Cam size question

[Inspector71]

For a 360 4 barrel, what would be the difference between say Mopar's Purple Shaft cam with a 484 lift and Lunati's cam with a 494 lift? I am not new to Mopars but new to engine questions as I really don't know much about them even at my age. thanks.

 

[Hemi Rebel]

Not much really. Lunati makes a nice cam and I don't know when they came out with that cam, but I do know the purple shaft cam has been around for forever. Kind of dated really.

 

[Coronet 500]

The 10 thou no big deal, the duration and valve opening/closing points, possibly big deal.

 

[IQ52]

Which Lunati part number?

 

[Meep-Meep]

Forget about lift for the most part but rather focus on the overlap and lobe separation. For a street car a 112 to maybe a 110 LSA is magic. Too little and you tend to loose vacuum. Duration for a nice street cam will fall in the 270 deg range. It seems you have an otherwise stock engine so I'd tread lightly on the cam to preserve drivability.

 

[Inspector71]

Hey that is great advice. I was wondering about driveability anyway. Like I said, I know so little any people always seem to talk about lift. Duration of 270 got it. I'll have to go back on their website, or one of my catalogues and dig up the part number. Should have it by tomorrow. Thanks again. I hope you all realize how often you save someone like me from making a mistake.

 

[Meep-Meep]

Hey that is great advice. I was wondering about driveability anyway. Like I said, I know so little any people always seem to talk about lift. Duration of 270 got it. I'll have to go back on their website, or one of my catalogues and dig up the part number. Should have it by tomorrow. Thanks again. I hope you all realize how often you save someone like me from making a mistake.

Just to make sure you know that 270 duration number is advertized. For a low compression long block stick to a 260-270 advertized on a 112 lobe separation. You might make more power at max RPM with more cam but how often will you be at max RPM? Keep your requirements in mind. Less is more in some cases.

 

[65 Plymouth Satellite 426]

Never Had Much Luck With Lunatic Cams, But That MP Purple Shaft .484 Has A Nice Siounding Chop To It!

 

[99ss]

I thought a 114 lsa would provide a better smoother powerband and is better for the street where a 110 would be quick and choppy but have the potential for more power

 

[Meep-Meep]

I thought a 114 lsa would provide a better smoother powerband and is better for the street where a 110 would be quick and choppy but have the potential for more power

That's true, but just a little shorter in the LSA will produce a bit more torque but at a slightly higher RPM. I have had some very mild grinds on a 110 LSA and they ran great on the street, while the cam in my 66 Bel is on a 112 and it too runs great. The 114 would lean towards the stock spec, which is fine, but if someone wanted just a slight tweak in power while maintaining great street drivability, the 112 should be the limit. 108 LSA cams will provide even more peak torque but at a much higher RPM thus making them not too pleasant on the street. The way I look at is is the lower LSA will take your max torque and spread it out over a broader RPM range. I think selecting based on LSA is a good first step.

Big inch street stroker motors respond nicely to the 114 LSA cams. You already have so much power on tap with the inches, so just average it out over the range of useful driving and enjoy the ride. Not uncommon to get a high 11 out of a comparatively mild 500 inch motor - probably with the A/C on.