CAM shaft advice for a 396
04-16-2015, 03:43 AM
#1
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CAM shaft advice for a 396
Hi,
What would be a good cam shaft for a 396 street car.
I have a 65 with a 396 Chevelle engine who has a very aggressive cam (former owner drag raced the car in the UK).
Also it has Headman headers, side exhaust and a Holley street avenger.
Cam delivers 11-12 vacuum which is not enough for the PB.
I am not bothered about an eventual loss of HP just want the car to run nice and smoothly as possible for a BB.
Any advice is welcome,
Ray
What would be a good cam shaft for a 396 street car.
I have a 65 with a 396 Chevelle engine who has a very aggressive cam (former owner drag raced the car in the UK).
Also it has Headman headers, side exhaust and a Holley street avenger.
Cam delivers 11-12 vacuum which is not enough for the PB.
I am not bothered about an eventual loss of HP just want the car to run nice and smoothly as possible for a BB.
Any advice is welcome,
Ray
04-16-2015, 09:35 AM
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You keeping a flat tappet cam? Or going with a roller. If a roller I have a stock 454 cam out of GM new HO crate motor in my 396. It runs great with good idle and street manors. But what ever cam you use do not forget the rear grove in the end along with the correct bearing. That is the most important thing. That only accounts for 65-66 cast blocks
Last edited by Nowhere Man; 04-16-2015 at 02:02 PM.
04-16-2015, 10:27 AM
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St. Jude Donor '07
You keeping a flat tappet cam? Or going with a roller. If a roller I have a stock 454 cam out of GM new HO crate motor in my 396. It runs great with good idle and street manors. But what ever cam you use do not forget the rear grove in the end along with the correct bearing. That is the most important thing.
04-20-2015, 08:04 AM
#5
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Hydraulic rollers are considered safer from the odds of wiping a lobe out on break in - but as long as the right oil and break in procedure is used a flat tappet cam will be fine. You can usually get quicker ramps with a roller for greater effective lift and duration and maintain a reasonably smooth idle. But the hydraulic roller is going to cost you considerably more in parts.
04-20-2015, 09:02 AM
#6
Team Owner
Hydraulic roller setup will work fine. That is what is in the '67 Chevelle SS-396 with a 'built' '69 396 engine. Very good street manners but would really scoot. I don't know the specifics on the engine build for the cam but I do know its a hydraulic roller configuration. This is the video I did for the eBay ad for the car:
Previous owner put it in. I think you would be very happy with something similar and it'll have all the punch you want. This motor was 400-425hp and would smoke the tires until the cows came home. Sold the car two years back.
Previous owner put it in. I think you would be very happy with something similar and it'll have all the punch you want. This motor was 400-425hp and would smoke the tires until the cows came home. Sold the car two years back.
04-21-2015, 05:56 AM
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Last edited by MarkC; 04-21-2015 at 07:21 AM.
04-21-2015, 06:19 AM
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04-21-2015, 11:11 AM
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