Roller Cam Retrofit worthwhile ?

[79wagonator]

Its not just about peak power or torque. Unless your just building your motor for a dyno contest :?
Its about
- much wider power band
- Your car will be faster and more responsive.
- larger cam will have better street manners
- You can use much larger cam for your combo
- More efficient (more power) better mpg
- Longevity, reliability
- No break in procedure
- No worry about zinc in oil.
- I'm sure there is more..
- just set it and forget it.. 8)
BTW those 2 cams you compared are not the same to compare
If you can swing it just do it!
or wait and save up.. 😀

 

[pontiacgp]

Best research I could find was comp cams camquest software. I know its not a real benchmark but it sure makes it easier to compare apples to apples. Entering my setup heres what I pulled up.

268h
$ 200.00
454 / 454 lift
218/218 duration
made 327 hp + 404 tq

closest retrofit I could find that made close to the same HP while retaining my convertor was CL12-408-8
$717.00 + $ 40.00 pushrods
480 / 487 lift
206/202 duration
made 325hp + 416 tq

$ 500.00 for 10 ft/lb of tq ? What am I missing ?

let me know what you end up deciding on and I have some contacts that will more than likely save you some $$$$$

 

[axisg]

Best research I could find was comp cams camquest software. I know its not a real benchmark but it sure makes it easier to compare apples to apples. Entering my setup heres what I pulled up.

268h
$ 200.00
454 / 454 lift
218/218 duration
made 327 hp + 404 tq

closest retrofit I could find that made close to the same HP while retaining my convertor was CL12-408-8
$717.00 + $ 40.00 pushrods
480 / 487 lift
206/202 duration
made 325hp + 416 tq

$ 500.00 for 10 ft/lb of tq ? What am I missing ?

let me know what you end up deciding on and I have some contacts that will more than likely save you some $$$$$

My tax return was waiting in the mailbox when I got home last night so I am ready to do it. Just need to decide on my final camshaft and the corrected pushrod height.

79 Wgaonator : I realise its not just about peak numbers and that the cams are quite different, I was just suprised to see how much more lift I needed on a roller cam ( 480 lift ) to make appx the same HP that was made with a smaller (454 lift ) flat tappet camshaft. I could go bigger but then I am into the additional expense of swapping the convertor to match the cam.

 

[565bbchevy]

You also have to realize in your comparison that the roller cam is down in duration which will make more of a difference than the lift difference and Comp Cams camquest is a very basic program if you want to do more realistic comparisons you would need to use a far better program.
That's why Camquest is free plus they only use other Comp Cams shelf grinds to compare the better software will take many more variables in to account such as flow numbers for the heads and you can make adjustments to cam profiles etc.

 

[jrm81bu]

Best research I could find was comp cams camquest software. I know its not a real benchmark but it sure makes it easier to compare apples to apples. Entering my setup heres what I pulled up.

268h
$ 200.00
454 / 454 lift
218/218 duration
made 327 hp + 404 tq

closest retrofit I could find that made close to the same HP while retaining my convertor was CL12-408-8
$717.00 + $ 40.00 pushrods
480 / 487 lift
206/202 duration
made 325hp + 416 tq

$ 500.00 for 10 ft/lb of tq ? What am I missing ?

let me know what you end up deciding on and I have some contacts that will more than likely save you some $$$$$

My tax return was waiting in the mailbox when I got home last night so I am ready to do it. Just need to decide on my final camshaft and the corrected pushrod height.

79 Wgaonator : I realise its not just about peak numbers and that the cams are quite different, I was just suprised to see how much more lift I needed on a roller cam ( 480 lift ) to make appx the same HP that was made with a smaller (454 lift ) flat tappet camshaft. I could go bigger but then I am into the additional expense of swapping the convertor to match the cam.

I think you may have lift and duration confused on how it effects the engine. The beauty of a roller allows higher lifts for the same duration, since you can have a much more aggressive ramp. The lift has no effect on your stall speed. Look at a cam that has the same or even slightly more duration than your flat tappet, you will still be fine with the same convertor, and you get all the additional lift for better breathing.

 

[axisg]

Been a busy summer so far fishing, boating, softball with the kids and enjoying the weather with a beer in hand 🙂
But every day I see the poor monte sit at the top of the driveway patiently waiting for some love ! So on Friday I pulled the trigger on the retro roller cam, lifters, cam button, plugs wires and gaskets. It was a little over $1300.00 for everything but wifey reminded me its still cheaper than a golf membership ( and she gave me a $200 gift card to the speed shop for my b-day ) 🙂

The flat tappet cam coming out was a comp 268h
http://www.compcams.com/v002/Pages/388/XE268H-10.aspx

After talking with the local speed shop, comp and howards I ended up ordering another comp camshaft. This one is going to be a XR270HR "retro roller"
http://www.compcams.com/Technical/DynoS ... 10_001.asp

Lead time is 2-4 weeks so I should have it buttoned up and rolling again by labour day. For now I have some cleaning and painting to do.

 

[pontiacgp]

There is a guy in Hamilton selling the roller cam out of a ZZ4 engine on kijiji....it's a nice cam that GM also uses in their 604 crates

 

[axisg]

my camshaft is here ! I gotta get off my butt and finish painting up my parts to put it all back together.
So far I ran 2 batches of diesel and 2 oil filters thru the motor with my oil primer to try and flush out any remaining metal. I brushed out the lifter valley and the heads with diesel as well. I then ran a batch of 30 wt oil thru it with another oil filter.

Still a little nervous so I rented a hoist a couple weeks back to pull the motor ( I hate doing stuff like that in the driveway, **** I need a garage !!!! ) The moment of truth; I pulled the pan and checked 2 of the main bearings and one connecting rod. They dont look new but I dont see any copper so I decided to let it go as-is. I will keep an eye on it and if it starts making noises then I will have my excuse for an LS Swap. I put the pan was back on the motor back in. **** IT !

When I pulled the old cam; 6 of the lifters were lightly scored, and 1 bad one ( the last one before the dist gear ) was slightly dished. Only 1 bad lobe on the cam. Never thought to take any pics, just tossed them in the scrap pile

 

[clean8485]

Good luck with the work. I hope that it works out OK, and you can enjoy the car while the nice weather is here.

 

[oldmansmonte]

AX,

Please keep us updated on how this goes. Power, ilde improvements and such. I'm think of doing the same to my motor eventually. I installed the classic GM performance 350, 330hp with the flat tappet and Im happy with the performance but like anything, someday I'll get bored with it.