I have a Dart Big M 454 with Dart iron Eagle 308 heads. The engine has 150 lbs of compression on 7 cylinders and 120 on #8. It also has a knock which sounds like it is in the roller rocker of #8 at idle. I suspect that it has eaten a cam shaft. What would be a good camshaft for an engine with this compression. It has Crane 1.7 roller rockers.

Find the problem before you worry about a cam. If it wiped a cam lobe, then all that metal went through the engine.

hp 500 efi cam would work great

Doesn't seem to have totally destroyed the cam as it's still operating those rockers. The knock comes and goes so it may be as simple as a collapsed lifter. Is 150 lbs reasonable compression for this engine? It's supposed to be a 420 clone with better block, heads, etc. I don't plan on running a blower on it so would it be better to swap out the pistons for a high compression set? How much horsepower would be expected without reversion with this sort of compression and normally aspirated?

Really need more info.

What pistons are in it now?

What cam is in it?

Carb/intake setup?

I just worked with a oso member recently, who did a stock 454 mag, crane flat tappet I picked, gm iron heads, little 177 blower, 4.5lbs of boost. He dynoed today, it made 575hp, and 611FT lbs . Nice little budget motor.

with my special cam i usually get that with out the blower but with heads..lol

I'm not sure of the current camshaft. It has iron eagle 308 heads with a dual plane weiland intake and GM 3999295 pistons.

wow. 600ft lbs out of a 454 with a flat tappet mag engine with just better heads and cam?

Do you have a camshaft recommendation for my set up? Any chance I could make 500hp with these heads and pistons with the right cam without worrying about reversion? The carb is a Holley 850 DP and it has Gil Manifolds with Magnum choice risers. The engine is for my Pachanga 22 and I'm hoping to get her moving north of 75mph.

Crane #168731 for an off the shelf cam.