Need a roller cam for a 405.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Columbia Missouri
Need a roller cam for a 405.
I have a few picked out for a modification to my 405 build. I'm changing the heads, intake, and cam, and have basically chiseled out my final component list. Here's what I'll end up with, hopefully.
405 (400 bored +.020)
Roller Retrofit
Speed Pro Dish Pistons
64cc Vortec Heads
Vortec Air Gap Manifold
Estimated 10.1:1 Compression Ratio
1.5" Self Aligning Roller Rockers
I currently have an LT4 Hotcam in the engine, but am thinking it's going to be too mild. I was looking for low budget roller cams for the 405, and came across these two cams.
Will either of these work well for the engine I have planned? I'm just not sure how to pick a roller cam for a deep breathing 405.
Crane 119661
Lift - intake 539. Lift - exhaust 558. Advertised duration intake - 292. Exhaust 300. Duration at 50, Intake 230. Exhaust 238. Lobe separation 112.
Crane 119831
Lift - intake 509. Lift - Exhaust 528. Advertised duration intake - 284. Exhaust 292. Duration at 50, Intake 222. Exhaust 230. Lobe separation 112.
Thanks guys.
405 (400 bored +.020)
Roller Retrofit
Speed Pro Dish Pistons
64cc Vortec Heads
Vortec Air Gap Manifold
Estimated 10.1:1 Compression Ratio
1.5" Self Aligning Roller Rockers
I currently have an LT4 Hotcam in the engine, but am thinking it's going to be too mild. I was looking for low budget roller cams for the 405, and came across these two cams.
Will either of these work well for the engine I have planned? I'm just not sure how to pick a roller cam for a deep breathing 405.
Crane 119661
Lift - intake 539. Lift - exhaust 558. Advertised duration intake - 292. Exhaust 300. Duration at 50, Intake 230. Exhaust 238. Lobe separation 112.
Crane 119831
Lift - intake 509. Lift - Exhaust 528. Advertised duration intake - 284. Exhaust 292. Duration at 50, Intake 222. Exhaust 230. Lobe separation 112.
Thanks guys.
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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Do you already have these Vortec heads ? A 400ci based small block is bigger than a 396 big block and only a 4 inch crank away from the legendary 427ci big block. I would not put anything smaller than a 215cc head on a 406ci
Vortec heads are for a mild 350ci motor. I would seriously think about getting heads that are suited to the application then pick the cam. You can then look at the flat top speedpro pistons with a cam that will keep the DCR in pump cam range.
Vortec heads are for a mild 350ci motor. I would seriously think about getting heads that are suited to the application then pick the cam. You can then look at the flat top speedpro pistons with a cam that will keep the DCR in pump cam range.
Last edited by MotorHead; Jun 2, 2008 at 08:26 PM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Columbia Missouri
Do you already have these Vortec heads ? A 400ci based small block is bigger than a 396 big block and only a 4 inch crank away from the legendary 427ci big block.
Vortec heads are for a mild 350ci motor. I would seriously think about getting heads that are suited to the application then pick the cam.
Vortec heads are for a mild 350ci motor. I would seriously think about getting heads that are suited to the application then pick the cam.
I think these guys made good power with this recipe and it wasn't even a roller cam.
428 HP & 525 TQ at 5500 RPM
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...que/index.html
Besides, I can have the heads shipped to me for $200 - $250, and all they need is work to accept higher lift cams and better springs.
I know I can find better heads, but not for the small budget I am on.
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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Problem is with a simple head swap they would have made 528HP and the same torque.
If you are on a budget and want to use the vortec heads that is fine. Then you are looking at a stump puller motor that won't rev too high and fine for the street.
In that case you probably are looking at the smaller of the two roller cams above
If you are on a budget and want to use the vortec heads that is fine. Then you are looking at a stump puller motor that won't rev too high and fine for the street.
In that case you probably are looking at the smaller of the two roller cams above
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Columbia Missouri
Problem is with a simple head swap they would have made 528HP and the same torque.
If you are on a budget and want to use the vortec heads that is fine. Then you are looking at a stump puller motor that won't rev too high and fine for the street.
In that case you probably are looking at the smaller of the two roller cams above
If you are on a budget and want to use the vortec heads that is fine. Then you are looking at a stump puller motor that won't rev too high and fine for the street.
In that case you probably are looking at the smaller of the two roller cams above
Perfect. I prefer high torque cruising to high HP high RPM speeding.
Oh, and they DID do a simple head swap to that engine in the build. They changed to aluminum heads with bigger runners and gained 20+ HP.
Okay, so which would be better, the Hot Cam, or Cam #2 from above? I already have the Hot Cam, so that woudl save money.
Last edited by Durango_Boy; Jun 2, 2008 at 09:02 PM.
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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Perfect. I prefer high torque cruising to high HP high RPM speeding.
