Cam recommendations on a 522 stroker.

[Kevin71]

Have a 522 stroker with 440 source aluminum heads.  It has a real lopey cam with no vacum.  It's just a pain in the ass to drive.   It currently has 550 HP with close to 650 ftlbs of torque.  I like something a little lopey and don't mind giving up some hp.  But I was thinking of maybe a hyd roller that way I could do away with having to worry about the ZDDP additavies.  And instead of a large overlap I could get a faster ramping and higher lift but more driveability.  Does this make sense and are there are any recommendations?

[cudabob496]

lotta smart people on this website, but you should talk
to the major cam manufacturer tech people too.

my 496 stroker has a Crower solid roller, 106 centerline, .600/.625 lift,
254/258 at .050. It is very streetable, but makes great power!
Car has 3500 stall, and 3.91 rear gears.

Glad I spoke with cam tech, because the original cam I selected had too much
duration for my compression ratio, and I would have bled down too much cyclinder
pressure.

[jhaag]

I agree with cudabob! Talk with your favorite cam manufacturer and they will analyze your combo and make a recommendation. Not knowing what you have now your thoughts on going with a roller make a lot of sense as they can do so much more with the lobe angles, to make a motor more streetable.

[Kevin71]

If I have to buy new lifters anyway I might as well spend a little more and get a better system. 
Thanks for the advice.

[Chryco Psycho]

so far no perfect solution
flat tappet cams need additives solid or hyd 
 hyd rollers can collapse lifters on fast ramp cams because of the nessisary spring pressure to keep the valve train stable so you od not get the full advantage of the roller design 
Solid rollers do not have adequate oil feed unless you buy EDM type lifters to send oil down to the rollers when idling in street driving
Both rollers need special bronze tipped fuel pump pushrods & bronze drive gears for the oil/ dist which require replacement more often .
 From a Cost basis I have been staying with solid flat tappet custom grind Lunati cams you can mimic street roller profiles using 1.6 rockers & still have good idle & drivability while cranking out close to 700 Gross HP , over 400 rwhp & 460 rw tq ......... oil is cheaper than parts 

[cudabob496]

so far no perfect solution
flat tappet cams need additives solid or hyd 
 hyd rollers can collapse lifters on fast ramp cams because of the nessisary spring pressure to keep the valve train stable so you od not get the full advantage of the roller design 
Solid rollers do not have adequate oil feed unless you buy EDM type lifters to send oil down to the rollers when idling in street driving
Both rollers need special bronze tipped fuel pump pushrods & bronze drive gears for the oil/ dist which require replacement more often .
 From a Cost basis I have been staying with solid flat tappet custom grind Lunati cams you can mimic street roller profiles using 1.6 rockers & still have good idle & drivability while cranking out close to 700 Gross HP , over 400 rwhp & 460 rw tq ......... oil is cheaper than parts 

I assume the Crower lifters that came with my Crower solid roller have correct oil feed?

[Chryco Psycho]

Most are race use / higher RPM & do not feed adequate oil to the rollers when idling

[cudabob496]

Most are race use / higher RPM & do not feed adequate oil to the rollers when idling

Nother good reason for synthetic oil.

[HP_Cuda]

Hey Bob

How many long trips on the freeway have you gone on? I have 4.11's in my other Cuda and I'm about to swap them out.

B

lotta smart people on this website, but you should talk
to the major cam manufacturer tech people too.

my 496 stroker has a Crower solid roller, 106 centerline, .600/.625 lift,
254/258 at .050. It is very streetable, but makes great power!
Car has 3500 stall, and 3.91 rear gears.

Glad I spoke with cam tech, because the original cam I selected had too much
duration for my compression ratio, and I would have bled down too much cyclinder
pressure.

[cudabob496]

Hey Bob

How many long trips on the freeway have you gone on? I have 4.11's in my other Cuda and I'm about to swap them out.

B

None, I just use the Cuda to run around town, looking for unsuspecting Camaros.

[HP_Cuda]

Back on topic, if you are using the Stealth heads make sure the springs you are using will handle the lift of your cam.

I went with Beehive springs which gave me room at .577 lift on a 1.6 Harland roller rocker.

[Kevin71]

This is all good info to help make a decesion.  If you run a solid flat tappet do you have to adjust the valves often?  I will have to check my paper work on the motor.  I bought it from Carolina Engines and they did give me a list of all the parts.  I thought I should keep the HP below 600 as it is a stock block without  a girdle.

[72cudamaan]

This is all good info to help make a decesion.  If you run a solid flat tappet do you have to adjust the valves often?  I will have to check my paper work on the motor.  I bought it from Carolina Engines and they did give me a list of all the parts.  I thought I should keep the HP below 600 as it is a stock block without  a girdle.

No, once adjusted properly you typically don't have to adjust for quite awhile. If you run it hard often and/or go
to the track on a regular basis then of course you may have to adjust more frequently.

[cudabob496]

Back on topic, if you are using the Stealth heads make sure the springs you are using will handle the lift of your cam.

I went with Beehive springs which gave me room at .577 lift on a 1.6 Harland roller rocker.

Thought I heard you should use 1.5 rockers on Mopar big blocks?

[72cudamaan]

Thought I heard you should use 1.5 rockers on Mopar big blocks?

Just have to be very careful with position of roller to center of valve tip. Otherwise you get bad valve and guide wear.
Tis the case with any rocker shaft valve train.