Thread: 454 Gen V help with CAM install

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I bought a streetrod with a Gen V 454. Was told it was a 300hp crate engine. The casting # is 12550313
I want to install a comp Thumpr cam: 279 TH 7 grind
so that I have a lopey idle. This cam was recommended by the folks at Comp Cams for what I was looking for.

According to what I read, this engine has non-adjustable rockers.

1. If I put this cam in, do I adjust the rocker nut down and that's it?
I'm concerned about proper lash with the newer higher lift (Just under 500)

2. Never having done a cam in the car, can I just cut the front oil pan gasket to remove the timing chain cover and then fill the void with RTV when I put the timing cover back on?

Any advise would be appreciated. My car is a 1930 5 window coupe.

Thanks, Upolka2

ARP makes a 3/8 bottom and 7/16 top stud for the mark 5 and 6 heads . so you can adjust the rockers you need to go roller or mark 4 steel stamp rocker arms as the rocker s you have use a tower bolt with a bigger ball in the rocker will not work with a 7/16 stud .the older bbc use a 7/16 top and bottom stud but your heads are thread to 3/8 from GM did this so they could use the tower bolt / shoulder bolt for your rockers you have on it now this is the first thing i fix on the mark 5/6 engines and if for race use i drill the heads for a 7/16 top and bottom rocker studs as this is a stronger way then the 3/8 bottom stud but for mild use its fine to use the ARP stud#135-7102 there a kit to use the rockers you have and a new rocker ball to fit the mark 5/6 rocker arms 6172k from Competition Products .i never used there kit .i ways gone roller rocker or older bbc steel stamp rockers with ARP studs

I would suggest seeing if comp makes that cam in a roller cam, as a flat tappet cam is almost impossible to make live with the oil we have available to us. And that goes double in a big block. Even if you decide to go with the flat tappet you will have to buy lifters,"NEVER EVER RE USE LIFTERS". No you do not have to cut the oil pan gasket,self explanatory after you pull the timing cover. You'll need intake gasket set,valve cover gaskets and a timing cover gasket set and a tube of top quality RTV.Also it helps to grind down the inside lip (bottom of cover,oil pan seal lip) of the timing cover to aid in reassembly.

Wow, thanks for the help. I appreciate the hints on grinding the timing cover. Do they make a timing cover specifically for installing with the oil pan bolted in place? I saw in a Summit magazine something about a 2 pc. cover but don't know if that would really help with my install. I really don't want to loosen the oil pan bolts or drop the pan, but I also don't want any oil leaks.

Hey thanks for all of your time and the info. I live in a rural area and just cruise; I'll never pull the motor over 5K rpm.
Having said that, I might try the Competition Products kit and see how that goes. All I'm after is a lopey idle.
Only thing holding me back from doing this project was the rocker situation (lash), and the fact that I never pulled a timing cover with the oil pan on. I have only pulled timing covers during engine builds (back in tech skool) where the oil pan was off, and that was 20 years ago!!

mark 6 roller cam will fit i would used the marine take out cam thats less then 50.00 then buy the retro rollers lifters . hold down plate .mark 6 timming set .right push rods. not a hard job i done many. it may not have the want a be big cam sound . but will run like a hot poker was up its back side it a 330HP cam and has some sound if you did want to go cheap roller cam but you did not ask

Originally Posted by upolka2

Hey thanks for all of your time and the info. I live in a rural area and just cruise; I'll never pull the motor over 5K rpm.
Having said that, I might try the Competition Products kit and see how that goes. All I'm after is a lopey idle.
Only thing holding me back from doing this project was the rocker situation (lash), and the fact that I never pulled a timing cover with the oil pan on. I have only pulled timing covers during engine builds (back in tech skool) where the oil pan was off, and that was 20 years ago!!

if this has a tin front cover with a flat bottom end seal then you just cut the gasket this is not part on the pan gasket .BUT CHECK THIS BEFORE YOU CUT.... if it has a die cast front cover then it will use a one pc pan gasket so what do you have ? you just use two screw drivers in the front cover bolt holes two push down to get the cover on the dowels