Ok there's no question that the stock cam isn't the BEST cam for stock heads (and I mean unported), but any off the shelf cam out there isn't going to give you a lot of gains.....for the time put in to change it anyway. The only good gains you would see is from a custom cam ($300+) and even then it's not like you're going to be seeing a 50 hp gain.
Ed Hohenberg, stock unported heads, stock valve size(3 angle), 290hp/330tq.
You are correct, not a 50hp gain there, but damn impressive wouldn't you say? Now consider that cam is limited to 0.500 lift and runs hydro roller lifters.
Go solid flat tappet, and allow ramps that will dictate 0.550 and I'm certian there's more to be found... add to it all, that is thru a stock HO upper/lower intake... toss a gt40 lower and box on it... I'm certian given those restraints be eliminated, that 310-320hp is not out of reach. There is you 50hp or better.
Would you want to drive it daily, no, but this guy is building a light drag can and doesn't care about streetability.
Lets see, $325 for a nice cam, or, $1200 for heads and $125 for a shelf cam to run the same ET in a 'drag car'.
280hp/335tq in a light drag oriented car should be getting close to the 11's.
Friends went 11.7's at 2800lbs race weight here in the desert... aka crappy air. Granted, great driver.
Do you know for sure the heads were BONE stock? No bigger valves or anything? What else was done to the engine....I'm just wondering because if you're saying that the engine was bone stock except for that "wonder" cam, I just can't believe it.
I had a 289 with a 3/4 cam once. I could put a $100 bill on the dashboard and nobody was ever able to grab it. Of course I couldnt drive the car on the street because it was too fast to be street legal.
Do you know for sure the heads were BONE stock? No bigger valves or anything? What else was done to the engine....I'm just wondering because if you're saying that the engine was bone stock except for that "wonder" cam, I just can't believe it.
the bottom end was stock untouched... not high mileage... but not 'new'.
the heads were bone stock with a 3 angle valve job.
the intakes were stock, unported HO pieces.
the cam was specifically designed to haul butt within the rules of NHRA stock class (K-super, eliminator, I forget) he ran at the time... and EFI.
I'm sure the valve springs were no where near stock, and rocker arm geometry was likely perfect.
Keep in mind this was also thru short tube headers.
Do a search on the corral for his name, in the windsor section.
There was a thread where he chimed in about his combo.
Yes it was a race car.
No, it was not light by any means due to the class rules.
There is an entire wolrd of performance known to racers(not claiming to be one) that blows the average joe's street oriented mind.
I know it does mine.