racer_dave

^^^ nice job on the research ^^^ Way to help !

dbgrigsby93

Just sent an e-mail to Crane's technical support group asking much the same as I am going to ask to all of you, but here goes.

The cam I have been looking at is the third one down on this list:
http://www.cranecams.com/236-237.pdf

What kind of power should I expect from this set up? I'm shooting for 400-450 hp and I like the power band this cam offers from 3200 to 7200 RPM. I just want to make sure I'm not going to get too much power from this cam.

Also, Crane gives part numbers for all the valve train components that will work with this cam. But are all the components the best? I know that they only offer steel retainers but I've heard titanium is better because its lighter weight makes it easier for the valve spring to push it back up at higher RPM. Or is 7200 RPM even high enough to worry about this?

Your thoughts and opinions please.

barnett468

.
ok, if you want that many revs, i would use the forged internal balanced crank and 4 bolt mains and the ati damper and use arp studs for the main caps.

if you have a fat wallet buy titanium valve springs or similar.

tool steel retainers.

i already set you up with light weight valves.

you will also need 11.0 compression so you might require race gas.

also, i would send the heads out to a cleveland expert like keith kraft to get some mild port work done.

i would also get a steel cam for this app.

dbgrigsby93

It's been a while but I'm revisiting this post to ask a quick question for my machinist.

Long story short, further research, a few proven Car Craft build sheets, and some heavy advice from my machinist (who builds engines for the dirt rack and the drag strip) has led me to decide upon a hydraulic roller cam and a 408 stroker kit from Eagle.

Question is: With cast iron 4V heads and a compression ratio between 10 and 10.5 to 1, will hardened valve seats be required?

My machinist isn't a big fan but he'll do it if it's absolutely required. Your thoughts please.

Below are the cam specs: (lift, duration)
intake: .609" 232 @ .050
exhaust: .621" 236 @ .050
power band: 2600 - 6800 RPM
Required compression ratio: 10 to 11.5

barnett468

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ok, that is NOT anything like a boss 351 engine.

hardened seats are NOT required but with todays fuel, the seats will wear faster than the normally would unless you use an additive like real tel lead or redline or maybe put a few ounces or oil or tranny fluid in every tank.

those heads kinda suck . . if you want to make fairly big power, you should run the 225 cc trick flow heads and a bigger cam.

69mach1377

IIRC hardened exhaust seats have been pretty standard since lead was removed from our gas.

teeeeg67

I called rpm machine and they really helped me out. They blueprint a motor for you from the ground up. I got a stroker kit from them with scat crank. Icon pistons and I forget what rods. They will literally go through every step to make sure with the combination of heads you are going to Use that you have the compression you are looking for.