[MalteseFalcon]

I found that John Witzke POCI Tech Advisor, has written an article in Smoke Signals on the specs of the W72 camshafts. Mr. Witzke has forgotten more about the W72 engine than most of us will ever know. Apparently there were differences between manual and auto transmission cars in 1977, and 1978 may have been different again, or it may have been one or the other of the 1978 models. In that article, he said "In case anyone was wondering, testing has shown the number 549112 camshaft to be a little more aggressive in making power than the 549431 camshafts. In fact, both are better in most ways at making power than the 066 and 067 camshafts, which were used, in some earlier Pontiac performance engines."

Published specs are as follows:

1977 Automatic Transmission W72 Camshaft Specifications
Possible 1978-79 W72 Camshaft Specifications
Part # 549112

Intake Duration 274 Degrees
Open 16 Degrees B.T.D.C
Close 78 Degrees A.B.D.C.
Lift .364
Intake Centerline 121 Degrees
Exhaust Duration 298 Degrees
Open 79 Degrees B.B.D.C.
Close 39 Degrees A.T.D.C.
Lift .364
Exhaust Centerline 110 Degrees
LSA 115.5 Degrees
Overlap 55 Degrees

1977 Manual Transmission W72 Camshaft Specifications
Part # 549431

Intake Duration 274 Degrees
Open 21 Degrees B.T.D.C
Close 73 Degrees A.B.D.C.
Lift .364
Intake Centerline 116 Degrees
Exhaust Duration 298 Degrees
Open 77 Degrees B.B.D.C.
Close 41 Degrees A.T.D.C.
Lift .364
Exhaust Centerline 108 Degrees
LSA 112 Degrees
Overlap 62 Degrees

Steve