Questing a bump stick...
 

We are building what we want to be a mild 540. Prime consideration in this engine is turn key reliability, good idle, fat torque band. 8.8 compression, stock 502 heads. Not looking to build a monster, I am considering the HP-500 spec cam, 850 CFM carb and RPM air gap manifold.. Suggestions??

TIA

Scott

I ran several camshafts through simulation software over the last six months and I did not find any Gen. VI hydraulic rollers that made more power than the HP500 spec cam with stock heads and compression.

Big consideration is that with a static compression of 8.8 your dynamic compression is closer to 6.4 (these numbers are for a 500 EFI). If you go with a camshaft with a longer duration your dynamic compression is going to decrease. If you go with a shorter duration cam, your DCR will increase but you will lose some power because of the cam itself.

Anyway, thats my 2 cents.

Hmm, so with this cam is pocket porting worth it?

BTW, what simulation software were you using? I had forgotten, we have one on a PC @ work, need to check and see which one it is..

Scott B

The Crane 139741 hydraulic roller cam would be a good choice and have it ground on 114* lobe seps. I have the same specs in my Crower cams in my 540's that are almost identical to the Crane only the Crower cam is a hair slower and smoother on the ramp speeds. Slower ramp speeds are a little down on power, but make things much easier on the springs, lifters and valve train life/reliability. Cam specs @ .050" are 236*/244* on 114* lobes. It idles decently too. You can go a little smaller yet like--- 232*/240*. You'll want something that idles well around the docks, shifting and manuvering. There may be other cams that will perhaps work even better that I don't know of, but these specs are user friendly in a 540 hydraulic roller engine. :)

I agree with Kaama. A really good stick for a mild 540 is the 741.
DAVE