Looking for opinions on this Crower cam for a Pontiac stroker 400

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Ron Miller
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Looking for opinions on this Crower cam for a Pontiac stroker 400

Post by Ron Miller »

Members, I'm looking for opinions on this Crower cam for a Pontiac stroker 400. This combo will have a 4.250 stroke crank making the total C.I. 461. The heads are 6X with a 91cc chamber. Mahle piston with -6.4 cc crown volume. This car is a 1979 Transam with the factory 4 speed, power steering, power brakes and maybe the factory a/c. The Customer wants to retain the factory Q-Jet, cast iron intake and factory exhaust manifolds. The Q-Jet has been rebuilt to accommodate the 455 C.I. and decent performance Hydraulic lifter cam. Open the Pontiac Crower cam card below to view the specs. This Crower cam is so old its not in their current catalog. I'm thinking I will be safe with this cam and lifter package as far as breaking-run in. How will drive ability be ? Good, Fair, bad? I'm I out in left field on this cam choice. I'm open to all opinions and suggestions.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2m5cUAF][img]htt ... .jpg[/img]Pontiac Crower cam card by Ron Miller, on Flickr[/url]

Thanks for looking, :D
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Re: Looking for opinions on this Crower cam for a Pontiac stroker 400

Post by Tuner »

Looks good to me. Should be fairly sporty and fine with a 4 speed.
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Re: Looking for opinions on this Crower cam for a Pontiac stroker 400

Post by F-BIRD'88 »

Cannot read the cam card. Keep your expectations modest/real with factory Poncho intake and ex castings..
It is what it is.
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Re: Looking for opinions on this Crower cam for a Pontiac stroker 400

Post by mt-engines »

If you can. Get a cam with 10 more degrees@.050. Should peak around 5000rpm
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Re: Looking for opinions on this Crower cam for a Pontiac stroker 400

Post by Firechicken »

Is it a 3.23 rear gear?
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Re: Looking for opinions on this Crower cam for a Pontiac stroker 400

Post by Ron Miller »

Firechicken wrote: Sat Jun 12, 2021 8:27 pm Is it a 3.23 rear gear?
I do know this car has the Borgwarner Super T-10 trans and I think the rear gear is a 3.42.
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Re: Looking for opinions on this Crower cam for a Pontiac stroker 400

Post by Ron Miller »

F-BIRD'88 wrote: Sat Jun 12, 2021 8:22 pm Cannot read the cam card. Keep your expectations modest/real with factory Poncho intake and ex castings..
It is what it is.
The cam above is not etched in stone. The cam I wanted to use in this build is out of stock and no estimated time when a core-cam is available. I found this one on Facebook Market place. This cam above has number one lobe center at 106 and lobe separation is 110 degree. Would like a cam that can make good power up to 5800 to 6000.

Thanks for the reply,
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Re: Looking for opinions on this Crower cam for a Pontiac stroker 400

Post by Ron Miller »

mt-engines wrote: Sat Jun 12, 2021 8:26 pm If you can. Get a cam with 10 more degrees@.050. Should peak around 5000rpm
I know the cubi inches will eat up some of the cam. But I need to keep the power brakes in mind.
Thanks for the reply,
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Re: Looking for opinions on this Crower cam for a Pontiac stroker 400

Post by mt-engines »

Ron Miller wrote: Sat Jun 12, 2021 9:53 pm
mt-engines wrote: Sat Jun 12, 2021 8:26 pm If you can. Get a cam with 10 more degrees@.050. Should peak around 5000rpm
I know the cubi inches will eat up some of the cam. But I need to keep the power brakes in mind.
Thanks for the reply,
Its not a 350... but what would I know.
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Re: Looking for opinions on this Crower cam for a Pontiac stroker 400

Post by mag2555 »

If the TA has a/c then I am pretty sure that 3.42 rear gears where not available in that package.

Super T10s in the post 1965 era could be had in both wide and close ratio.

I could not open the Cam card info that you posted, but you have made no mention of how the valve train is set up on those 6X castings.
This means that if you are using stock length valves , springs and the factory retainer you only have enough clearance to run a Cam of .460” lift and not go into coil bind or be smacking the retainer into the top of the valve guide once the motor is up to temp.


Since your pumping thru stock log type exh manifolds the
Motor will not make over 360 hp, so don’t Cam in such a a way to try and make more as the drivablity will just become crap!

Here’s some Cam guide line info from a HO racing book.
Although old it’s still very valid for setting up a pure street motor!
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Re: Looking for opinions on this Crower cam for a Pontiac stroker 400

Post by Dirtybob »

maybe this will be more readable
click the attachment then right click and select view image to see in larger size...
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Re: Looking for opinions on this Crower cam for a Pontiac stroker 400

Post by Firechicken »

If this is a factory 400 w72 car with 6X-4 heads that are being reused on the stroker, the heads will not take the lift of that cam unless they have been redone with longer valves and better springs. The stock rockers are not adjustable so that would need addressed as well.

A/C 4 speed cars usually had a 3.23 and a 2.43 first gear ST10. Check the number of rings on the input shaft.

If the heads are reworked and factory gearing is intact that cam will be done at 5200 rpm but would be a great street car with tons of torque.

Really need more info to give a proper recommendation.
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Re: Looking for opinions on this Crower cam for a Pontiac stroker 400

Post by mag2555 »

Also consider the fact that if those 6X heads are stock then unless you run a super stock roller Cam there done at 5500 with the cid of that stroker motor!

It may rev to 6K, but with a street cam the power climb is long gone!
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Re: Looking for opinions on this Crower cam for a Pontiac stroker 400

Post by PRH »

There have been a couple of 455/467 builds on the dyno here fairly recently.
Both used bowl ported 64 heads, RPM intakes, 4 tube headers, 1.5 rockers.

One had a Q-jet and a hyd cam from Butler that was like 230/236-110.

The other had a Proform 850 and a solid cam that was 242/246-112.

Both made peak power at right about 5K.
The solid cam combo was about 20hp better.

I’d expect one that had less cam, less intake, less exhaust........ to peak even earlier.
Somewhat handy with a die grinder.
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Re: Looking for opinions on this Crower cam for a Pontiac stroker 400

Post by rfoll »

Big cubic inches, big cam, and small exhaust system doesn't seem like a good match.
So much to do, so little time...
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