Experience with Comp Cam 274 grind
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,472
Likes: 18
From: Lake Ozark, MO
Experience with Comp Cam 274 grind
Any one have an experinece with a Comp cams XE274H-10? How is the idle quality and vacuum? Looking to replace my wiped Edlebrock 7162 with this one. Would you have chosen something else? BB 454.
Last edited by Hvymtlc5; Mar 6, 2006 at 01:24 PM.
Moderator
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 7,117
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From: Dove Mountain Arizona
I had one in my sbc and generally liked it. I've tried many cams (see sig for engine) though and even though the XE274 was alright, I personally found a cam that is way better, at least for me. I highly recommend the Isky 270/280-12 MegaCam (Hyd). It still rumps and bumps at idle but cleans out immediately when revving/taking off. Not so with the XE274. Useable rpm's dropped from 1800 to 1200 with the Isky and it will still rev happily over 6000 with power to around that as well. Vacuum with the Comp was around 9 and with the Isky I get 11. You'll know the engine is 'cammed' with either one for sure. 
Last edited by MasterDave; Mar 5, 2006 at 02:03 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,874
Likes: 7
From: l In
I just bought one of these last week for my 383 build. The person that recommended it to me has as much knowledge on smallblock motors as anyone else I know. He told me that is about as much cam as I would want for a street motor.
He also told me to buy a 3000 stall converter
He also told me to buy a 3000 stall converter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,844
Likes: 99
From: Orrtanna Pa.
I ran one in my 406,and thaught it was way too tame. I called the Comp Tech line for recommendations,told them what I wanted for rpms and intended use...........the whole gammet. Once installed it idled like a stock 350,and ran out of rpms around 5500.It unfortunately flattened a lobe,and I had to replace the cam.Went with the comp XE-284,which idled more like a muscle car,and pulled better to 6000 or so.
That said,at the time I was still un experienced with solid cams,and after bending a few pushrods at 6500,I went with a solid Isky circle track cam.(Z-35) Idles no different that the Comp XE-284,but pulls well into the 7000 range in the 406.The interesting thing is I was told solids were noisy and needed lashing all the time,so I stayed away from them till now.I find the Isky solid to be quieter than the Comp hydraulic,and I have not had to re lash the valves yet.
That said,at the time I was still un experienced with solid cams,and after bending a few pushrods at 6500,I went with a solid Isky circle track cam.(Z-35) Idles no different that the Comp XE-284,but pulls well into the 7000 range in the 406.The interesting thing is I was told solids were noisy and needed lashing all the time,so I stayed away from them till now.I find the Isky solid to be quieter than the Comp hydraulic,and I have not had to re lash the valves yet.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,635
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From: Union Ontario
I have it in my 383. I am running around 12 inches of vacuum and idle was stable at around 900. It gets choppy at anything below that.
I am running the cam with 1.6:1 rockers so my lift is at 0.523" instead of 0.490"
I am running the cam with 1.6:1 rockers so my lift is at 0.523" instead of 0.490"
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,472
Likes: 18
From: Lake Ozark, MO
Thanks for the all input. I should have asked in my post if the "reliability" issues discussed earlier have been taken care of or does this cam still have a higher probability of "wiping" than others. Bob, what was the outcome of your survey?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by Hvymtlc5
.... Bob, what was the outcome of your survey?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,472
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From: Lake Ozark, MO
Thanks Bob...appears zinc is a key element. There is no cam anywhere out there that I care to install... where I have to remove internal springs or use lighter springs just for break-in. I just want this darn motor to run....and the variable for something relatively simple (as a cam change) keep piling up
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
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From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
With the possible exception of wish2b's response ... so far, it seems most are from guys with sbc ... AFAIK, your motor is BBC ... how a 274 PERFORMS in an sbc has little to do with how a 274 will PERFORM in a BBC ... for any given performance parameters, BBC requires more cam than sbc. Reliability can be compared, but not performance (i.e. idle, vacuum, hp-tq-rpm range). Best to state up front what motor & mods you're working with.
Originally Posted by Hvymtlc5
Any one have an experinece with a Comp cams XE274H-10? How is the idle quality and vacuum? Looking to replace my wiped Edlebrock 7162 with this one. Would you have chosen something else?
Last edited by jackson; Mar 6, 2006 at 12:30 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,472
Likes: 18
From: Lake Ozark, MO
Just assumed the 7162 gave it away as a BB - my fault since I've been dealing with this cam and not the rest of the forum.
I do have a BB with headers, RPM Air Gap, 750 Demon. 10.25CR. I had matched the 7162 cam to the Edelbrock manifold. Before I buy another 7162...I was looking at the 274 or something else recommmeded by the forum.
I do have a BB with headers, RPM Air Gap, 750 Demon. 10.25CR. I had matched the 7162 cam to the Edelbrock manifold. Before I buy another 7162...I was looking at the 274 or something else recommmeded by the forum.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Can't say I've followed every post re: your valve train probs ... but thought the root cause behind failures were improper springs & retainers (choice & setup) ... that'd sure wipe the cam ... any cam.
Originally Posted by Hvymtlc5
Just assumed the 7162 gave it away as a BB - my fault since I've been dealing with this cam and not the rest of the forum. I do have a BB with headers, RPM Air Gap, 750 Demon. 10.25CR. I had matched the 7162 cam to the Edelbrock manifold. Before I buy another 7162...I was looking at the 274 or something else recommmeded by the forum.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 88,393
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From: eville in
Originally Posted by bobs77vet
wells thats a loaded question....i took away from the survey that the majority of problems were user inflicted and had to do with not breaking in the cam properly.....and it had both extremes, with guys who knew what they were doing having a wiped lobe as well guys doing every thing on purpose to try and wipe a lobe and they couldn't........in one of the recent magazines there was an article on wiped lobes and Crane is even quoted with saying they are having problems with wiped lobes....so what does this mean to you. make sure you follow the instructions and break in the cam properly, make sure you use the oil supplement that is recommended....and make sure you use a high zinc content oil.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 11,593
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From: Clayton NC
W00Ps I missed he had a BB. I too am running it in a SB sorry about that. See I need to moderate my Rum with my posts... I have to agree you can go with a bigger cam profile with the Biggus Blockus.. Do you have the funds to go full roller??? All the rage right now, I even fell for it this build up. No real world numbers yet as I haven't loaded it in yet. Everyone seems to see about 35 hp though and I would think that would be even more in a BB.. Dave
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,770
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From: St Louis MO
I've got the solid lifter version of the XE274. It's a really nice street cam. It's got a lopey but not rough idle, pulls strong from as low as 2k on up to as far as I have dared to take the unknown-quality shortblock. Those solid lifters are music too, man! It idles somewhat nervously at 800 rpm and pulls about 12" of vacuum.
The only bad thing I have noticed is, on my stick car it does buck some on deceleration below 1400 rpm.
Clicky
The only bad thing I have noticed is, on my stick car it does buck some on deceleration below 1400 rpm.
Clicky
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,472
Likes: 18
From: Lake Ozark, MO
Thank Brett. Came across a deal on a XE274 package with matched springs....but wanted to see if the forum had any good words for this cam or other recommendations. Still leaning toward another Edelbrock 7162. I really want to use the manufactures springs with the cam this time. Last time everything was pieced out..still should have worked but didn't because of setup errors.
