cam for a 540
 

Need to put a larger cam in a 540 and would like to know what size people are running. The motor has merlin heads with 345 intake runners, dart intake and holley 950. The cam I am running now is a comp hyd. roller part number 01-775-8 lift is .591 intake and .601 exhaust. The motor is bolted to a bravo 1. Thanks for any info.

Mine is a crane 741 cam. The current number is HR-306-2s-14 IG. This cam has the following specs: 244i 256e duration, 114 degrees of separation, .632" lift. Your heads and carb suggest that your existing motor is making more than my 600hp, and proably at a higher rpm. If so, then you may consider stepping up to the 751 cam-but you'll be spinning it pretty hard.

MY SET-UP
 

Crane 741 here also but I thought it was on 112 not 114

My 540's have Crower hydraulic rollers 236/244* on 114* lobes, fully ported Dart Pro-1 aluminum heads that oringinally started out at 310cc intake runners....with full port (guessing) they are now probably about 320cc. Engines make about 682hp @5500rpm (about 699hp @5700rpm) and 694 foot pounds of torque @4800rpm. My cam is very simular to MIKEHTMSR24'S Crane 741 hyd roller cam as well. You can usually get away with a smaller cam with well ported heads. Typically, I here of some guys running larger 244*/256* cams in a 540" engine which is okay, but I actually prefer running a smaller cam that I can get away with for smooth idling/drivability.

I agree with KAAMA. The heads are critical. I ran a 540 not too long ago with Hendrick Motorsports modified Chevy aluminum heads, 9.0:1 actually measured compression. The cam was a Comp Cams 288AR8. It likes valve springs and is solid roller so it needs attention but it made 724lb-ft at about 5100rpm and 721hp at about 5650 on Hendrick's dyno. Solid is better IF you don't mind adjusting valves and the maintenance!

Thanks for the input. I sold the motor to a friend and he wants something more than the cam I had in the motor.

HEY BLOWN 1500 DID YOU EVER GET OFF THE BLACK TAR HERION?? YOU DO THINK BETTER ON IT !!!!!

What is that?-----Chewin' tabaccy??? :crazy:

YEAH MARK HE'S BAD ;) ;) WILL P.M. YOU SOON

BOBBY