What cam do you all recommend for a daily driven 406 with an Edelbrock 750 carb, Air Gap intake, 15/8 Hooker Headers, AFR 195cc Heads, 9.8.1 compression, Richmond Gear four speed and 3.73 gears. I want a cam that has a mild to rough idle and I want to stay with a hydraulic. I would also like to have between 450-500hp.

CHP did a build awhile back with a 400 using Dart Iron Eagle heads that they did a little work to, and then compared a few cams. They popped in the XE274 from Comp which made boatloads of power, had a fairly mild idle, and worked their power accessories. They then stuck in the XE284 and surprisingly increased power across the board... even down around 2500rpm. This cam probably won't make enough vacuum for power brakes, but it will really rock in the build you are doing. They came up with something like 460 horses and 500 ft. lbs.

Good luck.

Has anyone on here ran the xe284 cam? If so what do you think about it?

Does a 406 use a short or long water pump?

My motor is very similar to yours - same heads, a touch more compression, currently running a Victor Jr. but I've run the RPM before on this motor and will most likely switch back soon. Last time around I ran the XE274. Great flat tappet cam IMO and I love it for a street motor. It will idle down low real nice but the idle is lopey and sounds good. Plenty of vacuum, even at 6500 feet up here in Denver.

I just switched to the hydraulic roller version - the HR282. Same basic specs - 230/236 @ .050 and lift @ .510/.520. Same general characteristics with the great idle and good vacuum. However, this cam really makes a big power difference over the flat tappet.

My vote for the average street guy is for a smaller rather than larger cam. They build more torque, idle better, keep the brakes working, and build power where you drive 99% of the time. I would recommend the roller if your budget allows, if not then the XE274. I'd run either cam again with no hesitation.

------------------
Scott
'69 400SB, Richmond 5-speed
www.geocities.com/sdenning1 (http://www.geocities.com/sdenning1)

my vote is for a short duration hydrualic roller, NOT an xe, something that'll idle nice like the 280HR.
Or a 280H hydrualic.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jason Wylie:
Has anyone on here ran the xe284 cam? If so what do you think about it?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I use the XE284 in my daily driven 383. Love it! http://www.camaros.net/forum/biggrin.gif
Pulls really hard above 2200/2500 thru 6000 easy...sounds good and has enough vacuum to use my power brakes.
Really like the XE cams.



------------------
383 Speed-O-Motive stroker kit with Holley 750DP, RPM intake,MSD6a box,World Products Sportsman II heads, ported and polished with 2.02/1.60 valves,64cc,TRW forged pistons with 10.7:1 compression, Comp Xtreme 284 cam,Crane pushrods, Comp Cam 1.6 full roller rockers,ATI damper, 40 series Flowmasters, 4.11 gears with TH350 and Hughes 3000 stall.

What about something with a tight LSA to get that lumpy idle while keeping the duration a little shorter than the XE284. 240*/246* @.050 is just too much for most street cars IMO - that engine would be a dog out of the hole with that much cam.

What about the Isky 280 Megacam? 232* at .050 with a 108* LSA will have a bit of an idle yet it will still have plenty of low and midrange in a 400. It would scream to 6000 no problem and work with a dual plane manifold. The XE 274 would be my second choice.

ps. The XE 284 will want a little more compression than you 9.8:1 too.

------------------
68 Camaro, 383 small block with TH350 trans. 11.98's at 111mph and never trailered.

[This message has been edited by Eric68 (edited 03-11-2002).]

Brother Jason...In one of the 69's, I'm running a Comp Cam 280H on my 406 with AFR 195's, and 1 5/8's Hedman's...very much like what you're doing....I also have 3.73's and wide ratio 4-speed.

I was talked out of the dual pattern XE line. I was persuaded that the extended exhaust duration was counter-productive with good aftermarket heads (and you have the best!).

My 406 with a RPM Q-Jet Performer, a Q-Jet (with some tricks), 9.4:1 CR, hypos, stock crank, 5.7 Scat rods, stock distributor w/ Pertronix, etc.,...pulls like a raped ape. I'm very, very staisfied!

Two things to remember. Most the the descriptions you read for Chevy sb cams apply to a 350. With a 350, a cam that says "rough idle" like the 280H, will be much smoother in a 406. Same with vacuum. My idle quality and vacuum are fine...a little lope at idle and the brakes are smooth as ever. Let us know what you decide. Good luck!

Well I think I have been talked into a single pattern cam. I was looking at the Magnum 286 .490 cam. Has anyone run this cam? I appreciate everyone's help.

I wouldn't give up on the dual pattern cams so fast. Try this: call AFR and ask their opinion. They use dual pattern cams in many of their dyno engine combos and recommended one to me. Comp Cams did the same when I shared my engine specs with them including the fact that I'm running AFR heads.

I suppose you could accuse the CC guys of pushing their XE line for some reason, but the AFR guys should sure as heck know what works with their heads! Also check out the AFR website and look at the dyno info yourself. www.airflowresearch.com (http://www.airflowresearch.com)

------------------
Scott
'69 400SB, Richmond 5-speed
www.geocities.com/sdenning1 (http://www.geocities.com/sdenning1)

I guess I still have some thinking to do.

what kind of numbers you guys running with the AFR's? I have a 406 with a 280H comp.cam,and it pulls hard from idle to 6000+. I have a modified (850base) 750vs Holley,Torquer intake,and 9.5:1 TRW's.

