[ponyakr]

".... low buck 455...Is there another inexpensive cam out there that may be a better choice?..."

From a low buck, inexpensive standpoint, I'd go with a Summit 2802 and some lifters & springs from Paul Spotts. The cam is $72.97 shipped. The lifters are $59 shipped. And the springs are $99 shipped. $72.97 + $59 + $99 = $230.97 Total
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-2802

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Hydrauli...xZODlz&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VSH3-Pontiac...NW0LgK&vxp=mtr

If you still wanna go with an 041 clone, the Melling SPC-8 cam is cheaper than the Crower 60919. Many agree that all the 041 clones are made by CMC and sold under several different brand names. Today, the Melling is $109.98 shipped from an Ebay store.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Engine-Camsh...RZMqws&vxp=mtr

Or, you can buy the cam & lifter kit, along with the springs listed above, from Paul Spotts, $175 + $99 = $274 Total.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pontiac-Ram-...1Uwp5F&vxp=mtr

As always, with an 041 clone, I'd prefer the Rhoads original lifters with the Super Lube option. But, they're $100 more than the Spotts liifters, and they make a ticking sound that many don't like.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/r...w/make/pontiac

A few more cams that are in the same neighborhood, between the 2802 & the 041 clone are: Crane 283951, Voodoo 268, Crower 60243, and Howards 410051-14.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/c...IaAusEEALw_wcB

http://www.lunatipower.com/Product.aspx?id=1776&gid=287

https://www.crower.com/camshafts/pon...m-284-hdp.html

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/h...w/make/pontiac

Not sure how much difference there would be between all these cams, on the dyno. I think Cliff Ruggles has posted dyno specs for the Crower cams, and Paul Carter has posted dyno specs for the Voodoo cams.

"... Edlebrock carb..."

"...I'd like all I can get and still run pump gas, be reliable ect..."

I'd dump that E-carb & go with a good 800cfm Q-jet by Cliff, SMI, or some other good Q-jet builder.

[77 TRASHCAN]

Jim Hand was using Rhoads V-Max lifters with super lube on his latest (that I know of...) version of his engine. Cam was the Wolverine 5059 (which is no longer made). The 5059 is a fuzz more cam than the 041.
If you pick ANY cam and decide not to use either version of the Rhoads lifters...again...the Hylift Johnson lifters are the only choice!!!

Jim did say that the V-Max lifters are quieter. I have heard Jim's engine with original and the V-Max lifters. With the V-Max lifters, I could barely tell that the lifters were anything but stock lifters......

[ponyakr]

"...the Hylift Johnson lifters are the only choice!!!..."

Lots of guys disagree with this. Paul Spotts is one of 'em.

"...These are the best Pontiac and Oldsmobile lifters available.
I've been using these for many years without any problems.
All my Pontiac cam kits include these lifters..."

I assume these are not Hylift Johnson lifters, since I have never seen a pic of those showing the lower groove Paul mentions. Anybody have a pic of a recently puchased Hylift Johnson lifter you can post ?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PONTIAC-FIRE...5RbEfW&vxp=mtr

Current pics of CC HFT lifters show the lower groove type.

http://www.compcams.com/Products/CC-...ters%27-0.aspx

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cca-852-16

http://www.jegs.com/i/COMP-Cams/249/852-16/10002/-1

So, maybe the CC lifters are the same lifters Paul Spotts sells, but at a higher price. ???

I personally have no idea which lifters are best. I've bought nothing but Rhoads since back in the '70's. Never a problem. I've read that the Rhoads are modified Hylift Johnson lifters.

I like the idea of the extra oil to the cam, provided by the Rhoads Super Lube option, and the Crower Cam Saver option. I have never heard anything bad about Crower hyd lifters. Have any of you guys ?

[adeeos]

Thank you all for the responces and suggestions. Yes, I would like to swap out the e-carb for a quad

[67Lemons]

So with some years behind us now since this thread was started has anything changed? Is there a “new” grind that beats the preferred RA4/Rhoads combo for a 455? Doesn’t seem so but figured I’d bring this one to the top for another look.

[LKLusza]

Originally Posted by Cliff R

After a long talk with the owner/engine builder he ordered a custom ground HR cam basically the same as the Old Faithful grind but on a 114LSA. The end result was fantastic.

Cliff

Hi Cliff,

Forgive the ignorance, but what's the "Old Faithful" cam you're referring to?

Larry

[67Lemons]

Originally Posted by LKLusza

Hi Cliff,

Forgive the ignorance, but what's the "Old Faithful" cam you're referring to?

