Thread: General Hemi Info Part 5

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Short Block 5:

Cams: Cam selection will be based primarily on what you want the engine to do. Sources for new on the shelf non-stock cams presently seem to be limited to PAW and Hot Heads. There are also still a few services such as Egge that can also re-grind you original cam. For exact selection of grind to meet your specific needs I would highly recommend talking to the manufacture/sales reps.

There are few other things that you should be aware of. As I understand it when the raised block 392 was produced, the angle of the lifter bores was changed slightly requiring a different spacing on the cam lodes in relation to each other and while the cams physically interchange, installing a 331/354 cam into a 392 or the other way around it will result in a very poor running engine.

There were also early and late style cams, the early style with the long snout and the latter style (55 and up) that is shorter and uses a single cam bolt. All of the aftermarket cams to my knowledge are the later style which can be installed in the earlier blocks by using the latter style cam thrust plates (available through the aftermarket).

If you using the shallow aftermarket timing cover and short BB water pump there is also a recessed cam bolt that must be installed in order for the cover to clear.

Lifters:

If you’re using a hydraulic cam, the supply of OE lifters has just about dried up. A suitable replacement is the 58-65 BB Chrysler lifters. These only have 1 of the 2 grooves found on the stock lifters, but they work and if you order the lifters listed for the early Hemi, these are the ones you get. You might find like I did that they are cheaper to buy locally than to special order.