1978 454 solid cam, all street..

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Re: 1978 454 solid cam, all street..

Post by pitts64 »

I wouldn't mind going bigger so long as I keep the idle vacuum up for power brakes.. In my area brakes are just as important as engine performance..
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Re: 1978 454 solid cam, all street..

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pitts64 wrote: Sun Jan 12, 2020 9:03 am I wouldn't mind going bigger so long as I keep the idle vacuum up for power brakes.. In my area brakes are just as important as engine performance..
With your low compression, I wouldn't go bigger
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Re: 1978 454 solid cam, all street..

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bobmc wrote: Sun Jan 12, 2020 8:02 am what is the last domestic engine with mechanical lifters?
Mopar Slant Six until 1980.
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Re: 1978 454 solid cam, all street..

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In the mid '70s a 405 HP rated 454 marine engine used in the common family type jet boats was the basic low compression PU truck engine with a cam that I recall was about 220 @ .050 and .500 lift. I think the LC was wide, 114 or 116 maybe. The engines were rated at 405 Hp with the low-rise CI intake and a QJet. Some of them came installed in jet boats with an adapter and a vacuum secondary 780-800 Holley Ford Marine engine carb that is a clone of the SCJ carb.

They idled smooth at low RPM (as is necessary in a boat) but I don't recall a specific vacuum number or any complaints about insufficient vacuum for brakes. In the late '70s and early '80s I put several of them in PU trucks for people and they all ran well with the stock engine with just a valve spring and push rod change. The 454 engines that had positive valve rotators needed a shorter valve spring and I recall using a stock replacement spring for a 427 FE Ford to get the right seat pressure and spring rate for the .500 lift. The stock PU 454 pushrods were 5/16" so I installed 3/8" and guide plates.

Because this cam had such a wide useful RPM range, idle and low RPM smooth for rock crawling and still buzz 5500+ no sweat, they sort of caught on in a local clique of 4WD off-road rock crawling and mud bogger guys. I recall the disappointment when that cam wasn't available from GM any more. The part # and specs are in an edition of the Chevrolet Power Manual I don't have (or can't find, rats).
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Re: 1978 454 solid cam, all street..

Post by 77cruiser »

Tuner wrote: Sun Jan 12, 2020 2:14 pm
bobmc wrote: Sun Jan 12, 2020 8:02 am what is the last domestic engine with mechanical lifters?
Mopar Slant Six until 1980.
Diesels count?
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Re: 1978 454 solid cam, all street..

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Tuner wrote: Sun Jan 12, 2020 3:03 pm In the mid '70s a 405 HP rated 454 marine engine used in the common family type jet boats was the basic low compression PU truck engine with a cam that I recall was about 220 @ .050 and .500 lift. I think the LC was wide, 114 or 116 maybe. The engines were rated at 405 Hp with the low-rise CI intake and a QJet. Some of them came installed in jet boats with an adapter and a vacuum secondary 780-800 Holley Ford Marine engine carb that is a clone of the SCJ carb.

They idled smooth at low RPM (as is necessary in a boat) but I don't recall a specific vacuum number or any complaints about insufficient vacuum for brakes. In the late '70s and early '80s I put several of them in PU trucks for people and they all ran well with the stock engine with just a valve spring and push rod change. The 454 engines that had positive valve rotators needed a shorter valve spring and I recall using a stock replacement spring for a 427 FE Ford to get the right seat pressure and spring rate for the .500 lift. The stock PU 454 pushrods were 5/16" so I installed 3/8" and guide plates.

Because this cam had such a wide useful RPM range, idle and low RPM smooth for rock crawling and still buzz 5500+ no sweat, they sort of caught on in a local clique of 4WD off-road rock crawling and mud bogger guys. I recall the disappointment when that cam wasn't available from GM any more. The part # and specs are in an edition of the Chevrolet Power Manual I don't have (or can't find, rats).
My Chevy power manual lists 3863143 for high performance street and marine use. It’s mechanical lifter, 242 @ 0.050, 114 LSA, .500 lift, lash 0.024 int, 0.028 ext. It looks like a lot of duration, but with the lash and wide LSA I imagine it idled pretty well.
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Re: 1978 454 solid cam, all street..

Post by Tuner »

Roadknee wrote: Sun Jan 12, 2020 7:36 pm
Tuner wrote: Sun Jan 12, 2020 3:03 pm In the mid '70s a 405 HP rated 454 marine engine used in the common family type jet boats was the basic low compression PU truck engine with a cam that I recall was about 220 @ .050 and .500 lift. I think the LC was wide, 114 or 116 maybe. The engines were rated at 405 Hp with the low-rise CI intake and a QJet. Some of them came installed in jet boats with an adapter and a vacuum secondary 780-800 Holley Ford Marine engine carb that is a clone of the SCJ carb.

