041 cam
 

Looking to buy a cam with factory 041 specs. I know there are a few after market choices out there was looking at the comp cams 041h is this a good choice as far as matching the factory specs, if not which one of the after market choices is closet to the factory cam.

Melling SPC-8 (041) cam is the real deal.I believe Melling provided the factory cams for Pontiac.Your local auto parts store such as Autozone can order you a Melling SPC-8 cam.

The Melling SPC-8 is not the best 'clone' out there... Its quite different actually. I have a Lunati 10703, its much closer to the real thing:

041: 308/320 - .470/.470
SPC8: 304/315 - .469/.469
Lunati 10703: 308/320 - .470/470

They all have 231/240 @ 050. The ICL is 112 for both the 041 and SPC8. The Lunati is 109...

The LSA for the original 041 is suppose to be 113.5. But I've seen it listed @ 114-115... The Melling SPC8 is far from that @ 112. The Lunati is 113.

Next thing would be to compare the valve events.

The 041 cam was designed for a high compression engine with RAIV unported heads, 4 speed car with tall gears. It might not be the best cam for your combo. The factory grinds worked great but were designed for specific applications. When choosing a cam you need to make sure it will be compatible with your enging/car combination. I don't think the 041 would work well in a 9.5 compression auto car with a stock converter for example.

Right. I tried several combos with the Lunati 041 clone cam. 400 and 455:

7K3 heads, 73 Q-jet, Performer intake, TRW 6.7cc pistons, HEI dist, TH400, 3.08 gears, stock converter, 15" Rallys with 235 tires.

In the 400, it wouldnt idle, gas mileage was awful, it was slow, probably because of the stock converter and TH400. Compression was @ 8.9 IIRC.

I switched to Rhoads variable lifters and noticed an improvement. But the driveline was still not suitable for that cam.

Took the top end on a 0.030 over 455. That thing was a war horse with the 041 cam. That cam really likes compression. I was still unable to put all that power to the pavement with the auto trans and stock converter. But the powerband was great.

Crower makes a near duplicate of the orginal 041 grind. It sports 304/314 duration (advertised), 231/240 @ .050" and .470" lift. Ground on a 113LSA. In had one in my last 455 engine and went as quick as 11.64 @ 117mph. I ran Rhoad's lifters on it, and saw right at 12" vacuum at 750rpm's idle speed, with a strong/broad power curve.

It made 494hp @ 5600rpm's on the dyno.....Cliff

Crane has a Blueprint Series RAIV replacement cam .

Crane's HIT284281 is similar also. I have this grind in my 9:1 455 w. stock 6X heads.

http://www.cranecams.com/product/car...detail&p=24170

Are the Rhoads lifters as noisy as they were back in the late eighties? Or have they improved that some?

They are now offering a V-Max lifter, which is adjustable. They are quieter when set with less plunger travel, but of course they don't bleed down as much either.

http://www.rhoadslifters.com/Pages/VFlatTappet.html

...Cliff

The SPC-8 cam is the real deal according to Jim Hand.Your advertised duration numbers listed for the SPC-8 are 304/315 which is correct, but these numbers are taken at SAE Spec@(0.06/Rocker Arm Ratio)Cam lift.If the numbers were taken at .004 tappet lift the duration might be 308/320.That is why it is hard to compare advertised durations, different cam companies use different lift values for advertised duration.Lunati does not state what lift value they use to get there advertised duration numbers.That is why most people concentrate on duration at .050 inch of tappet lift for comparison.The Melling SPC-8 LSA is 113.5(int c/l 112+exh c/l 115=227 227/2=113.5) not 112.

Pete McCarthy also states the SPC - 8 is the real deal. He also says Melling made the cams for Pontiac. FWIW