Oh, and they DID do a simple head swap to that engine in the build. They changed to aluminum heads with bigger runners and gained 20+ HP.
Okay, so which would be better, the Hot Cam, or Cam #2 from above? I already have the Hot Cam, so that woudl save money.
Oh, and they DID do a simple head swap to that engine in the build. They changed to aluminum heads with bigger runners and gained 20+ HP.
Okay, so which would be better, the Hot Cam, or Cam #2 from above? I already have the Hot Cam, so that woudl save money.
What are the specs on the hot cam ?
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From: Columbia Missouri
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Thread Starter
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From: Columbia Missouri
I'm not familiar with how to do that? Any tips before I start researching?
Edit: I did some reading and now understand what dynamic compression is, but I have little understanding of how to properly measure it.
Last edited by Durango_Boy; Jun 2, 2008 at 10:28 PM.
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09
With Iron heads and 10.1 to 1 compression I think you need at least the duration on the Crane 119661. Nice lift numbers too. With the limited flow of the vortec heads you need the lift and duration to help fill the cylinder. Also with over 400 cubic inches a cam that seems fairly radical in a 350 would be docile. 
Thread Starter
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From: Columbia Missouri
With Iron heads and 10.1 to 1 compression I think you need at least the duration on the Crane 119661. Nice lift numbers too. With the limited flow of the vortec heads you need the lift and duration to help fill the cylinder. Also with over 400 cubic inches a cam that seems fairly radical in a 350 would be docile.
So the Hot Cam would essentially be a bit tame for the 400?
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From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Yes, Probably have way too much DCR. Pinging and detonation issues. Might even want to go bigger, like this:
http://www.cranecams.com/?show=brows...tType=camshaft
A 10 to 1 iron head motor needs DCR under 8 to 1. If you post your specs and cam choices someone will chime in with some help on figuring your DCR.
http://www.cranecams.com/?show=brows...tType=camshaft
A 10 to 1 iron head motor needs DCR under 8 to 1. If you post your specs and cam choices someone will chime in with some help on figuring your DCR.
Last edited by 63mako; Jun 2, 2008 at 10:36 PM.
Thread Starter
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From: Columbia Missouri
Yes, Probably have way too much DCR. Pinging and detonation issues. Might even want to go bigger, like this:
http://www.cranecams.com/?show=brows...tType=camshaft
A 10 to 1 iron head motor needs DCR under 8 to 1. If you post your specs and cam choices someone will chime in with some help on figuring your DCR.
http://www.cranecams.com/?show=brows...tType=camshaft
A 10 to 1 iron head motor needs DCR under 8 to 1. If you post your specs and cam choices someone will chime in with some help on figuring your DCR.
That might be too big...I don't want a rough idle. I'd like to keep it streetable.
I think I might get the 119661.
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From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Before you spring for the new cam check the DCR. The rough idle would be in a 350, that is how the cam companies rate them, it actually has a 112 LSA and a 234 242 duration @ .050. Not a radical cam by any means. Probably a muscle car rumble, not a pro street idle. 10 to 1 iron head motor needs a lot of duration to avoid detonation issues.
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From: Lake Norman NC
The Crane 119831 cam is the one GMPP uses in the ZZ383. Very tame and will prbably be even more docile with all those cubic inches. Probably be better suited for the vortec heads also...it would make a great cruiser..but with that much compression; better heads, and a nastier cam would make a mean *** combo (that is still very streetable).
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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
The Crane 119831 cam is the one GMPP uses in the ZZ383. Very tame and will prbably be even more docile with all those cubic inches. Probably be better suited for the vortec heads also...it would make a great cruiser..but with that much compression; better heads, and a nastier cam would make a mean *** combo (that is still very streetable).
Le Mans Master
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DB putting a 222 at .050 in a 405 cube engine would be roughly the
same as building a 350 using the original 195 at .050 L/48 cam. big engines tame minor duration easly. But an L/48 only had around 8.00 compression, that low of compression, iron heads, super mild cam no problem. 10.0 compression, iron heads, really mild cam, you may want to rethink.
same as building a 350 using the original 195 at .050 L/48 cam. big engines tame minor duration easly. But an L/48 only had around 8.00 compression, that low of compression, iron heads, super mild cam no problem. 10.0 compression, iron heads, really mild cam, you may want to rethink.
Last edited by Little Mouse; Jun 3, 2008 at 01:47 AM.
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From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
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Unless you have had the heads modified for high lifts your going to lift limited as well to maybe .45 or so.
Perhaps some of the crane cams with the long advertised durations and the short .05 durations and low lift. (the cams with the green rhombi next to them).
Perhaps some of the crane cams with the long advertised durations and the short .05 durations and low lift. (the cams with the green rhombi next to them).
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From: macks creek mo
DB,give Crane a call and tell them what you have and what you want out of the engine,most cam companys will give you all the info you need to get you on track,they will even make up a specal cam for you but it will cost $---JON--