Thread: 402 cam choice

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Builing a 402 bbc and was wondering what your thoughts were for camshaft selection. This engine is going in a fiberglass hotrod that will see very little street use. Combo at the moment is:

402 truck 2 bolt block +.030" torque plate honed, zero deck height
new std stroke cast series 9000 scat crankshaft
Scat 6.135" I beam rods
Dome top TRW forgies, comp will be around 11.5:1.
Heads atm are 148 oval port running 2.250 and 1.880 valves ported with nice guide boss work and I've dropped the short turn right down. Obviously the heads are stud mounted with new arp studs and roller rockers are yet to be bought but will be used.
Intake is a oval port victor jnr with dominator flange and I've got a 1050 dominator for it.
I was planning on using this comp cams 11-411-8 NX279HR hyd roller only because I have it sitting but was going to run something a little bit more aggressive like a comp cams solid roller 11-655-47 XE290S.

How much horsepower do you estimate these camshafts would make in this engine?
Has anyone built something similar?

Some of the car specs are: 34 3 window ford, powerglide, 4.33:1 gears on a 33" tyre. Converter will be to suit camshaft.

At 11.5 scr, you're gonna need something up around 260* @ 0.050" tappet lift.

Just a forewarning... when I built my 402, I had 2.25 valves and they would not fit in the piston valve reliefs. I bought TRW's and they were the same, so I sent them back. Check you're piston to valve clearance. None of the piston manufacterers cut their valve reliefs big enough for 2.25 valves, only 2.19 or smaller. The only way you are going to make those heads work is if you have JE custom make you a set. It will cost around $900. Been there done that.

I had a .530 lift cam in with it and the valves were touching the piston, so it will not work...

I had a 402 in my 'bird with a .540 lift and something around 220 duration (I'll need to check when I get home) hydraulic lifters ran good on street and pulled 13.2s in qtr mile at mile high which makes low 12s at sea level. I don't know who's cam without looking at it but it was good with 10.2 scr in a 3400lb car. I don't know what you're looking for but this was a good street/strip cam for that motor with performer 2.0 intake and 750 holley carb.

I'll try to post more specifics when I have them available...

Hope this helps,

Chris

... Some other specs, I was running 4.56 gear. I think 1050 carb is overkill (big time) for that motor and as mentioned above you may run into problems with the big valves....

Chris

I'll check my heads to be sure on valve size. Otherwise I'll have to chev my crown thickness and cut some deeper releifs. My car only weighs around 2600lbs.

Isky makes a great notching tool, I've used them before.
http://www.iskycams.com/iskycategory...ategory_id=133

When I asked my machine shop to flycut the TRW's they wouldn't touch it. They said TRW's have the ring land too high up on the piston and the rings might push through, especially if you're hitting high rpm's...