which cam to choose?

I'm just designing my engine now and I'm down to 3 cams to choose from

the first one a comp cams x-energy 294H a hydraulic flat tap. which has a duration of 250/256 @ 0.050 and a lift of 514/524 from that dyno results site the cam made 391hp and 437 torque with their set up and using 6X slightly ported heads which flowed at int: 220 and exh:195 the other items in the set up are 1 5/8 headers, 750 carb, comp of 9.5:1, 1.5:1 rockers, and dual plane manifold

the 2nd cam is a comp cams magnum 270H a hydraulic flat tap. which has a duration of 224/224 @ 0.050 and a lift of 476/476 it made 379hp and 448 torque with the same peramiters as above

the 3rd cam is a comp cams 276AH a hydraulic flat tap. which has a duration of 228/236 @ 0.050 and a lift of 520/520 it made 395hp and 437 torque with the same peramiters as above

I'd use the first cam as it seems to be more like a Pontiac Pattern. My next choice would be the 3rd cam. Avoid the second as it is a single pattern cam.

A lot of information on choosing cams can be found here:

http://www.classicfirebird.com/hand/jhand5.html

He mostly talks about stock cams, but you can use the information there to help with your choices.

why stay away from single pattern?

look at the torque it made

It is common knowledge that Pontiacs like a dual pattern cam over a single. My guess is in the original engine/head design.

yah i read that pontiacs work well with cams that have around 10 degrees more duation on the exhaust side over the intake

dose anyone know of a cam like that

im looking for one around a .500 lift or so

and then a duration of around 230's @ .o50

I would still suggest a ultradyne cam. They have the best cam for your application and are proven in pontiacs.
Hydraulic Cam-
288/296 duration, 231/239 @ .050 .485/.507 lift and 100 degree lobe seperation.

thats good but I dont know if any dealers sell ultradyne cams near me

is there a comp or crane cam like that?

i think im going to go with a comp XE274H

Duration: 230 Intake / 236 Exhaust (@ 0.050)
Lift: 488 Intake / 491 Exhaust

LSA: 110 degrees
Overlap: 59 degrees


sounds good???

That is probably the best substitute. You might try mail order for the parts you can't get locally though. Sometimes it is a little hard to get Pontiac performance parts without going through a mail order source.

yah but i want a comp cam just cause of the name...haha

I'm just designing my engine now and I'm down to 3 cams to choose from

the first one a comp cams x-energy 294H a hydraulic flat tap. which has a duration of 250/256 @ 0.050 and a lift of 514/524 from that dyno results site the cam made 391hp and 437 torque with their set up and using 6X slightly ported heads which flowed at int: 220 and exh:195 the other items in the set up are 1 5/8 headers, 750 carb, comp of 9.5:1, 1.5:1 rockers, and dual plane manifold

the 2nd cam is a comp cams magnum 270H a hydraulic flat tap. which has a duration of 224/224 @ 0.050 and a lift of 476/476 it made 379hp and 448 torque with the same peramiters as above

the 3rd cam is a comp cams 276AH a hydraulic flat tap. which has a duration of 228/236 @ 0.050 and a lift of 520/520 it made 395hp and 437 torque with the same peramiters as above WOW.294H cam is a all top end cam. I learned from my mistakes.For me happiness is a smaller cam like a 264 adv duration. Big cams are fine , but be prepared to spend money on stall converter, steeper gears, gas mileage will suffer..never did say what your using the car for? auto or manual, gears? cruise or race only? I had my car built up to the point where is wasn't any fun to drive.