help choose a cam for my 340

[Dartcustom]

Here are the specs
'69 dart about 3400 pounds with me
8-3/4" 3.91 rear w/snubber
'72 340 forged crank built to '71 specs
j-heads 2.02/1.60 hughes stage 1
edel. air gap rpm intake
750 holley VS
TTI headers w/ 2.5 exhaust
manual brakes

I am looking around in the 270-280 duration range. would like to run a 2800 or so converter at the most. Would like to be in the 390-420 hp range when done. Hughes, comp cams? lets here your suggestions!

[rumblefish360]

To meet the goal, I would use the New comp grind. Even the MoPar 284 would do the trick. IMO, a 270 duration cam won't make the HP cut.

[440BB]

sounds like a quick 340 there. but i agree that mopar cam would diffenately work well

[Dart]

Am I blind or did you not post compression numbers? What kind of compression do you expect?

[mr.b]

guessing that your compression is good,[140-160] psi i would choose a cam "around" 550 lift and 280- 295 duration. a main concern is lobe separation or centerline. try to find a split pattern cam with a centerline of no less than 110. try to fine a 112 with thses other specs. and i think you will be very happy. lower the centerline such as 108-106 esp. cams that have a built in 4 degree advance, the bigger the stall you will have to have. you could sacrafice idle quality esp with a lower stall converter. be sure a cam of such specs will clear piston to valve.

[jimbo7074]

Personally I have used the comp 280 magnum cam in my 340 and it performed very well,and still had a good idle.

[ohioDemon]

HI, i'm using a comp cams xtreme energy cam.

284/296 .510lift, 70 degrees overlap, 240/246@.050

this is in a built 366 10.2 cr motor
its a pretty stout cam but works darn good in my demon
12.73@107.66.

[duster360]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=1837849437

[hemi17]

If you ask a hundred people, you'll get a hundred different answers. I wouldn't listen to any of these guys- they're not the ones who have to foot the bill. call up the cam manufac. directly,
that's why they're in the business. tell them what you want to do.
you have to have alot of knowledge about how the whole package works together to make an accurate choise.



'70 challenger 452 cu. 10.00 @ 134 mph
'70 dart 366 cu. 12.57 @107 mph
'01 dakota quad cab 13.60 @ 95 mph

[jimbo7074]

First of all calling the manufacturer will only give there recommendation,how do you know it is tested on the track?Second many of these guys have tested these cams on the track six ways from Sunday, have the manufacturers done this? Third a lot of people on this board have learned the hard way about camshafts and their experience is valuable,and know you won't get a hundred different answers,you will get some I agree, but you will also get much experience.

[BigEdsGarage]

Don't forget to match your choice to what size and stall converter are you running. If you have the Stage 1 heads and use 10:1 or up compression I would probably look into the Mopar .508/.292. I run a similar setup in my 340 but use a Hughes .570/.296 107 lsa solid in mine. I like it alot. I know there are better cams but this thing is ultra responsive. I run a 3800 9" converter, 4:56 gear with 27" tires. Granted I ain't takin no long distance trips in it, but put your foot into it at a light and you better be ready for it! I would also consider a performer rpm, Mopar M1 or strip dominator manifold ported to your heads to take advantage of your heads full potential. I have run the Mopar .484 cam also, might work very nice for your set up.

Jimbo.......I'm down with what you said brother. I have learned far more talking to people who run it than what any spec sheet or customer service rep is gonna tell you. There is no sustitute for hard earned, factual experience. Heh! Try making an A body run 11's from picking out parts in a catalog, It ain't gonna happen. Spend a few months gathering info and asking questions, you'll be surprised what you learn!

[rumblefish360]

hemi17;

I wouldn't listen to any of these guys-

Then why are you here? To dispense the allmighty advice of......

call up the cam manufac. directly,

Good advice but there limited in actual exper. Ever run into a guy on the other end who has run that very cam your lookin at?
Does he own a MoPar as well?
He did ask an opion, so he got one from each person here.

BigEdsGarage;
Your Hughes cam is a preety stout unit. Better out there you say....Who grinds Hughes cams? Thats right, one of the few small companys that are seriuos about it.
Ultradyne, Racer Brown and a few others out there makin cams ready to shame a few big companys.
Your combo sounds real nice.

[AAR4fun]

I ran across an article on a custom ground solid Comp Cams that was for circle track racing. It was a short duration (240's, 250's @ .050) and high lift (530's & 540's). It was designed for Mopar lifters and had a steep ramp to open and close the valve quickly. In the article it was installed on a 360 and bumped the hp up something like 40-50hp. With the short duration had 11 inches of vacuum and idled at 800-900.

So I ordered one. I thought it was a great bolt on. Rumpy but worked power brakes. Great mid and upper HP.

I can dig up the specs and ordering information if your interested...