Thread: what cam to run

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Anyone know a good cam to run in a SBC needs to be a small one the converter is stock just needing something to give it a little bump Thanks for the info guys.

Chris,

Need more information to make an informed recommendation like, how many cubic inches, what model car, type of heads and carburetor, and rear end gear ratio. And what is your intended use?

Originally Posted by rumrumm

Need more information to make an informed recommendation like, how many cubic inches, what model car, type of heads and carburetor, and rear end gear ratio. And what is your intended use?

....and isn't one of the most important pieces the static compression ratio?

Sorry, duplicate post.

A comment on this was made by one of the cam grinders many years ago, I forget who it was, but he said that such a situation called for the very first cam that was listed on the page, the mildest one. That is one step up from stock and should work OK.
Here's the first page of hydraulic flat tappet cams from Crane, just as a for-instance. I'm not saying you have to use a Crane. There are dozens of cam grinders who would be eager to serve you.
http://www.cranecams.com/56-67.pdf

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Gotta love Tech's common sense approach! It's hard to beat experience as a teacher.

The only thing I'd add is that if you choose to stay with a flat tappet cam you need to be sure to run a high quality race oil, like Brad Penn or Joe Gibbs that has the extra dose of zinc & phosphorus that our normal oils have lost. If you go flat tappet and regular oil you can just about count on losing a lobe or two at some point, and that does nasty things to the engine, circulating that powdered metal through your bearings & cylinders.... Roller cam is a much better choice, or if you can't, then use good oil and follow the break in steps without question.