Mech. Cam for Daily Driver

[MoparMuscl]

Is there any major disadvantage to running a mechanical cam in a daily driver except for the fact of setting valve lash? I was also courious on how often the lash will have to be set? It is a '79 Dodge Li'l Red Express that is my daily driver with about 400hp, I am currently running an Edelbrock Performer RPM cam and am not happy. I was wanting to run a mechanical cam because of the extra power and RPM range. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

[bubby440]

running a solid cam for a daily driver shouldn't be a problem, the 273s & the 225 six up to 1980 had mechanical cams.

[morrisbrw]

What engine do you have? Mechanical or solid lifters are more noisey than hydraulics. Lash adjustment would depend on valve train duralibility and cam agressibility. Some people are only intrestid in duration at .050, but if you don't know duration at advertised, .050 and .200 you don't know what cam you have.

[MoparMuscl]

The cam I was thinking about using for my 360 is a hughes HE3644AS. The lift w/ 1.6 rockers is .543/.569 and duration is 236/244 at .050".

[MoparMuscl]

The advertised duration (.008") is 270/282 and the lobe seperation is 108.

[h_tolley]

A mechanical cam is a little noisier and requires periodic lash adjustments but it is not very bothersome to run on the street. Now, if you get a radical cam it will idle poorly but that will be the case whether you go hydraulic or mechanical.

[rat roaster]

looks like a good choice to me.

[pishta]

Whats up with the RPM cam? I was thinking about that package.

[MoparMuscl]

The RPM cam isn't that bad but it is a Chevy grind. It has a lot of advertised duration (308/318) but not much duration at .050" (only 234/244). It is not a very fast rate of lift and dosen't take advantage of Chrysler's bigger lifters. It is low on the lift catigory too (w/ 1.5 it is.488/.510 and with 1.6 .520/.544). The reason I am switching cams is because of a flattened exhause lobe. It does make good power, but I think that there are lots better cams out there.