They idled smooth at low RPM (as is necessary in a boat) but I don't recall a specific vacuum number or any complaints about insufficient vacuum for brakes. In the late '70s and early '80s I put several of them in PU trucks for people and they all ran well with the stock engine with just a valve spring and push rod change. The 454 engines that had positive valve rotators needed a shorter valve spring and I recall using a stock replacement spring for a 427 FE Ford to get the right seat pressure and spring rate for the .500 lift. The stock PU 454 pushrods were 5/16" so I installed 3/8" and guide plates.

Because this cam had such a wide useful RPM range, idle and low RPM smooth for rock crawling and still buzz 5500+ no sweat, they sort of caught on in a local clique of 4WD off-road rock crawling and mud bogger guys. I recall the disappointment when that cam wasn't available from GM any more. The part # and specs are in an edition of the Chevrolet Power Manual I don't have (or can't find, rats).
My Chevy power manual lists 3863143 for high performance street and marine use. It’s mechanical lifter, 242 @ 0.050, 114 LSA, .500 lift, lash 0.024 int, 0.028 ext. It looks like a lot of duration, but with the lash and wide LSA I imagine it idled pretty well.
GM part # 6272989 Hyd .500I/.500E Lift 222Int/221Ex @ .050"
At 0 lash checking clearance: IO 56BTDC / IC 120ABC 356 dur EO 107BBC / EC 65 ATC 352 dur 121 deg overlap, marine grind or HP street

Somebody check the numbers, but isn't that 116.5 LSA?

It is as extinct as the Unicorn now, but this cam ran really well in low C/R BBC engines and gave good mileage in pickups when someone took the time to cherry pick the jet and metering rod combination in their QJet. No matter, the OP should get the solid cam Cam King suggested. (I respect his opinion but I think a little wider lobe center LOL)
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Re: 1978 454 solid cam, all street..

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Re: 1978 454 solid cam, all street..

Post by mag2555 »

A comp Cams Beehive 26120 spring will work for a solid lifter motor .
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Re: 1978 454 solid cam, all street..

Post by bobmc »

the Chevy 143 cam is the stock L72 and L78 cam, it's generally listed as having .520" lift, I probably drove 80,000 miles in 2 cars with those cams, they had claimed 11 to 1 CR and these were 4 speed cars, no idea about the manifold vacuum I didn't have a gauge and would have considered it a tool for grocery getters
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Re: 1978 454 solid cam, all street..

Post by pdq67 »

I want to say that Chevy's BB hy-cam in the .500" lift range was ONLY used in the Z16 Chevelle's engine, but I may be wrong??

Street car engine that is.

The 375hp/396 engine got the solid lifter cam that was something like 242 degrees duration at .050", if not mistaken..

I don't know about BBC boat engine cams..

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Re: 1978 454 solid cam, all street..

Post by pitts64 »

I forgot about the 375 horse 396 cam.. My buddy has a mint 69 Chevelle with that motor in it, 18,000 original miles. It idles real nice. It has that rippled exhaust pipe with resonators at the back, it has a nice sound.. I doubt the extra cubes will make up for the loss in compression. I'm more then likely going to try Cam Doctors suggestion. He has a very good following on here...
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Re: 1978 454 solid cam, all street..

Post by FC-Pilot »

pitts64 wrote: Tue Jan 14, 2020 6:07 pm I forgot about the 375 horse 396 cam.. My buddy has a mint 69 Chevelle with that motor in it, 18,000 original miles. It idles real nice. It has that rippled exhaust pipe with resonators at the back, it has a nice sound.. I doubt the extra cubes will make up for the loss in compression. I'm more then likely going to try Cam Doctors suggestion. He has a very good following on here...
Buying that cam from Camking will be your best bet. You won’t be disappointed.

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Re: 1978 454 solid cam, all street..

Post by PRH »

The Speed Pro cs1047m is shown as a replacement for the GM 14096209.

293/293@.006
224/224@.050
.510/.510
115lsa

I didn’t see if it was discussed or not, but a spring upgrade will be necessary for a solid lifter cam update.
Probably want to upgrade to 3/8” pushrods and guide plates too.
Somewhat handy with a die grinder.
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Re: 1978 454 solid cam, all street..

Post by PackardV8 »

I just realized this may be the first time in quite a while the OP wanted to get the noise and maintenance which goes with a solid lifter cam. Seems 99% of the questions the past few years have been running hydraulics where they weren't the best option to get away from the noise and adjustment of solids.
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