cam opinions

[shelbe67]

I need some opinions on camshafts. I have a comp cams 282hr that I am thinking about installing in my stroker. Its a 351wstrked to 395 cubic inches it will have 11.5:1 compression. victor jr heads and intake 1.6 rr an 850 carb, 13/4 headers a 3000 stall and an aod with 410 gears. Now do you guys think that I should retofit my block for the roller cam or should I just run a hydralic cam as it would be cheaper then the retrofit. If I do use the hydralic cam then which one? Also can I double up my head gaskets to lower the compression a bit? would this be ok? thanks guys appreciate any help

 

[D.Hearne]

If you can afford the retrofit for the roller, then go for it. But I wouldn't dream of doubling head gaskets to reduce the comp ratio. You're asking for trouble there. Four head bolts per cylinder + aluminum heads + double gaskets = trouble to me.You're not planning on this for a daily driver, so affording 93 octane pump premium shouldn't be a concern.

 

[dennis112]

Is the engine still apart and can the piston tops be relieved?

I wouldn't double up head gaskets either. Thick ones are available, and I think that Cometic makes custom ones.

Alternately, IF you have the funds, you could contact a custom cam designer. They can design a cam that would work with your expected compression.

 

[shelbe67]

I dont really havethe cash but I can save. I dont think 93 is gonna cut it my engine builder said the motor is gonna have 13:1 with a 60cc head , 12 something to one with a 64cc head and if I double the gaskets it will have 11.5:1 which I could live with I was just looking for an alternative to tearing it down again

 

[D.Hearne]

Go with the largest chambered head you can (if you haven't bought heads yet) Then look for a cam with lots of overlap. You should be OK with 93 premium then. If you get too thick with the gasket, you'll loose some quench and defeat the purpose of the gaskets reducing the comp ratio.

 

[shelbe67]

what do you mean quench?

 

[D.Hearne]

Quench happens in the area between the piston top and the bottom of the head, outside of the chamber. It serves to extinguish any flame front started by detonation ( spontanious combustion, also how a diesel fires) other than the one started by the sparkplug. If this gap is too large, then it may fail to extinguish these extra flame fronts, and with insufficient octane fuel, you get detonation ( pinging) which will eventually destroy the pistons if it happens too often. A thicker gasket widens this gap. You eventually get to a point where you're defeating the purpose of using the thicker gasket by using one thats thick enough to prevent quench.

 

[steel1212]

Quench happens in the area between the piston top and the bottom of the head, outside of the chamber. It serves to extinguish any flame front started by detonation ( spontanious combustion, also how a diesel fires) other than the one started by the sparkplug. If this gap is too large, then it may fail to extinguish these extra flame fronts, and with insufficient octane fuel, you get detonation ( pinging) which will eventually destroy the pistons if it happens too often. A thicker gasket widens this gap. You eventually get to a point where you're defeating the purpose of using the thicker gasket by using one thats thick enough to prevent quench.

Hearne, you always amaze me! I learn something new everyday just by reading you post lol. :SNSign:

 

[D.Hearne]

Sometimes I amaze myself