Larry

It’s a very popular cam around here

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...light=faithful

[JLMounce]

Originally Posted by 67Lemons

So with some years behind us now since this thread was started has anything changed? Is there a “new” grind that beats the preferred RA4/Rhoads combo for a 455? Doesn’t seem so but figured I’d bring this one to the top for another look.

There's been a lot of development from 2017 until now. I'm not an expert and I won't pretend to be one, but I have some thoughts.

I don't think you'll ever be able to say that RAIV grind with, or without Rhoads lifters in a 455+ Pontiac is a bad combo. Jim Hand proved that combination could motivate a 4300 lb wagon to 11 second time slips with good traction. That's never not going to be the case (pardon the double negative).

That said, it's much easier to fit an overdrive transmission of almost any sort now. Torque converter technology has progressed. The prevalence of hydraulic roller cams has increased, as has induction side changes. These things combined make performance without sacrifice easier to obtain from the traditional Pontiac engine.

All you have to do is open your pocket book now and you can put a top end on these engines that has at least 300 cfm flow, with decent port velocity, on the intake. The addition of modern fuel and timing control lets you tame what once were fairly radical cams.

If that's not in your budget, or simply not your speed, you always have these tried and true combinations to fall back on with confidence. Make no mistake, a RAIV 455, is still a performance beast. But, to say we haven't progressed, would be disingenuous.

[jhein]

What's the big deal with a RAIV type cam in a 455? The factory put it in a 400 with auto and AC.

[scott70]

Originally Posted by jhein

What's the big deal with a RAIV type cam in a 455? The factory put it in a 400 with auto and AC.

When they introduced the 455 in 70 that combo should have been an option. 455 with ra4 heads and exhaust manifolds , 1.65 rockers, ra4 intake and carb. Compression would have been high so maybe a ra4 head with 87 cc chambers. Would of been a hell of a combo for 1970. I bet it would of been right there with a LS6 Chevrolet.

[b-man]

Originally Posted by jhein

What's the big deal with a RAIV type cam in a 455? The factory put it in a 400 with auto and AC.

Auto trans yes, RAIV 400 with air conditioning no.

3.90 and 4.33 gears that were part of the RAIV option didn’t play well with A/C compressors.

If you wanted A/C you ordered the RAIII with 3.55 gears.

[steve25]

The 3:90 rear gears were mandatory with the RA4 package as was no AC as posted, and I believe the RAII
Package in mid 68 started the mandatory 3.90 gear deal.
The 4.33 gear set was optional.

[steve25]

Was the 3.73 rear in the F body limited to 4 speeds only?

[i82much]

Originally Posted by scott70

When they introduced the 455 in 70 that combo should have been an option. 455 with ra4 heads and exhaust manifolds , 1.65 rockers, ra4 intake and carb. Compression would have been high so maybe a ra4 head with 87 cc chambers. Would of been a hell of a combo for 1970. I bet it would of been right there with a LS6 Chevrolet.

i feel like milt schornack built a 428 round port GTO at some point, read about that somewhere.

[MarkS57]

Originally Posted by scott70

When they introduced the 455 in 70 that combo should have been an option. 455 with ra4 heads and exhaust manifolds , 1.65 rockers, ra4 intake and carb. Compression would have been high so maybe a ra4 head with 87 cc chambers. Would of been a hell of a combo for 1970. I bet it would of been right there with a LS6 Chevrolet.

Could talk of a lot of possibilities in 69 & 70 IF we had a good, forged rod. Sourcing of that rod ended the RAV if what I've read is true. Imagine a 69 428 SD Firebird and as you say, a 70 455 version. From what I've read, there was a design for a 70 455 RAIV type head, a few prototypes were said to exist.

[jhein]

Originally Posted by b-man

Auto trans yes, RAIV 400 with air conditioning no.

3.90 and 4.33 gears that were part of the RAIV option didn’t play well with A/C compressors.

If you wanted A/C you ordered the RAIII with 3.55 gears.

Ah ha. Thanks for the correction, good to know.

Back in the 80s when I had my 76 Formula, I used a Comp Cams cam that was approximately RAIV numbers in a 400 with a 4 spd and 3.23 rear. By then I had ditched the AC. It was my only car and I got along with it just fine.

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by steve25

Was the 3.73 rear in the F body limited to 4 speeds only?

No, you could order it on the M40 Formulas & TA's. Here's the PHS of one so equipped.

Dennis

[MarkS57]

Originally Posted by i82much

i feel like milt schornack built a 428 round port GTO at some point, read about that somewhere.

My guess is if he did, he probably used a set of 421SD rods. No problems for someone like him to source.

[Skip Fix]

It is hard to beat the old Ultradyne 288/296 HFT in a 455 also.

[Steve C.]

UltraDyne 288/296 HFT

https://web.archive.org/web/20030325..._camshafts.htm



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