[uforacing]

Years ago I had a 71 lemans sport vert that came with a 455. It had a real small aftermarket cam like the summit 2800. It WAS all done by 4000 rpm but with the .308 gear it got 19 on the highway.

Just a WAG but if I were to try to do what your doing I would use the 2800 cam, a performer or sp2p and a set of cleaned up small valve 4x heads. just my WAG.

[Steve Barcak]

I will look into your com idea. did look at Crowers mileage cam specs.

Also now looking at vintage Pontiac cams, 2bbl, etc. The 067 and 066 cams are also being considered.

I think the SP2P is anther thing to play with. Going to start looking for one.

[U47]

If I was really going for mileage I would use part # 518111 (A). If you are going to do some towing your going to have to compromise just a bit so I would use the #537441(E) or the 9777254 (U). I would use the stock iron Q jet intake or a performer with a Q-jet . I would use iron RA111 exhaust manifolds so I wouldn't have to richen up the carburetor jets like you will have to do if you used headers. I would recurve a HEI-mechanical all in at 2,000 and make the distributor advance run off manifold vacuum. Try to get a adjustable vacuum advance and give it as much as it will take before detonation. No EGR, but use the thermostatically controlled air cleaner, the kind that has a snorkel to the inside of the fender for cold air--the other earlier type when fully open will just get hot air from the radiator so use the newer type (1970+). If this is a automatic I would use the tightest converter I could find ( most likely that would be stock ). With a non overdrive and a 2.56 rear end you should expect 22-24 mpg in a 4500lb+ clam shell Catalina wagon @ 55-60mph.

D.

[Steve Barcak]

That kind of mileage would be a fantasy for me. the cam numbers you mentioned..... there is no reference to whos part number they are...?

[U47]

Steve, they are Pontiac grind cams and part #'s----most of them done by Mac Mckellar or McKeller had a hand in doing them. Melling most likely uses the same part # and they might have supplied the cams to Pontiac in the first place. If you have Pete McCarthy's book those cams are listed. A word of shock when reading about the lift on the intake side. The lift seems a bit low .374 but I can assure you would never know it as most of the breathing is done on the low end side anyway--that's why Pontiac intakes are ground at 30 degrees. I hope you have some 0-5% ethanol stations around, anything more than that and the m.p.g. numbers start to fall off.
Steve, you didn't mention what heads and compression your using... Open chamber heads are more efficient.
I mentioned the 2.56 rear end because with a 455 the darn thing has enough torque with that axle ratio, so you don't need a overdrive and the extra weight of it to go along.
D.

[android 211]

Years ago I used a Crower Baja Torque Master cam in a 350 Pontiac. It was a 2bbl engine originally but I swapped in a cast intake, Rochester and duals. It was a '69 Firebird convertible. The dizzy received lighter advance springs. Once I got 24 on a trip; usually on any long drive it would get over 20. The Crower had .435" lift and 205/205 duration IIRC. It had good power past 4500 rpm. I did 125 in it once and had more left. I'm sure the rear axle was something taller than 3.08, probably 2.78. I recall Hot Rod magazine testing a SP2P on a Trans Am and saying it pulled past 4000 but somehow I'm doubtful. I have one I got off ebay; the runners are really narrow. If you're interested, PM me. They come up on ebay frequently, no one ever advises they're a mpg intake. I recall reading Edelbrock advised against using them with mileage cams as they would cause detonation.