396 AFR Super Ram engine build
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,108
Likes: 126
From: S.L.C. UT
396 AFR Super Ram engine build
Here are some pic's of a engine build I am wrapping up for a forum member. 396, 11.1 compression, 4 bolt block, Eagle 4340 crank, Crower sportsman stroker rods, SRP pistons, Crower 221/230 112 LSA hyd roller, AFR 195 Street port heads, Comp ultra gold rockers, Canton oil pan, and it will get a super ram. Still waiting for a couple of parts. It's going in a 1990 C4 6 speed car. He likes to auto X, so I think this should give him a good autocross engine with alot of torque. And should still be able to run the 1/4 fast. Plus it should have great street manners and drivability.
Last edited by tpi 421 vette; Mar 26, 2010 at 02:21 AM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
What drove the cam selection? Desire for really good street manners? Not a critque at all, just surprised at the duration numbers. Also curious what the lift is.
FWIW my cam is 230/236 duration, 113 LSA, .622/.624 lift. I have my idle set at 800rpm and people constantly comment about how smooth it is. If you've been in a C6 Z06, it's close to that from an idle stability perspective. Engine is a 383 with AFR 195 Eliminator Competition ported heads.
FWIW my cam is 230/236 duration, 113 LSA, .622/.624 lift. I have my idle set at 800rpm and people constantly comment about how smooth it is. If you've been in a C6 Z06, it's close to that from an idle stability perspective. Engine is a 383 with AFR 195 Eliminator Competition ported heads.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,108
Likes: 126
From: S.L.C. UT
In my experiance, block fill isn't need until you get to a 4.0" stroke or more.
Last edited by tpi 421 vette; Mar 26, 2010 at 10:13 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,108
Likes: 126
From: S.L.C. UT
What drove the cam selection? Desire for really good street manners? Not a critque at all, just surprised at the duration numbers. Also curious what the lift is.
FWIW my cam is 230/236 duration, 113 LSA, .622/.624 lift. I have my idle set at 800rpm and people constantly comment about how smooth it is. If you've been in a C6 Z06, it's close to that from an idle stability perspective. Engine is a 383 with AFR 195 Eliminator Competition ported heads.
FWIW my cam is 230/236 duration, 113 LSA, .622/.624 lift. I have my idle set at 800rpm and people constantly comment about how smooth it is. If you've been in a C6 Z06, it's close to that from an idle stability perspective. Engine is a 383 with AFR 195 Eliminator Competition ported heads.
Edit: I also see you have a LT4 intake. That would definately like more duration than this configuration. LT4 is like a miniram, apples and oranges from this. Your cam probably works well with your set up.
Last edited by tpi 421 vette; Mar 26, 2010 at 02:22 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,687
Likes: 3,439
From: Akron Ohio
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner - Modified
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Nice stuff!! 
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Nice work Jim good choice on rods, too.
He will be able to drive that car anywhere with great manners and make huge torque without having to spin it up high.Should last him a long long time.
He will be able to drive that car anywhere with great manners and make huge torque without having to spin it up high.Should last him a long long time.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,141
Likes: 76
From: Santa Maria, CA
Jim,
I'd like to hear how this one turns out. I'm looking for the right shortblock combination to go with my Super Ram and AFR 195s. I'm considering a Dart SHP 400 block with the LPE219 cam but a GM 396 would be cheaper and should be almost identical in power. It would be nice to know how the cam you selected behaves.
I'd like to hear how this one turns out. I'm looking for the right shortblock combination to go with my Super Ram and AFR 195s. I'm considering a Dart SHP 400 block with the LPE219 cam but a GM 396 would be cheaper and should be almost identical in power. It would be nice to know how the cam you selected behaves.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,108
Likes: 126
From: S.L.C. UT
I have used the Crane 222/230 112 LSA 509/528 lift ( 1.5 rocker)cam in alot of engines. That was the first cam I was going to use in this engine. I am very familiar with that cam. I made 416 rwhp in a very mild 421 using that cam. But it is no longer available from Crane since they went out of business and got rebought. I have also used Crower cams and had good luck with their products. Comp cams is always my first choice. But this is pretty close to the Crane 222/230 but has more lift with similar duration numbers. So it's a more aggresive lobe. So I thought I would try this one out. It should match up with a super ram real well.
You don't want to overcam a super ram engine. I have been thru this before. You will make the same peak hp, but you will lose torque. That is my experiance with it. This manifold is a torque manifold, so you want to compliment that.
You don't want a cam that will pull to 6500 when the manifold is done at say 5500-5700. And the more cubes the less rpm it will pull. But it will make boatloads of torque.
You don't want to overcam a super ram engine. I have been thru this before. You will make the same peak hp, but you will lose torque. That is my experiance with it. This manifold is a torque manifold, so you want to compliment that.
You don't want a cam that will pull to 6500 when the manifold is done at say 5500-5700. And the more cubes the less rpm it will pull. But it will make boatloads of torque.
Last edited by tpi 421 vette; Mar 27, 2010 at 01:10 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 4,724
Likes: 16
From: Little Elm TX
I have used the Crane 222/230 112 LSA 509/528 lift ( 1.5 rocker)cam in alot of engines. That was the first cam I was going to use in this engine. I am very familiar with that cam. I made 416 rwhp in a very mild 421 using that cam. But it is no longer available from Crane since they went out of business and got rebought. I have also used Crower cams and had good luck with their products. Comp cams is always my first choice. But this is pretty close to the Crane 222/230 but has more lift with similar duration numbers. So it's a more aggresive lobe. So I thought I would try this one out. It should match up with a super ram real well.
You don't want to overcam a super ram engine. I have been thru this before. You will make the same peak hp, but you will lose torque. That is my experiance with it. This manifold is a torque manifold, so you want to compliment that.
You don't want to overcam a super ram engine. I have been thru this before. You will make the same peak hp, but you will lose torque. That is my experiance with it. This manifold is a torque manifold, so you want to compliment that.
I agree 100% with over-camming a Superram and losing torque with little to no HP gain...... in that SuperRod magazine test where they show all of the intakes on a 383.... thats what they did.... was a big cam they used in that test.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,108
Likes: 126
From: S.L.C. UT
Good to hear from you Beach! Not too many people on here have more experiance with a super ram than you. I have built quite a few engines with them, but you have done more indepth testing than about anybody
I think Kevin will be pleasantly surprised with his 396.
I think Kevin will be pleasantly surprised with his 396.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
Very impressive build!
Nice and clean and can easily tell you take pride in your work!
A+ on all counts!
Looking forward to seeing how this does once in the car... seems to me he'll be quite happy with it.
Nice and clean and can easily tell you take pride in your work!
A+ on all counts!
Looking forward to seeing how this does once in the car... seems to me he'll be quite happy with it.