CompCams presently only list the 'Thumper' cams for Nailheads.... BUT Look in the CompCams online catalog.... They offer nearly the same cam for different engine applications, only the lift figures are different due to different rocker ratios used. If Comp Cams DID have more Nailhead listings, this is what you might see: Hint.....The Olds uses the same 1.6 rocker ratio as our Nailheads, so look at the Olds cams first: Extreme Energy: 206/212 duration, .443/.448 lift, 110* lobe spacing 212/218 duration, .453/.456 lift, 110* lobe spacing 218/224 duration, .475/.480 lift, 110* lobe spacing 224/230 duration, .485/.490 lift, 110* lobe spacing 230/236 duration, .520/.523 lift, 110* lobe spacing 240/246 duration, .541/.544 lift, 110* lobe spacing Dual Energy: 203/215 duration, .433/.467 lift, 110* lobe spacing 211/223 duration, .472/.486 lift, 110* lobe spacing 219/233 duration, .476/.508 lift, 110* lobe spacing And if you want a real wide lobe spread, look at: 396-454 Chevy Nitrous cams: (lift is corrected for 1.6 ratio) 218/230 duration, .475/.489 lift, 113* lobe spacing 224/236 duration, .485/.515 lift, 113* lobe spacing 240/253 duration, .541/.560 lift, 113* lobe spacing Chevy 396-454 Nostalgia Plus: (lift is corrected for 1.6 ratio) 229/236 duration, .499/.493 lift, 112* lobe spacing Chevy 396-454 Blower & Turbo: (lift is corrected for 1.6 ratio) 226/218 duration, .494/.484 lift, 115* lobe spacing 232/237 duration, .515/.515 lift, 114* lobe spacing Couple of Pontiac offerings: (lift is corrected for 1.6 ratio) Factory Muscle: 230/240 duration, .549/.549 lift, 114* lobe spacing Magnum Muscle: 232/237 duration, .590/.590 lift, 110* lobe spacing I'll bet they could put most, if not all, these designs on their Nailhead cam blanks, and with different lobe spacing if desired. Wide lobe spacing or high lift may be an issue?? So which one do you want??:Brow: And for those with the Dyno 2003 software, many of these cams are in the 'cam files'....just look up the Camshaft part number.
walt, i like the look of of that turbo/blower cam. what is the max lift we can use before we generally have piston to valve issues. i thought we had no problem with a .525 lift cam.. Paul 66larkgs
On a completely stock engine max lift at the VALVE is about .500". V/P is barely adequate. Intake is usually closest.
Paul, There's another thread about valve-piston clearance with more detailed info: http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=213180 Basically, when the valve(s) is at max lift, the piston is well down in the bore, so clearance isn't an issue at that time. V-P clearance is at the minimum when piston is near TDC, the exhaust is closing, and the intake is opening.... and valves are 'in overlap'. Selecting a cam with less overlap (approx 0 degrees or less @ 0.050" lift), having wider lobe centers (114* vs 110*), and not having too much duration, will result in safer v-p clearances. In other words.....near stock specs. Many moderate-to big cams WILL have problems with v-p clearance. With hi-lift cams, valve guide retainers will have to be cut down. Fast-rate cams, like the Extreme series, put more stress on the valvetrain components, so upgrading the springs is important.
Good question! I believe the cast stock replacements like Egge Machine, Badger, and Zollner are similar to the stock Buick pistons. I don't know if valve notches can be safely cut in those. Forged pistons are avail from Ross and Diamond Racing, maybe others. They're expensive, $600-800. I wish someone would make a decent piston with deeper valve reliefs that didn't cost a small fortune! :rant: I'd bet if there was enough demand, they would make them....
Has anybody approached TA about it. I dont want to get anybody mad but if all the 455 guys can have all teh cool stuff why cant we get the good stuff to. we paved the way for them.
TA stock replacement pistons for the NH are made by Egge. If they had a supplier for high performance NH pistons i would not expect the price to be much different from other custom NH piston sources. TA has made a business out of the niche market of Buick high performance parts. Tough market to diversify and provide low cost. i would say that their NH roller cam is a good example of cost expectation - in the ballpark of cost? yes; low cost? no. sorry....:boring:
I've talked with Mahle about this exact subject. To be cost effective a minimum of 10 sets would need to be made. And, they would ALL have to be the SAME!! Everyone has their own idea, so that makes it difficult. Deeper valve reliefs, taller dome to make up for the deeper reliefs, rounded edges on the dome for added clearance for the heads, forged, slightly lower pin position to make up for the .040"-.050" the pistons are in the bore for a truer compression ratio of close to 10-1. Everyone would have to use the same rod,(stock??) Rings, pin size, etc.
Heck, I have 4 engines in my stable right now that will eventually need new pistons! 'Close-to-stock' , with the mods Tom mentioned would fit the needs for most of us. Would we still be looking at the same $600-800 price range?
I haven't talked to Tony in at least 2 yrs. At that time cost was around the $600.00 range. Probably more today as the prices for quality material has gone up considerably. Tom T.
There appears to be more demand NOW for quality Nailhead parts than there was 2 years ago. There was a guy on the Yahoo forum that worked for Mahle. I should look him up. So Tom, which of the CompCam designs do you like???:Brow:
I like this cam; 396-454 Chevy Nitrous cams: (lift is corrected for 1.6 ratio) 218/230 duration, .475/.489 lift, 113* lobe spacing 224/236 duration, .485/.515 lift, 113* lobe spacing 240/253 duration, .541/.560 lift, 113* lobe spacing After checking out Comp's lobe catalog a few weeks back though, I like the High Energy 5086 lobe for the intake, and 5088 lobe for the exhaust. Those combined have a faster ramp rate than the XFI lobes we were talking about in the other thread.
