[mgarblik]

The 068 Pontiac cam, sometimes called the Ram Air III cam is a very mild cam. The smoothest, "performance" cam for a Pontiac. Plenty of vacuum, can run with AC, any converter and rear end ratio. Good torque and power to 5000 RPM's. For folks who want a slight upgrade from the ultra smooth 067 run of the mill Pontiac cam, a nice choice. Works in almost any application. Worth 10-15 HP over a bone stock cam.

[unruhjonny]

I hope to be some help by clearing some of the minute details up:

Originally Posted by DogMeister

How's the idle on the Ram Air III cam? Thinking about upgrading the dinky cam and lifters in my 10:1 long-rod 461. Don't mind a bit of lope but not too gnarly. Enough vacuum for the power brakes?

What might be confusing is that there were no "Ram Air III" camshafts persay;
What there was, were two cams that had been used in performance applications for several years prior;
The "HO" cam was the 068 - this one is by a huge margin the most comon performance cam that Pontiac used;
It was in all 1970 RAIII engines, as well as 71-72 455HO - and the same lobe profile and timing as the one used in 73-74 SD455 engines.
The 068 was also used in the earlier "HO" motors, as well as the 1967-1968 RAI and all 1969 RAIII engines when backed by an automatic.

Your 066 is what I might describe as one of Pontiac's "bread & butter" camshaft used between 1965 & 1976 on a ton of engines - this grind was great for torque, but not so much for higher rpm use.

The next step up is the 067;
I would describe this as Pontiac's entry level performance cam - it was commonly used on the performance engines - but never a Ram Air or HO engine.
After 1970, and through to 1976, the highest horsepower (D-port) engines all used this grind.
On paper, this grind is really close to a 066, and I suspect that is why this cam is virtually unobtainable right now - I found one member with an NOS 067 cam, but otherwise, cannot find it.
There is an older Nunzie(?) version of this cam that was at one time called a 067HL - it is essentially the same, but with higher lift.

Next up is the 068 - nuff said.

The next is a 744;
This was for a time the 'Ram Air' cam;
It came on 1966-1969 'Ram Air' (Ram Air I & Ram Air III) engines when backed by a manual transmission;
Some would say (myself included) that this is the best sounding of all Pontiac grinds.
Others would say that this cam is crap because the lobes almost flatten out...

Next up is the 041 - it was introduced with the RAII, and used on it and the RAIV exclusively;
A solid lifter version of this grind preceeded the RAII by seven years.

Originally Posted by mgarblik

The 068 Pontiac cam, sometimes called the Ram Air III cam is a very mild cam. The smoothest, "performance" cam for a Pontiac. Plenty of vacuum, can run with AC, any converter and rear end ratio. Good torque and power to 5000 RPM's. For folks who want a slight upgrade from the ultra smooth 067 run of the mill Pontiac cam, a nice choice. Works in almost any application. Worth 10-15 HP over a bone stock cam.

I wold wholly agree with this post, but just want to point out (as previously mentioned) that the 067 which would be one step up from your current cam is virtually unobtainable.

[JLBIII]

Originally Posted by unruhjonny

I hope to be some help by clearing some of the minute details up:

Your 066 is what I might describe as one of Pontiac's "bread & butter" camshaft used between 1965 & 1976 on a ton of engines - this grind was great for torque, but not so much for higher rpm use.

The next step up is the 067;
I would describe this as Pontiac's entry level performance cam - it was commonly used on the performance engines - but never a Ram Air or HO engine.

On the 067 cam, I have a 68 Firebird with a 400HO, TH400 and ac. It is my understanding that the 067 was used in the 400HO with TH400 trans and the 068 was used in a 400HO with a manual trans.

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by JLBIII

On the 067 cam, I have a 68 Firebird with a 400HO, TH400 and ac. It is my understanding that the 067 was used in the 400HO with TH400 trans and the 068 was used in a 400HO with a manual trans.

interesting.

I don't recall reading (or noticing an instance of a drivetrain that would have had the 068 with a stick being changed to a 067 because of the automatic (ect).

[Kenth]

"068 was in all 1970 RAIII engines, as well as 71-72 455HO - and the same lobe profile and timing as the one used in 73-74 SD455 engines."

1973-74 455SD engines used the same lobe profile and timing as the 744 grind.
Was planned for the 041 cam but did not pass emission test.

FWIW

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by Kenth

"068 was in all 1970 RAIII engines, as well as 71-72 455HO - and the same lobe profile and timing as the one used in 73-74 SD455 engines."

1973-74 455SD engines used the same lobe profile and timing as the 744 grind.
Was planned for the 041 cam but did not pass emission test.

FWIW

really - well then I have some egg on my face!
I thought (going off memory) that the original intended SD455 cam profile was the 744, but that failed emission, and it was downgraded to the 068.

Thank you for the correction.

[scott70]

Originally Posted by unruhjonny

interesting.

I don't recall reading (or noticing an instance of a drivetrain that would have had the 068 with a stick being changed to a 067 because of the automatic (ect).

I know the 70 gto 455 came with the 068 cam with a manual trans and the 067 with the thm400. Only diffrerence between the different cams was the transmission choice.

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by scott70

I know the 70 gto 455 came with the 068 cam with a manual trans and the 067 with the thm400. Only diffrerence between the different cams was the transmission choice.

Kind of interesting how they did that in a 455, yet the RAIII 400 engine of 1970 just came with the 068 cam no matter what trans you chose. Considering the 068 would act much bigger in a 400 and wouldn't even put a dent in a 455.

[PAUL K]

Originally Posted by Formulajones

Kind of interesting how they did that in a 455, yet the RAIII 400 engine of 1970 just came with the 068 cam no matter what trans you chose. Considering the 068 would act much bigger in a 400 and wouldn't even put a dent in a 455.

Pontiac did away with 744 cam in mid 1969 I believe. They were having complaints about cold start rough idle in Northern climates. Before that the four speed cars with 48 heads came with the 744 cam (and stiff valve springs) and automatics got the 068.

[scott70]

Originally Posted by Formulajones

Kind of interesting how they did that in a 455, yet the RAIII 400 engine of 1970 just came with the 068 cam no matter what trans you chose. Considering the 068 would act much bigger in a 400 and wouldn't even put a dent in a 455.

Yes,,,when I bought my GTO the motor had never been touched internally. Still had the 068 'S" cam and nylon covered timing chain. With that cam it idled like a kitten but had a good low rpm pull. Now a RA4 sized cam with Rhoads and its only a little choppy,,,still pretty smooth.