------------------
My '68 Camaro (http://hometown.aol.com/Dougs68Camaro/index.html)
Doug G.
68 Camaro
406 ci.
13.5@102 W/ 2.73POSI.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jason Wylie:
Well I think I have been talked into a single pattern cam. I was looking at the Magnum 286 .490 cam. Has anyone run this cam? I appreciate everyone's help.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Besides the obvious extra duration and potentially better exhaust capabilities, a dual pattern cam will build slightly more cylinder pressure than a single pattern cam with the same overlap.

You can see this if you were to calculate the dynamic compression ratio for the same engine with a dual pattern and a single pattern cam. I recently did this for a 355 build and compared the Magnum 280 and XE274 cams. Both cams have the exact same overlap and similar duration numbers, but the XE274 builds a tad more cylinder pressure. The XE274 made a 7.5:1 DCR (optimum) and the Magnum 280 made 7.3:1 DCR (close).

Where this applies to you is that if your static compression ratio (9.8:1 in your case) is on the low side (it's not) you want a dual pattern cam to help build more cylinder pressure and low end TQ. That would bring your DCR closer to optimum. Now if you build too much cylinder pressure you could have pinging with a small cam even with a relatively tame static compression ratio.

So, In My Opinion, you have absolutely no reason to go with a dual pattern cam. The Isky 280 Megacam I think is the way you want to go. Even if you want another brand, keep duration right around 230* @ .050, use a single pattern cam, and keep LSA tight (like 108 - 110 degrees).

ps. The Magnum 286 is probably a pretty good choice too, but won't make quite as much TQ as the Isky. IMO.

------------------
68 Camaro, 383 small block with TH350 trans. 11.98's at 111mph and never trailered.

Thanks for your help guys. I didnt think it would be this hard to pick a cam.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jason Wylie:
Thanks for your help guys. I didnt think it would be this hard to pick a cam.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Ha! Picking a cam may be the hardest part. If you want to pick the right cam the first time around, consider using Dave Vizard (http://www.davidvizard.com/)

-gw

------------------
1967 Camaro
406/M20 11.94@117
http://www.mindspring.com/~gordon.warren/

I'm new here guys, but the combination you're discussing sounds very similar to mine. I have a 67 Camaro with a stout 406 sbc. I'm running the AFR 195cc heads, Weiand single plane intake, Holley 750 pro, 11:1 comp., XE 284 cam, 5.7 rods. Pulls extremely hard from 2500 on up. I'm having to do further suspension work in order to hook up. I only ran it once last year. Best time :13.10 at 108 mph w/2.20 60 foot. My ET streets were spinning hard off the line. But otherwise the combination ran very well, it idles well and is street-driven constantly. Hope this helps. I too read the CHP article. That's pretty much what I based this buildup off of.

I use a Comp 12-430-8 cam in my daily driver 406, excellent cam. Idles well, enormous throttle response, will cruise below 2000 rpm all day long, runs right up to 6100 in the lights.

------------------
1967 Nova coupe daily driver
406, 10:1, 224° cam, Q-jet, 700R4, 3465# w/driver
11.76 @ 116 thru the mufflers
18 mpg on the road

What kind of compression will I need to run the XE284 cam? I will probably have around 9.8.1 Will that be enough?

I ran the comp cam 12-212-2 280H 230 230 480 480 in my 406 with 9.8 CR, W\P Torquers, 750 Holley, Performer RPM, hooker headers, 3.55 rear gear, & a 2400 stall. It was awsume. Instant response from the line and pulled hard to 6000 rpm in all three gears. I think the 284 490 would be just alittle better yet.

The cam I am talking about it the Exteme Energy 284 .507/.510 lift.

I would like to stay with a dual pattern since thats what AFR recommends.

Brother Jason...when I bought my 195's for my 406, both Tony and Dave at AFR recommended a single pattern cam, and Dave says he's used both. In fact, he's the one who suggested I use a 280H. The reason cited was that the superior design of the AFR exhaust ports eliminated the need for dual pattern stuff. Call either of those genetlemen at 818-890-0616.

Could be, you got a hold of an AFR rep with a different take. Like noses, everyone has an opinion.

Well I guess I was misinformed. I appreciate your help.

Kinda makes you wonder about the help you get from the tech lines. I was advised by whoever I spoke with at AFR to use a dual pattern cam and he pointed to the engine combos in their dyno section. Of course, they also have single pattern cams in some of the combos????

Honestly, for the average street guy, I doubt it truly makes much difference. I'll bet either type cam will work great.

------------------
Scott
'69 400SB, Richmond 5-speed
www.geocities.com/sdenning1 (http://www.geocities.com/sdenning1)

The XE284 is just a little on the large side for my liking. 9.8:1 compression is also a little on the low side for this cam, but not too bad. Dynamic compression ratio works out to be 9.47:1 with the XE284 on this motor - this would be perfect with iron heads, but you could get a bunch more out of it going closer to 8:1 with the aluminum heads. Overlap is 70* so it would have that rocky idle, and it might be a little soft on the low end.

The dynamic compression ratio with the Isky works out to be 7.9:1. that will make lots of cylinder pressure and tons of torque. There will still be a rough idle since the tight lobe separation makes 64 degrees of overlap. IMO 64 is just enough to get that lope in the idle but is still manageable on the street.

Hope this helps.

------------------
68 Camaro, 383 small block with TH350 trans. 11.98's at 111mph and never trailered.

OK, I am gonna stay with the single pattern. I was thinking about the Magnum 286 or the 292. Remember it will be driven daily and I would like something to get me into the high 11's low 12's if possible. What do you all think?

Has anyone ran either of these cams in a 406?

Both are still a hair on the big side for a daily driver IMO. Djd (Dennis) has run the Isky 280 I was talking about.