Well, I picked up my brothers rotating assy. for his 396 SBC yesterday..I'm looking for a cam and have a few questions... First one is...how big of a cam can I run and not have to worry about anything hitting? Reason I ask is because it is a 3.820" stroke and has 5.7" rods..so I'm thinking I need a small base circle cam and I wanted him to run a hydr. roller. The goal is to have a 500hp small block. Heads are Dart Iron Eagle 215cc heads 72cc chambers, TRW L-2490-060 pistons, about 10.5:1 -> 11:1 CR, and also Crane Energizer roller rockers 1.6 ratio.

I would say a small base circle is a must (I-beams rods?). I love my Comp XE 294 HR. 242/248,.540/.562 106ICL and 110LSA. I estimate over 500 HP in my 406 and it has pretty good street manners. I do have a pretty big stall although I think it would be fine with a tighter one.

well, it has stock 5.7 rods w/arp rod bolts and the usual rod work.

So you think its a-ok with this cam and nothing should hit anywhere correct (other then rod to block clearance)

I'm not real BB savy but arn't 1.7:1 rockers standard. Are you intentionally using 1.6:1's to reduce lift? or is that a typo or am I wrong about the 1.7's

no, not a big block...its a small block.. offset ground crank

Where's my glasses? I should have seen that!!!!

Oh MaGoo, you've done it again!!

Any small base circle cam should clear, but you certainly want to check it once it's together.

small base circle is a definate plus, they usually don't cost more, and the larger the cam (lobe lift) after a certain point, (read; LARGE) will also automatically decrease base circle.
but with that said, it depends on other issues as far as cam design (lift/duration,etc.). the cam i used in my 406, a solid roller, small base circle, had clearance at all the normally effected rods, but when i checked close the clearance was not enough. so i still had to clearance the rods slightly, small base circle or not. clearancing the rods is no biggee at all, so dont let that deter you, just be sure to check.

thanks for all the info guys! I like Greg's cam selection, oddly enough I was thinking at first of a hydraulic XE294 cam. The problem I'm gonna have is that my brother has 1.6 roller rockers, dunno if that will affect clearances anywhere?

Since my brothers block is a non-roller block, what changes if any will I need to make other then buy roller lifters etc ?

the rockers will only affect clearance within the valve train, like coil bind or pushrod clearance in the slot, for instance, and P to V clearance.

excellent. but is it as simple as putting roller lifters in a non-roller block, no modifications required?

cant say as for hydraulic rollers, i've only done one in my 5 liter mustang, but the solids you just drop them in and go, no problem.
another nice thing about rollers is no unsightly cam break-in lobe wipeouts graemlins/thumbsup.gif