[Chevelle-list] Cam choice?

[Bill Vander Werf]

I'm not familiar with what Edelbrock advertises their cams as. I was looking at the specs on the two cams relative to each other. The cam you picked has more lift (0.560 int./0.573 exh.) and duration @ .050 (240 int./246 exh.) as well as a smaller (112) lobe separation angle. The cam I suggested has less lift (0.527 int./0.553 exh.) and duration @ .050 (224 int./232 exh.) and a wider (114) lobe separation angle. The wider LSA would give you more manifold vacuum to power things like power brakes and AC vacuum operated servos. All these factors would make the cam I suggested milder, or more street friendly, than your first choice.

Like I said before; either cam would work, it all depends on what you want out of the car. Neither cam is a "radical" cam by any stretch of the imagination but another thing you have to consider is cubic inches. A 402 is a small big block. A larger engine (454 or larger) absorbs some of the "personality" of a larger cam simply because it moves more air. What is lumpy in a 454 is much more so in a 402.

There are other cams available too. I just stayed within the Edelbrock line to keep things simple. Cam choice is probably the single most confusing aspect of engine building. I wasn't intentionally trying to confuse the issue with you but that is just what seems to happen when you are trying to make the correct cam choice.

Bill Vander Werf


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Pelle Andersson 
  To: The Chevelle Mailing List 
  Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2008 2:43 PM
  Subject: Re: [Chevelle-list] Cam choice?


  But isn't the Torker cam supposed to be Edelbrocks "lumpiest" cam!!??

  //Pelle
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Bill Vander Werf 
    To: The Chevelle Mailing List 
    Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 1:49 PM
    Subject: Re: [Chevelle-list] Cam choice?


    Although I think your cam choice would work, I believe it's at the far end of what I would put in a daily driver street car.

    It really depends on what you want. Do you want a car to show off? Is a lumpy idle is more important than practicality? If that's what you want, then I think it's a good choice.

    Do you want more practicality and drivability? I can only imagine what you pay for gas where you are. Let's face it, a big block isn't going to get very good gas mileage by today's standards anyway, but is economy important to you? If it is, go a little smaller.

    If you are building a daily driver then my philosophy is this; less is more when it comes to cams. A lumpy idle is cool but a smaller cam will give you more power where you can use it...in the lower to mid-range.

    Even in drag racing less can be more. I have a 3600 pound 71 that runs 11.50s with a Crane 224/236 @ .050 hydraulic roller in a 461 (.030 over 454). Most people don't believe that's all the cam I have in it. I think it works as good as it does because it gives me the bottom end power to get a heavy car moving.

    Staying within the Edelbrock line, I would recommend this cam for your application:

    http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=EDL%2D5062&autoview=sku

    Bill Vander Werf

      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: Pelle Andersson 
      To: chevelle-list at chevelles.net 
      Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 6:41 AM
      Subject: [Chevelle-list] Cam choice?


      Hi!
      What do you guys think about putting a edelbrock 7162 cam in my 402?
      Stock heads, 800cfm holley, performer rpm intake, hooker pro comp headers
      Mallory Hei.
      http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=EDL%2D7162&autoview=sku
      Please comment!

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