[Poncho60]

Anyone know offhand if the 1960 hi-compression 2V cam (283 HP) is the same as the 1960 std 4V cam (303 HP)? I was under the impression they were the same.

Thx in advance for any info / feedback.

Randy A.

[Stuart]

According to Pete McCarthy's book both engines used a '472' cam.

[Poncho60]

Thx much for the info, Stuart!

[U47]

Originally Posted by Poncho60

Anyone know offhand if the 1960 hi-compression 2V cam (283 HP) is the same as the 1960 std 4V cam (303 HP)? I was under the impression they were the same.

Thx in advance for any info / feedback.

Randy A.

There is a interesting question for later Pontiac engines 1961-1964. For some reason Pontiac downgraded the standard 2bbl HydraMatic Catalina cars after 1960. Maybe to keep Star Chief out in front of Catalina performance wise, or to keep a Catalina from blowing a StarChief in the weeds for power to weight. For whatever reason the standard Catalina HydraMatic car received the low performance 640 cam. One other thing the 1961-64 cars lost was the standard 3.08 rear end for 59-60 Catalina and got the 2.69. StarChief kept the 3.08.
Stewart already knows this, but the base Tri-Power engine of 318hp uses the 472 cam too.
After 1964 the standard HydraMatic 389 2bbl was the same 290hp for Catalina and StarChief and uses the 066 cam which is exactly the same profile as the 472.

[Poncho60]

Thx for the info U47. The other post about upgrading the 64 Cat got me to wondering if I was wrong all this time. I have all the original parts to upgrade my 60 Ventura to a 4V setup but don't really want to go to a cam change if I ever get around to the swap. Even tho my car is a 4 dr hardtop, it has the 3.08 Safety-Trak which I guess is standard according to your comments.

[U47]

No problem leaving in the 472 cam and as I said before the 472 cam is used in the 318 hp Tri-Power engine as well ...if you wanted to use that.

[U47]

Originally Posted by Poncho60

Thx for the info U47. The other post about upgrading the 64 Cat got me to wondering if I was wrong all this time. I have all the original parts to upgrade my 60 Ventura to a 4V setup but don't really want to go to a cam change if I ever get around to the swap. Even tho my car is a 4 dr hardtop, it has the 3.08 Safety-Trak which I guess is standard according to your comments.

The 3.08 is the standard ratio, however the safety track is a option on any ratio. The 3.08 with the HydraMatic's 3.97 first gear is a stump puller and it's over in a flash, and with a 2.55 second ( which is lower than T-350 or T-400's first gear ) really gets you going. My 59 Catalina with 3.08's, 3.90's and 4.10's with safety track could burn up a set of 7" slicks in no time. Why only 7"? IHRA and NHRA limit in the stock classes back then.