Source for a stock camshaft kit 383

[Billccm]

I might go down the path of replacing the cam in my Road Runner. Looking for a cam that is as close as possible to stock and remain hydraulic flat tappets. I'm not sure what cam I have now, but I don't like it. The previous owner told me he wasn't happy with the cam, either.

I'd like to get a kit that includes lifters, and even timing chain if available.

More importantly, I want USA made and willing to pay for it.

Appreciate the recommendations. Take care.

 

[R413]

I'm not sure what cam to get to be close to a factory cam.

I would not get a Comp Cams for a stock mopar unless you want a GM lobe design on it. No thanks.

Forget the timing chain, that will severely limit the cam choices of you are stuck on that being included.

 

[Bird 426]

Oregon cams.

 

[Geoff 2]

If your current lifters are ok, have them re-faced by Oregon cams who will also be able to supply you a cam, or regrind your current cam if not badly worn.

 

[Geoff 2]

You can get a custom grind from Comp Cams for the larger Chrys 904 lifter. It will have more lift & more 'area under the curve'. Just had one done for a Hemi, only took about a week $388. None of the stock factory grinds utilised the full diam of the 904 lifter to get the highest lift & area under the curve.

 

[69Bee]

I might go down the path of replacing the cam in my Road Runner. Looking for a cam that is as close as possible to stock and remain hydraulic flat tappets. I'm not sure what cam I have now, but I don't like it. The previous owner told me he wasn't happy with the cam, either.

I'd like to get a kit that includes lifters, and even timing chain if available.

More importantly, I want USA made and willing to pay for it.

Appreciate the recommendations. Take care.

ALL flat tappet, cast iron, cams cores come from china, it doesn't matter who is selling it. The ONLY USA cam you will get is a billet roller cam. It is easy enough to get a cam kit that includes cam & lifters. EPWi can sell you an OEM cam and even up it to an RV (Torque cam) if you like and the lifters are Johnson Hy-Lift lifters. Talk to Gary at Gary's Machine Shop in Tucson and tell him Dave from Precision Machine told you to call him. As far as timing chain sets go EPWi, Cloyes, and Comp Cams go, all of them use timing gears made by SA Gear out of Texas but ALL of the chains come out of china. The only set I am aware that has a German chain is a high dollar racing timing set from Cloyes. I do think the sets with the billet cam gear are from china maybe. I seem to remember seeing a china sicker but could be wrong. Do be afraid of the hype about china flat tappet cams and lifters. Most every engine I have built had an EPWi stock or RV Melling cam and have never been told a cam went flat. I have even had a number of customers call me and say that they really like the cam in the engine. The only engines with different cams were provided by the customer, reground cams due to availability of a new cam, or a custom ground cam. The Melling cams provided in the EPWi boxes are ground to OE specs also.

 

[threewood]

ALL flat tappet, cast iron, cams cores come from china, it doesn't matter who is selling it. The ONLY USA cam you will get is a billet roller cam. It is easy enough to get a cam kit that includes cam & lifters. EPWi can sell you an OEM cam and even up it to an RV (Torque cam) if you like and the lifters are Johnson Hy-Lift lifters. Talk to Gary at Gary's Machine Shop in Tucson and tell him Dave from Precision Machine told you to call him. As far as timing chain sets go EPWi, Cloyes, and Comp Cams go, all of them use timing gears made by SA Gear out of Texas but ALL of the chains come out of china. The only set I am aware that has a German chain is a high dollar racing timing set from Cloyes. I do think the sets with the billet cam gear are from china maybe. I seem to remember seeing a china sicker but could be wrong. Do be afraid of the hype about china flat tappet cams and lifters. Most every engine I have built had an EPWi stock or RV Melling cam and have never been told a cam went flat. I have even had a number of customers call me and say that they really like the cam in the engine. The only engines with different cams were provided by the customer, reground cams due to availability of a new cam, or a custom ground cam. The Melling cams provided in the EPWi boxes are ground to OE specs also.

I have heard different. CMC marked cams are made here. Camshaft Machine Company

 

[69Bee]

I have heard different. CMC marked cams are made here. Camshaft Machine Company

On that link you posted, click on the "Cores" tab, and you will see just what I said. They make BILLET cores only. ALL cast iron cores come from china. Appreciate the link though, always can use another source.

 

[PRHeads]

CWC Textron Castings

 

[69Bee]

CWC Textron Castings

So again, I point out that this company ONLY supplies the OEM. While I won't say that there is an aftermarket cam company that buys from them, everyone I have talked or bought from get their cores from china. The only time I have seen the "CWC" cast mark are older OEM camshafts. Their website even states that "25 percent of the vehicles manufactured in North America have castings produced at CWC.". Essentially, since mostly all cams today are a type of roller cam, cast cams are in the minority. I do know that there are cast roller cams, and Melling sells some and could possibly use "CWC" cams, if you call up every cam company that comes to mind that sells NEW flat tappet cams and ask where their cores come from, china will be the answer.

EDIT: I will concede that the CWC company still produces "some (25%)" for domestic vehicles, but they don't specifically say iron flat tappet cams.

 

[threewood]

This is my old Hughes flat tappet camshaft. My new one was stamped the same. CWC

I misspoke when I mentioned CMC as looking at the cam casting, that's what it looks like. But it is actually CWC.

 

[lewtot184]

You have several options. Mancini has a stock replacement, sealed power cs661 is a stock replacement, i believe summit 6420 is stock magnum spec, Summit 6400 is very close to stock spec and is ground on 112lsa vs the factory 115lsa, a comp cams 21-305-4 is their version of a replacement but is ground on 110lsa with 4 degrees of advance. Any of these cams will provide a decent idle with good low and mid- range torque.

 

[Billccm]

You have several options. Mancini has a stock replacement, sealed power cs661 is a stock replacement, i believe summit 6420 is stock magnum spec, Summit 6400 is very close to stock spec and is ground on 112lsa vs the factory 115lsa, a comp cams 21-305-4 is their version of a replacement but is ground on 110lsa with 4 degrees of advance. Any of these cams will provide a decent idle with good low and mid- range torque.

Thank you. I had actually looked at the Summit 6400. Being told everything is Chinesium I assume Summit is as good as everyone else.

I've noticed Edlebrock says "Made in the USA" on their cam kits. Perhaps the lifters are made in the USA?

Still shopping around and gathering information. I think I'm capable of tackling this job and the expense is not outrageous to see if I get better results.

 

[lewtot184]

Thank you. I had actually looked at the Summit 6400. Being told everything is Chinesium I assume Summit is as good as everyone else.

I've noticed Edlebrock says "Made in the USA" on their cam kits. Perhaps the lifters are made in the USA?

Still shopping around and gathering information. I think I'm capable of tackling this job and the expense is not outrageous to see if I get better results.

I've used a 6400 in a stock 383. Very nice smooth camshaft for a driver. It can be used with stock magnum valve springs which is a plus.

 

[69 GeeTeeX]

I would also suggest checking Melling for stock camshafts, lifters and timing products.

Melling Engine Parts

 

[Rebelrouser]

I might go down the path of replacing the cam in my Road Runner. Looking for a cam that is as close as possible to stock and remain hydraulic flat tappets. I'm not sure what cam I have now, but I don't like it. The previous owner told me he wasn't happy with the cam, either.

I'd like to get a kit that includes lifters, and even timing chain if available.

More importantly, I want USA made and willing to pay for it.

Appreciate the recommendations. Take care.

Since you stated you are willing to buy the best. Just get a hydraulic roller and be done with it. It won't go flat, it does not take special oil, you can get one ground with stock duration specs and more lift which will give you more low-end torque, with a factory idle. Since you need new pushrods, you can measure correctly and keep the OEM nonadjustable valve gear.

If you just have to have a flat tappet, I would recommend Jones cams to see if he has some blanks. I know he sells the USA made lifters. Even with a Chinese iron core if it is ground properly with the low spring pressures of a stock head you should not have a lot of problems.

 

[lewtot184]

I've used a 6400 in a stock 383. Very nice smooth camshaft for a driver. It can be used with stock magnum valve springs which is a plus.

What your engine combo is now is important. If the engine has 8:1 pistons i bet the misery index is high with a hot cam. A simple comp cams 268/.454 may be the ticket. Any of the comp cams can be ordered with as a complete kit if that simplifies things.

 

[lewtot184]

i would suggest doing a compression check before buying anything. This test could help in determing what profile would be best and give an indication if other problems exist.

 

[Don Frelier]

And is it tuned well with the current setup?
Tuning can bring out a performance cam.