I think I understand 100 percent what Troy is talking about with the cam situation. When we build a street driven hot rod, sometimes performance takes a backseat to image. If we were building these things to run down the quarter, we would go for as much efficiency as possible, but when we build them for the street, we give up some of that for the red light idle and cool factor.

The 460 Ford I will use for a future project has a roller cam that comes in at 4500, and needs a convertor that is extremely loose. Crane cams told me this cam should never be on the street, but that is where it will probably end up. I know all the things about how a smaller cam would be more sensible, and probably faster, but I am willing to sacrifice that for the idle and image I am after. Besides, a race built 460 will give me more than enough HP regardless of the efficiency level.

We all do this, and put stuff on our rods that compromise HP for image, otherwise we would be building strictly race engines. Who was it, Hernando who said "it is better to look good than to feel good."


Don