C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

What does this cam specifications mean?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 15, 2002 | 08:00 AM
  #1  
MARKUS_P's Avatar
MARKUS_P
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 2
From: near VIENNA, AUSTRIA
Default What does this cam specifications mean?

Duration 290 !!, Lift: 0.48
I was told it is made by Comp Cams....
I know to what the data refers, but I donīt know what type of cam it is.
Duration seems much to me, lift too, so.....is it a wild cam?
Any input appreciated.
Reply
Old Feb 15, 2002 | 08:07 AM
  #2  
Ganey's Avatar
Ganey
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Default Re: What does this cam specifications mean? (MARKUS_P)

You need more accurate info.! Possibly a 280H .480/.480 230/230. A med. hyd. cam.
Reply
Old Feb 15, 2002 | 08:11 AM
  #3  
MARKUS_P's Avatar
MARKUS_P
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 2
From: near VIENNA, AUSTRIA
Default Re: What does this cam specifications mean? (Ganey)

Yes, itīs a hydraulic lifter cam, this info is all I have....
it was hard enough to find that out!!
I was told that this cam isnīt strretable without a torque converter such as holeshot 2000...
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2002 | 02:13 AM
  #4  
MARKUS_P's Avatar
MARKUS_P
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 2
From: near VIENNA, AUSTRIA
Default Re: What does this cam specifications mean? (MARKUS_P)

ttt
BTW does anybody know the link to the homepage of comp cams?
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2002 | 03:04 AM
  #5  
Jvette73's Avatar
Jvette73
Safety Car
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,004
Likes: 2
From: Severna Park Md
Default Re: What does this cam specifications mean? (MARKUS_P)

http://www.compcams.com
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2002 | 07:25 AM
  #6  
73-454's Avatar
73-454
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 787
Likes: 1
From: Toronto Ontario
Default Re: What does this cam specifications mean? (Jvette73)

I have the comp cam with 292 duration at .05 lift on my 73-454 Auto. I would "NOT Recommend" this cam for street use on an auto vette. It might work a bit better on a 4-speed. I suggest you call Com cam tech. line and ask for their recommendation. Word on the street is no more the a 262 duration for street use with and auto.
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2002 | 09:08 AM
  #7  
Ganey's Avatar
Ganey
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Default Re: What does this cam specifications mean? (MARKUS_P)

If used, the lifters need to go back on the same lobes. If you cannot be sure then the whole discussion is moot. Cam is critical, best to have the correct one for your setup.

:cool:
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2002 | 10:13 AM
  #8  
Jvette73's Avatar
Jvette73
Safety Car
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,004
Likes: 2
From: Severna Park Md
Default Re: What does this cam specifications mean? (Ganey)

I went with XE268. But I already had a 2400stall with a th400 and 3.08. Comp Cams catalog says the 268 is the biggest cam for auto without higher stall. But they also suggest lower rear gear. If your gonna run a stock stall speed convertor, I wouldnt go over XE262. Actually with the 3.08, the 262 would also work better with a slightly higher than stock stall speed. If I had run the 268 without a higher stall along with my th400 and 3.08's, I doubt there would have been any gain. Of coarse the top end would have been better, with the sacrifice on the botom end. From a dead standing start race, weak launch, no wheel spin to even think of. But from a highway blast from 50 to 100mph. There is where it would feel better.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Feb 18, 2002 | 11:05 AM
  #9  
Noel Carboni's Avatar
Noel Carboni
Pro
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 534
Likes: 0
From: FL
Default Re: What does this cam specifications mean? (73-454)

Here's a collection of random cam rules of thumb borne from experience...

Cam specs alone don't define a cam's behavior, though given a particular cam type and engine displacement they can give you some idea.

Cams come in "solid lifter", "hydraulic lifter", "hydraulic roller", and "solid roller" varieties (perhaps there are others, I dunno). The lifter type generally implies the shape of the valve event curve. Roller varieties tend to slap open and slam closed the valves faster, with steeper sides on the curve. Rollers generally need stiffer springs so these more violent valve events are kept under control.

There is also a matter of how cam specs are presented... Some cams durations are advertised as "off the seat", while others list 'duration at 0.050" lift'. These numbers cannot easily be compared, because they depend on the curve shape.

Overall cam lift is important. It defines how far open the valve is pushed, and the rocker arm geometry can affect this as well. Most cams advertise lift assuming the "stock" rocker arm ratio (i.e., 1.5:1 in a Chevy small block, if memory serves).

Another factor in determining how a cam will run is the lobe separation. In other words, the rotational relationship between the timing of the intake valve and exhaust valve opening. A wider lobe separation implies the exhaust valve will open later as compared to the intake valve, and will generally give better idle and mid-range torque.

Last but certainly not least, a given cam that might be considered wild for a small engine will run as though it were a milder one in a larger displacement engine.

For example, I have a solid-roller cam advertising 245/245 degrees duration at 0.050" lift, with 0.575/0.572 lift and 113 degree lobe separation. It probably has something like 290 degrees "off the seat" duration. This might be a really "wild" cam in a 350, but it actually idles pretty well down to about 800 RPM and delivers excellent mid-range torque in my 418.

Perhaps the best you can hope for, when selecting a cam, is to find someone who's used a particular cam of interest in an application similar to yours, and ask them how it worked and what they'd do different. George's and Jvette73's posts, for example, are valuable in this regard.

-Noel


[Modified by Noel Carboni, 3:11 PM 2/18/2002]
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To What does this cam specifications mean?





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:28 PM.

story-0
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-2
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE