• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

'67 440 Cam Selection

69L48Z27

69L48Z27

Well-Known Member
Local time
5:35 AM
Joined
Nov 19, 2015
Messages
3,916
Reaction score
4,323
Location
York, Pa
I did a bit of searching and didn't come up with a lot of info. I'm trying to determine what the largest lift cam I can do with a really stock setup.

67 440, 915 heads, stock carb, auto with stock converter, 3:23s.

Last one I did we used a stick from Comp, it was listed in the catalog as 'best w/ stock converter and 3:23s'. Cam seemed very conservative and not very impressive.

What is the 'biggest' cam I can run with this type of setup. I want the car to have a nice lope while idling. Also seems like Comp is really the only cam manufacturer anymore for big block applications. Are there any other brands I should be looking at?

Thx!
 
Lunati, Hughes, Howards, Just to name a few other mfg's
If you know your compression Hughes can help you select a cam that meets you needs.
You really need to know where your piston is & type to calculate the largest lift for valve clearance reasons
Also largest lift doesn't always equate to best performance and might make your situation worse....
 
I've used the 272-.455 a bunch and plan on sticking one in the engine i'm working on now, but it's more of a stock replacement/smooth idle cam. the summit 6401 is a good cam for a near stock engine, but smooth idle. the '915 heads should be limited to around .480 lift , unless the guides are trimmed. a howards #720141-12 may work well, but the best I've run in a near stock engine is an engle k56 intake/k58 exhaust (this is the old hugh's 23/30 and will need the guides trimmed).
 
69L48Z27 said:
I did a bit of searching and didn't come up with a lot of info. I'm trying to determine what the largest lift cam I can do with a really stock setup.

67 440, 915 heads, stock carb, auto with stock converter, 3:23s.

Last one I did we used a stick from Comp, it was listed in the catalog as 'best w/ stock converter and 3:23s'. Cam seemed very conservative and not very impressive.

What is the 'biggest' cam I can run with this type of setup. I want the car to have a nice lope while idling. Also seems like Comp is really the only cam manufacturer anymore for big block applications. Are there any other brands I should be looking at?

Thx!
Click to expand...

Cams are all about making the best compromises. If you have a '67 727, it could have either the earlier 19-spline torque converter or the later 24-spline torque converter? I mention this because you will likely want to change to a higher stall converter for performance no matter which cam you select.
If it is a 19 spline, the trans input shaft can be changed to a 24 spline one which makes getting torque converters easier.
Next question is valve springs. Except for mild stock replacement cams, you should change the valve springs to match the cam selected. If you are going to use stock 40 year old valve springs with 70# seat pressure, then stay with a mostly stock cam.
Finally getting around the the compression ratio, what is the actual compression ratio of the engine?
What intake and exhaust systems?
What fuel octane?
What tire size? Normally for these cars is around 26"-28" tall?
 
Lewto must be used to some raspy cams because the 272 cam sounds very far from stock
 
a couple of weeks ago I ran the numbers on the 272-.455 I have; [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], 112lsa 2 degrees of advance. stock magnum is [email protected], [email protected] on the intake, [email protected], [email protected] on the exhaust; they are not 268/284 on the seat. the 272-.455 was mopars replacement for the stock magnum cam until they began remarketing them. the 272 has no lopey idle; it only has 48-50 degrees of overlap. any rough idle with the 272 is probably tune-up related.

the summit 6401 is what I believe to be older crane HP lobes, 280 intake/290 exhaust. it has 280 on the seat, [email protected], [email protected], .465 lift on the intake. 290 on the seat, [email protected], [email protected], .486 lift for the exhaust lobe. 114lsa with 2 degrees of advance. this cam also has a smooth idle, more cam than either the magnum or 272, but has good low end/mid-range. this is a good cam for a near stock driver. hard to beat for the money if using stock exhaust and converter.

the old hugh's 23/30 I used was [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], .504lift on the intake. [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], .514 lift for the exhaust. this is a good performer for a mildly modified or near stock engine. the one I used had a 110lsa but I think a 112lsa may have worked better for stock exhaust. noticeable performance increase over the 272 with a slight to mild idle. this cam will have retainer to guide clearance issues.

the howards cam I haven't used yet but I think in a mildly modified engine may perform well. it's [email protected], 225@050, [email protected], .490 lift on the intake. [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], .488 lift on the exhaust. this cam is similar the 6401 but has a little more area under the curve and is ground on a 112lsa.

i'm pretty **** on tune-ups. I like proper advance curves and fuel mix. I will jump thru some hoops to have a nice driver.
 
The more I look at it the more I'm leaning towards the 6041 cam for him now.

My 455 272 mopar cam sounds nice to me and the thing is a tire frier but looks like it may be given up some area under the curve to the 6041. I can tell you I've not had the cam and lifters in the mopar performance cam line up go flat but i have had a summit cam and lifter set for flat in a 460 and a 302 with perfect oil additives and break in procedure. If you go summitracing cam then run a quality lifter
 
69L48Z27 said:
I did a bit of searching and didn't come up with a lot of info. I'm trying to determine what the largest lift cam I can do with a really stock setup.

67 440, 915 heads, stock carb, auto with stock converter, 3:23s.

Last one I did we used a stick from Comp, it was listed in the catalog as 'best w/ stock converter and 3:23s'. Cam seemed very conservative and not very impressive.

What is the 'biggest' cam I can run with this type of setup. I want the car to have a nice lope while idling. Also seems like Comp is really the only cam manufacturer anymore for big block applications. Are there any other brands I should be looking at?

Thx!
Click to expand...

What Pistons are in the '67 440 ? Factory original Pistons ? or has the Engine been rebuilt/bored with jobber Pistons at some point ?
just say'in....
with a Stock Convertor and 3.23's ?
available cylinder pressure will be critical to outcomes in Cam selection ?
 
Running the Sum 6401 in my 440. Had to trim the valve guides and use just a little beefier spring. 452 heads, just under 9.5 cr Did the valve guide and spring replacement myself. It's all in "My Photo Garage".

https://m.summitracing.com/parts/sum-6401



Here's one more 440 with it. (not mine)
 
Last edited:
Thx everyone! I still have some homework to do for sure. I didn't know about Howard's Cams or Summit having their own either.

Stock is really the theme, no change other than maybe valve springs if needed with cam selection. Stock converter would stay too. Pistons are still the original ones.
 
there are some 112lsa versions of the 6401 cam out there for those who might be interested. pretty sure elgin and clevite market these cams.
dieseldazzle said:
Lewto must be used to some raspy cams because the 272 cam sounds very far from stock
Click to expand...
I really don't like hot cams for street; especially hydraulics. big cams don't like cast exhaust manifolds and mufflers.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

L
Ready to pick a cam
2
Replies
37
Views
2K
Dodge Bros
Dodge Bros
Paul_G
Rapid fire pops out the carb, new cam time?
Replies
13
Views
550
1 Wild R/T
1 Wild R/T
fesser
Which converter would you use, low bid project
Replies
12
Views
539
RemCharger
RemCharger
G
Mopar 383 roller cam selection
Replies
18
Views
5K
Curiousyellow71
Curiousyellow71
LR1970
Help with camshaft and converter selection
Replies
6
Views
1K
Jamesman
J
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top