a lil more snazz if it were running better and not sitting so much.

I am currently running all the stuff I bought it with: Edelbrock perf. aluminum intake (not sure what style due to above) with a 650 or 700 cfm edelbrock 4 barrel on top, Edel. aluminum heads, and some crappy headers running out to 2 1/2" pipe to some iddy biddy glasspacks and out in front of the rear wheels like a T/A with some double-wall tips. Soon to be replaced by a Full TTI sys. with some of thier headers and 3" pipe out the back, debating an X cuz don't know if they're worth it.

Chryco Psycho · « **Reply #3 on:** February 23, 2007 - 10:50:54 AM »

I don`t have a good roller cam grind that I have used as I rarely use rollers but we can figure out a good grind to work for you
3" exhuast on a small block would seem to be over kill to me buit the X pipe is worth doing

Volvolution · « **Reply #4 on:** April 27, 2007 - 09:16:37 PM »

Sorry I took so long but what would be the maximum ammount of lift I could do on a mostly stock 340 without having to change pistons and other fancy stuff and get a decent power gain?

Carlwalski · « **Reply #5 on:** April 27, 2007 - 09:27:41 PM »

Quote from: 340sROCK on February 20, 2007 - 10:44:03 PM

Oh, and do X-pipes really work? I've been debating one for some time.

Can't help with a cam, perhaps a K56 would be OK, not sure.
What I can tell you is X-Pipes work without a doubt.

tti found 12-15rwhp with vehicles developing around 400hp.
(Picture below taken from the tti website).

Volvolution · « **Reply #6 on:** April 30, 2007 - 03:33:13 PM »

Thanks NZ. I decided on it a while back, but reasurrance is always good!

Anyone else have any ideas? anyone else used rollers, and do they make that much difference int the lift/duration of the cam compared to a standard mech. cam?

LAA66 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 30, 2007 - 03:51:58 PM »

Hi fellow Newbie,

Can only speak from my experiences. .500" plus lift cams are tough on valves, guides, and springs in a stock head. High duration-high rpm cams are tough on rods and bearings in a stock motor. Unless you plan to pay now to reinforce the internals, limit your max RPM to about 6000. Otherwise, you will more than likely pay later.

Chryco Psycho · « **Reply #8 on:** May 01, 2007 - 12:45:44 AM »

Basically you can keep the RPm Below 6000 maintain the durability & still have lifts over .500, however unless the heads are ported lifts over .500 wil not make significant gains in power , I build a lot of combos in to mid .500 lift range desined to work in the 2000-6000 range with ported heads

moper · « **Reply #9 on:** May 01, 2007 - 08:43:47 AM »

The engine is a package. It is a compromise between goals, finances, and acceptable behaviors. So before any part is picked, before the cam especially gets picked, you should have worked out all the details. Answer honestly.
1>What do you do 90% of the time with the car? (show, cruise, race, road race)
2>How much money do you have for a budget?(remember..casr are a mix of engine and other stuff. You need to change the other stuff too in almost every case)
3>What parts does your car currently have on the enigne, the trans, the rear, the suspension, the cooling system?
4> How much maintenance do you want to do, and what interval?

Stock engines with warmer cams will be fine for about 50% of people, depending on use. A .500 lift cam is about max for pistons with no valve reliefs (stock), and vlave guides will contact spring retainers if you get too much past .520 lift.

So waht do you want from your car?

Volvolution · « **Reply #10 on:** May 08, 2007 - 08:50:23 PM »

thanks guys! :thumb:

well, moper, I kinda want my car to be a cruiser/road racer/track car. little bit of everything. I want to upgrade the suspention and be able to corner with it a bit, maybe some autocross. and then why not take it to the strip once in a while? ya know? I mean, I won't flog it until it won't breathe but I'll drive it a bit. Get on it on long on ramps and from random remote stop signs and such. So, a cam a bit above average would probably do good I think. What kind of idle would a .500 lift cam or just under have? Cuz lumpy idles are part of it but can get annoying when you get lifts close to race cams.

by the way, I schucked the roller idea. didn't want to bother with ordering a custom grind and such just to have rollers for a mostly street car. maybe later.

rallyechall · « **Reply #11 on:** May 09, 2007 - 06:35:00 AM »

I am currently running a "Purple Shaft". The Mopar part number is P4452992. It seems to be fine with 4:10s, although I would like to change to 3.55s to get a little more mpg, and more top end. Some folks don't like the Mopar cams, but I have never had any problems with them at all. They just use old designs. They work just fine if you choose to go that route. I have included the specs. You have not given us enough information to guide you. There are many factors you need to know before you purchase a cam. I have listed them as well. If you do not know too much about cams, there is a very good interpretation of cam selection so you may make a sound choice. Follow this link. http://www.hughesengines.com/general/techArticleDetail.asp?articleID=1000013.

Purple Shaft Cam & Lifter Kit
Adv. Duration: .280�/280�
Dur. @ .050'': 238�/238�
Lift: .474''/.474''
Centerline: 110�
Basic RPM: 2000-6000 RPM

LAA66 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 09, 2007 - 07:44:53 AM »

The Purple Shaft .484/.484 lift w/284 adv. duration in my 340 runs fine for me. Nice lope, and a bit of a hit around 4000 RPM. I do similar driving to what you described 340sROCK but only on the back roads.

Nice article rallyechall.

The 3.23 gears currently installed are a bit of a compromise but cruise well at freeway speeds with this cam. Last checked about 15 mpg when keeping it out of the secondary's. I need to do a steering box replacement and some caster adjustments before checking the top end. Just too spooky at speeds above 80 right now.

Rob C · « **Reply #13 on:** May 09, 2007 - 07:45:48 AM »

The purple shaft (Single pattern cams for that matter) is a good cam for well preped and ported heads that do not need alot or any help on the exhaust side.
If your heads are preped and lightly ported or OOTB Edelbrock heads, a cam of 230 duration @ .050 will get you the power you seek.

I would still look for a split duration cam, just less on the exhaust side for the better flowing head work or OOTB Edel.'s. A few off the shelf grinds would be Comp Cams HI-Lift series or Hughes cams.
Look for an intake duration @ .050 of 230 or slightly bigger. But not much bigger.

moper · « **Reply #14 on:** May 11, 2007 - 09:25:26 AM »

At the track one week ago, ina 30mph headwind, a big block Camaro of a friend equaled his best times ever, 12.00 (396/T400) with no other changes than the X pipe. They definately work. And it sounds a lot different now too. Quieter, but sharper.

Author Topic: Good cam for 340 (Read 4732 times)

Volvolution

Good cam for 340

Chryco Psycho

Re: Good cam for 340

Volvolution

Re: Good cam for 340

Chryco Psycho

Re: Good cam for 340

Volvolution

Re: Good cam for 340

Carlwalski

Re: Good cam for 340

Volvolution

Re: Good cam for 340

LAA66

Re: Good cam for 340

Chryco Psycho

Re: Good cam for 340

moper

Re: Good cam for 340

Volvolution

Re: Good cam for 340

rallyechall

Re: Good cam for 340

LAA66

Re: Good cam for 340

Rob C

Re: Good cam for 340

moper

Re: Good cam for 340