Camshaft selection for Mild 440?

[Dusty997]

just think how good it would run with the right cam. you can always spin the tires what matters is what power it makes after that. why would you run a cam with a 12 degree spread on a 114 or 115 LSA ?

what spec are you running that you think is better?

 

[gtxrt]

what spec are you running that you think is better?

don't want to get into a big camshaft discussion on what camshaft to use. 222-234 is almost 2 sizes bigger than stock. 12 degree spread hurts low end power compared to 4-6 degree spread. a bigger spread on exhaust will keep your power from dropping off after peak horsepower. so if your peak HP is 5000 rpms it will keep the HP numbers from falling off as much after 5000 rpms if you're willing and want to rev higher. a wide LSA bleeds off cylinder pressure if you're running too much compression but it also kills bottom end and peak torque numbers. 110 LSA is a good compromise for the street and even less LSA for the drag strip.

 

[Dusty997]

don't want to get into a big camshaft discussion on what camshaft to use. 222-234 is almost 2 sizes bigger than stock. 12 degree spread hurts low end power compared to 4-6 degree spread. a bigger spread on exhaust will keep your power from dropping off after peak horsepower. so if your peak HP is 5000 rpms it will keep the HP numbers from falling off as much after 5000 rpms if you're willing and want to rev higher. a wide LSA bleeds off cylinder pressure if you're running too much compression but it also kills bottom end and peak torque numbers. 110 LSA is a good compromise for the street and even less LSA for the drag strip.

Ill deffintely never see above 5000 rpms. In 3 years if driving ive never even hit 4500 rpms due to where i live. So my main goal is to make all my power from idle to around 4000.

 

[RJ Squirrel]

factory converter? or are you running a higher stall

Stock converter, 323's, 26" tires. It is a 1974 year 440 stock compression/heads. Put 3000 miles on this past summer on regular pump gas.
Not a dragster, but keeps me smiling!

 

[33 IMP]

Ill deffintely never see above 5000 rpms. In 3 years if driving ive never even hit 4500 rpms due to where i live. So my main goal is to make all my power from idle to around 4000.

If I was building a mild 440 for myself, a 6401 would be in the mix. But for your stated use, I'd choose the 6400. A purple shaft hydraulic would be in the mix too, except for the INSANE money being charged for them now.
But I haven't built a "mild" engine in a lot of years.
(440s with purple shaft .590 or .557 solids, a 511 with a .502 crane, and a maxwedge with a .650 solid roller)

 

[gtxrt]

had more than double didn't keep them when I was younger. 3 more Hughes, 4 purple shaft cams 2 Crower and 2 more crane 222-234 and 214-222 I think it was. plus many more.

 

[fishmens67]

222-234 is almost 2 sizes bigger than stock.

The 440 was under cammed and under headed from the factory, the heads and cam was more suited for the 383.

 

[gtxrt]

The 440 was under cammed and under headed from the factory, the heads and cam was more suited for the 383.

if you read about the 440 HP in the 67 article when it came out they talked about the small ports in the 915 heads and small valves compared to the big block Chevy heads. they said how much torque it made 480 lbs and coming in at a low 3200 rpms and peak HP at a low 4800 rpms. made a great street engine. Chrysler thought it out and did it for a reason. the cam duration is actually pretty big for a stock. I think they had to go with the 115 LSA to keep a good smoother idle for the public.