Camshaft??

MEXJOE · 01-18-2012, 04:12 PM

I think it's time to upgrade the cam in my 325 hp 396.
Any suggestions as far as brand and who is best for this combo.
Thanks
Glen DeMenge

Alan Roehrich · 01-18-2012, 05:08 PM

I get mine from Tim Cole at Comp Cams.

Bobby Lundholm · 01-18-2012, 08:34 PM

Bullet Cams

Jim Hanig · 01-18-2012, 08:58 PM

50 MM Comp Jim Hanig

Tom Moock · 01-19-2012, 12:28 AM

Jim Hanig, are roller cam bearings legal in stock? Tom

Alan Roehrich · 01-19-2012, 12:31 AM

You don't need roller cam bearings. I wouldn't run a 50MM cam in a big block.

Note, I've edited this post for clarity:

I meant to come back and clarify this, as I answered it "on the fly" or "off the cuff".

Stock core diameter is adequate for most applications. Comp calls that a 1.948" core, and does not give a "MM" dimension, however some research and conversion to metric dimensions yields 49.47MM as the dimension for a stock diameter babbit bearing 1.948" core.

A 50MM (actually 49.98) core is actually 1.968", which most cam companies list as a "stock diameter" for use with roller bearings. That is where the confusion here comes from. From what I've seen, the industry standard for core sizes refers to the actual stock diameter big block Chevy core as 1.948", and the "stock core diameter for roller cam bearings" as 1.968, or 50MM.

I'm actually surprised one of my friends didn't send me an email or a private message and bust my chops on it.

I certainly should have been more clear, and more careful. I hope this resolves any confusion here.

Jim Hanig · 01-19-2012, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Moock

Jim Hanig, are roller cam bearings legal in stock? Tom

Tom they are not babbit only. Jim Hanig

MEXJOE · 01-19-2012, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alan roehrich

you don't need roller cam bearings. I wouldn't run a 50mm cam in a big block.

please elaborate.

Alan Roehrich · 01-19-2012, 12:07 PM

If I were going to run a big core cam in a big block Chevy, I'd run a 54MM cam. You can do that on babbit bearings, for a "reasonable" cost. The next step would be a 55MM cam, also on babbit bearings, but the cost increases a good bit.

For the RPM range of a 396 that is not a 375 horse version, I think the stock size core is adequate for Stock Eliminator.

There are advantages to bigger cores, and to steel cores, not sure a relatively low horsepower 396 Stock Eliminator engine will really see them.

Charles Rainey · 01-19-2012, 01:48 PM

Quite often I see people giving advise on size of camshaft and what people should run. And Im sure that I will not get a response to this. Just how many of you people have run back to back studies of "larger camshaft" versus standard camshafts. When I say studies, I am referring to dyno tests or back to back track tests. I have very little thought to an opinion unless you have performed this your self.
charles

01-18-2012, 04:12 PM	#1
MEXJOE Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: nhranumbers.com Posts: 869 Likes: 129 Liked 151 Times in 48 Posts	Camshaft?? I think it's time to upgrade the cam in my 325 hp 396. Any suggestions as far as brand and who is best for this combo. Thanks Glen DeMenge

01-18-2012, 05:08 PM	#2
Alan Roehrich VIP Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 4,936 Likes: 1,021 Liked 1,094 Times in 287 Posts	Re: Camshaft?? I get mine from Tim Cole at Comp Cams. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

01-18-2012, 08:34 PM	#3
Bobby Lundholm Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Charlevoix, MI Posts: 423 Likes: 94 Liked 87 Times in 34 Posts	Re: Camshaft?? Bullet Cams __________________ Bobby Lundholm 3516 G/SA

01-18-2012, 08:58 PM	#4
Jim Hanig Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pukwana SD Posts: 858 Likes: 555 Liked 97 Times in 47 Posts	Re: Camshaft?? 50 MM Comp Jim Hanig

01-19-2012, 12:28 AM	#5
Tom Moock Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 801 Likes: 1 Liked 10 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Camshaft?? Jim Hanig, are roller cam bearings legal in stock? Tom __________________ Tom Moock 5704 STK

01-19-2012, 12:31 AM	#6
Alan Roehrich VIP Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 4,936 Likes: 1,021 Liked 1,094 Times in 287 Posts	Re: Camshaft?? You don't need roller cam bearings. I wouldn't run a 50MM cam in a big block. Note, I've edited this post for clarity: I meant to come back and clarify this, as I answered it "on the fly" or "off the cuff". Stock core diameter is adequate for most applications. Comp calls that a 1.948" core, and does not give a "MM" dimension, however some research and conversion to metric dimensions yields 49.47MM as the dimension for a stock diameter babbit bearing 1.948" core. A 50MM (actually 49.98) core is actually 1.968", which most cam companies list as a "stock diameter" for use with roller bearings. That is where the confusion here comes from. From what I've seen, the industry standard for core sizes refers to the actual stock diameter big block Chevy core as 1.948", and the "stock core diameter for roller cam bearings" as 1.968, or 50MM. I'm actually surprised one of my friends didn't send me an email or a private message and bust my chops on it. I certainly should have been more clear, and more careful. I hope this resolves any confusion here. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S Last edited by Alan Roehrich; 01-20-2012 at 12:39 PM. Reason: to clarify some statements

01-19-2012, 12:07 PM	#9
Alan Roehrich VIP Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 4,936 Likes: 1,021 Liked 1,094 Times in 287 Posts	Re: Camshaft?? If I were going to run a big core cam in a big block Chevy, I'd run a 54MM cam. You can do that on babbit bearings, for a "reasonable" cost. The next step would be a 55MM cam, also on babbit bearings, but the cost increases a good bit. For the RPM range of a 396 that is not a 375 horse version, I think the stock size core is adequate for Stock Eliminator. There are advantages to bigger cores, and to steel cores, not sure a relatively low horsepower 396 Stock Eliminator engine will really see them. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

01-19-2012, 01:48 PM	#10
Charles Rainey Junior Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 40 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Camshaft?? Quite often I see people giving advise on size of camshaft and what people should run. And Im sure that I will not get a response to this. Just how many of you people have run back to back studies of "larger camshaft" versus standard camshafts. When I say studies, I am referring to dyno tests or back to back track tests. I have very little thought to an opinion unless you have performed this your self. charles