I have a 540 which is street driven on weekends only and mainly
to shows. My question is: have been told my current cam (714/714
lift, 262/272dur@50, 112 lob) is the biggest I should go since motor
is 10.5 compression. I would like to a little bigger dur and lift. I would
like a little more power. I all ready have other upgrades for a bigger
cam (springs, lifters, etc) going in regardless if cam switch anyway
but wanted input from others about increasing cam size and also
want size to go. Do not want to go too big but as much as possible.
Other motor info is: 950 Holley, vic jr, dart 325 heads, 2" headers
Thanks for any input! Bob

Imo..that current combo should be sufficient enough to blow the hides off the biggest baloneys you can tuck under the car.
Do you really want or need more power or just more rump rump when idling into the street meet?
I would have expected a super vic with a dom with that many cubes..that cam and head combo and .. more primary pipe .

Imo..that current combo should be sufficient enough to blow the hides off the biggest baloneys you can tuck under the car.
Do you really want or need more power or just more rump rump when idling into the street meet?
I would have expected a super vic with a dom with that many cubes..that cam and head combo and more primary pipe .

I will be going to a 1050 Dominator later. Will probably stay with the Jr
as I was told it will be better str driving due to low rpm driving (quicker
response) but if more racing go to S. Victor. Not as good for str driving

[QUOTE=fatblock;1240001]
Do you really want or need more power or just more rump rump when idling into the street meet?


This matters and may not require a cam swap.

[QUOTE=fatblock;1240001]
Do you really want or need more power or just more rump rump when idling into the street meet?


This matters and may not require a cam swap.

That's true. Was told a Dominator could give me 25+ HP. Just courious
about cam. Would like more rump rump but not nessasary

Try changing rocker arms from 1.7 to 1.8 ratio
Check piston to valve clearance

Still holding out for why you need more ponys in a traction limited street deal that fires up on the weekend and heads off to cruise ins.No mention of track time or grudge matches.Why the need for more hp if you can not use what you have?

I do go to the strip on occassion and usually run somebody once
a week on the expressway. Just want to know my cam limit on a 10.5
compression motor. Thanks to all for replying

So whats it run?
As a lot of times the performance wont be good if the rest of the
combo isn’t set up well, as in you intake and carb. I usually see
an inadequate exhaust and fuel system which chokes a bunch of power.
By going with a bigger cam you will just loose streetablility and may
not pick up much power at all. What I’m saying is there may be more
power to be had in other areas – all these added up may be as much as
a 100hp. So let us know what the rest of your combo is like

So whats it run?
As a lot of times the performance wont be good if the rest of the
combo isn’t set up well, as in you intake and carb. I usually see
an inadequate exhaust and fuel system which chokes a bunch of power.
By going with a bigger cam you will just loose streetablility and may
not pick up much power at all. What I’m saying is there may be more
power to be had in other areas – all these added up may be as much as
a 100hp. So let us know what the rest of your combo is like
It is a Shafiroff 540 Ultra Street, 695hp, 665tq, 950 Holley, Vic Jr, 325
Dart Heads(mildly ported), 6Al Ign, TH400, 410 gears, 3500 Stahl, Cal
Tracs, 2" headers, MSD Dist., 1.6 rockers, cam is 714/714 lift, 262/272
dur@50, 112 lob, Hurst 1/4 Stick, 26" ET Str on rear, TCI race trans,
3" exhaust w/Dynamax Bullets

What does it run (et/mph) in the ¼ at what race weight?
That will give us an idea on how everything works.

The 2” headers and 3” exhaust is on the small side for a 540,
So you could do 2 1/8” headers and 3 ½” exhaust with an H or
X-pipe with quiet muffs, it would make better power and be quieter
then 3” bullets.

Whats the fuel system like?
What kinda air filter? (I ask because sometimes I see little tiny ones)

Yes a 1050 would be worth around 25hp or more on your combo.
A super Victor with some plenum work would pick up power also,
The victor jr is on the small side, plus a SV would kill a bit of low end
which would be a good thing for a 540.

262/272 is about as much duration as you wanna run on pump gas,
I’m no “cam expert”, but 270s/280s would need more comp. even with
540cubes.

Hope that helps some.

What does it run (et/mph) in the ¼ at what race weight?
That will give us an idea on how everything works.

The 2” headers and 3” exhaust is on the small side for a 540,
So you could do 2 1/8” headers and 3 ½” exhaust with an H or
X-pipe with quiet muffs, it would make better power and be quieter
then 3” bullets.

Whats the fuel system like?
What kinda air filter? (I ask because sometimes I see little tiny ones)

Yes a 1050 would be worth around 25hp or more on your combo.
A super Victor with some plenum work would pick up power also,
The victor jr is on the small side, plus a SV would kill a bit of low end
which would be a good thing for a 540.

262/272 is about as much duration as you wanna run on pump gas,
I’m no “cam expert”, but 270s/280s would need more comp. even with
540cubes.

Hope that helps some.

Not at track yet. I would guess mid 10's. Car is 69 Camaro (3400 ?)
plus driver (200). As for exhaust, I seen a chart and it said 3" up to
800hp. Was going to 3-1/2 but since chart I'm not sure. Headers will
stay at 2", they are new. The fuel system is a Areomotive 1000 with
#10 line from tank to regulator and 6 from reg to carb. Air Filter is a
K&N (3" tall) with the filtered top. As I said, just wondering if cam go
a bit bigger and as you said and I was told my current dur is about
the limit as performance wise. Thanks for your input!

Please call up UDHarold here...

(662) 562-4933

and ask him to spec the max cam your combination can take w/ the bigger intake system.

And if you do, please say hello to him from ol' pdq67.

And just by chance you are running cast-iron heads, the .020" thick shim headgaskets will bump the CR up a schosh to help a bigger cam I'd figure like .3 to maybe .4 a point, but I haven't ran any numbers on a 540, sorry here.

pdq67

Please call up UDHarold here...

(662) 562-4933

and ask him to spec the max cam your combination can take w/ the bigger intake system.

And if you do, please say hello to him from ol' pdq67.

And just by chance you are running cast-iron heads, the .020" thick shim headgaskets will bump the CR up a schosh to help a bigger cam I'd figure like .3 to maybe .4 a point, but I haven't ran any numbers on a 540, sorry here.

pdq67 X2 and after all said and done, Please post a video of that nice BBC.

You will need a way to qauntify this method for choosing more or less valve timing for a given application.I do believe your 540 is equpped with a solid roller camshaft.This allows you to run lash loops and see how well she responds to it.Be it 1/4 mile mph or chassis dyno..if she trends upward with a tighter lash,she wants more lift and some duration.The opposite applys also.No gain/loss either way..then she has found her sweet spot and quite content with the current cam profile.

Ditto fatblock and the "lash-loop"!

pdq67

I will be going to a 1050 Dominator later. Will probably stay with the Jr
as I was told it will be better str driving due to low rpm driving (quicker
response) but if more racing go to S. Victor. Not as good for str driving

Your concerned about low rpm driveability/response, but want to go with a bigger cam???

Your concerned about low rpm driveability/response, but want to go with a bigger cam???

Thats only if I stay with current cam. I am getting 1050 Dominator and
was told to get Super Vic with it but not going to Super Vic unless I go
to bigger cam. Super Victor will efect low rpm response and will deal
with that for bigger cam and better high rpm response