[Burningbird]

Hi! Considering changing cam in my 400 from a 068 (SPC-7) to a Crower 60916 to get a little more top end power. I'm currently running the 068 cam with CC 1.65 rollertip rockers. Do you guys think the increase in power is worth the trouble and expense of changing cam? My valve springs is only OK to .500 lift so I probably need to change to Crower 68404 springs as well.

The combo is:
*´70 Firebird
*´68 400 WS block (360hp GTO).
*Block bored .030" with TRW/SpeedPro pistons .003" down in the hole.
*Tomahawk H-beam rods from PPR.
*#16 heads ported to flow approximately 250/210 @ .500 lift.
Ferrea 2.11"/1,77"valves. SCR is 10.07:1.
*Std ´68 intake port matched. ´73 Quadrajet custom built by Kenth on this forum.
*´73 455 distributor with Pertronix conversion.
*Carter 4594 electrical fuel pump.
*Flowtech 1 5/8" headers welded and port matched to gaskets.
*Dual 2.5" exhaust.
*TH350 with Hughes GM20 2000 stall converter (running the stock converter now but will replace it this winter).
*8.5" rear end with 3.23 gears and posi (currently running 4:10 gears but I think it's too much gear for the street and it to will be replaced this winter).

[b-man]

Definitely worth the trouble, especially with your ported heads.

[Burningbird]

Thanks b-man, I will try the Crower cam

[Dick Boneske]

My wife's '64 GTO has the Crower 60916 cam with 1.5 rockers. It sounds just like the 068 at idle and quits pulling at about 5,000 rpm. This is a 434 engine with 9.5 compression, '64 716 heads, '64 Tripower, and '67 HO exhaust.

I'd go to the next more radical Crower if I did it again.

[lust4speed]

I had purchased a 60916 cam to go into a 455 build destined for our 65 Bonneville. Project kept being delayed (still is), and a friend talked me out of the combination for his 66 GTO. This would have been an ideal cam for the tall geared, A/C Bonne as would the 068; but it ended up being a bit mild for the friends car. Really nice mid-range punch, and a very easy cam to live with, but the Summit 2802 cam would be better for a more sporty feel.
068 cam is 212/225 on a 114
60916 cam is 221/229 on a 112

Both cams are nice, but if making a change why not push for just a little more.
2802 cam is 224/234 on a 114

Both the 068 and 60916 cams will be happy with a 2000 stall converter, but the 2802 would be much happier with a minimum 2400 stall and 2600 would be even better.

[steve25]

You will pick up a tad of mid range, but I think your 1.5/8" ID headers are going to be a bit of a cork above 4500 .

[crm318]

More of a cork than a set of R.A.R.E. ram air manifolds?

[steve25]

Corking up a ported exh side that can flow over 200 cfm makes for more of a potencial power loss than a stock flowing 160 cfm exh side flowing into manifolds if you want to do a apples to apples thing!
Key word being potencial!

[Burningbird]

This is mostly a street car that I want to be able to drive comfortably over long distances at around 65mph. Both the 60916 cam with 2000 stall and the 2802 with 2500 stall seem to be good choices. I did not know that the 1 5/8" headers were too small for a 400 engine? The engine pulls fine to 5500rpm with the 068 cam and the 1.65 rockers. I have been thinking about switching to Ram Air restoration factory headers, maybe I should look for a new pair of 1 3/4" headers instead.

[steve25]

If you not one of those looking to ring out every last scrap of HP, then do the cam change first . If you are then happy with the new level of power that's cool and then down the road do the 1 3/4" header deal.

[Tim Corcoran]

The 1-5/8 headers are more than adequate for your combo and the Crower 60916. Now if you were building a drag car with a big cam and high stall converter then maybe you need bigger primaries.

[STEELCITYFIREBIRD]

You may be disappointed with low end after the gear change to 3.23 with a 400.

[Burningbird]

Originally Posted by STEELCITYFIREBIRD

You may be disappointed with low end after the gear change to 3.23 with a 400.

Yes, I will lose some low end with the gear change. But before I installed the 400 engine and 4.10 gears, I had a 350 with 068 cam and 2.73 gears in the Firebird. It was much more fun to drive on the highway, chasing Bimmers at 120mph. With 4.10 gears, I must remain below 55mph to get a reasonable gas mileage, being passed by compact cars with engines the size of those installed in lawnmowers. I hope that the 3.23 gear is a good compromise with some fun between the traffic lights and enjoyable freeway driving. If I feel that I need more power I can always install a 150hp Sniper kit

[b-man]

The 60916 would pull nicely with the 3.23s.

You might not be happy with a cam much bigger than the 60916 after the gear swap.

Always better to go more on the conservative side when choosing a street cam, once you go too big you lose driveabiliy.

[Burningbird]

Originally Posted by b-man

The 60916 would pull nicely with the 3.23s.

You might not be happy with a cam much bigger than the 60916 after the gear swap.

Always better to go more on the conservative side when choosing a street cam, once you go too big you lose driveabiliy.

Yeah, I will most likely go with the 60916 cam together with 1.65 rockers. I'm pretty happy with the 068 cam, but I want a little more mid-range and top end power without sacrificing too much low end grunt.

[Tim Corcoran]

I agree with B-Man the 3.23's, your converter and the 60916 cam should be a nice street rod that is fun to drive. It still will turn faster on the Fwy than you would like but much better than the 4:10's.

[Burningbird]

Thanks for all the help in this thread! One more question, would a 2500 stall converter match the 60916 cam better?

[b-man]

I would say yes, a stock converter stalls around 1800 so in my opinion 2000 isn't quite enough.

[BruceWilkie]

Debs 406 with 69 #46 heads (gasket match bowl blend fitted with 2.11/1.77 valves)
60916 cam 1.5 rockers 1.75 super comps(full flowmaster exhaust) RPM intake 3310(-1)780 @ 9.6 compression. Installed in 69 'bird convertible around 3700+ lbs without driver. 2200 stall convertor t400 and 2.56 gear. Drives nice town or highway, idles near 15" vacuum at 750 rpm yet has a nice performance sound to it. Pulls strong to @ 5200 then levels til 5600 before notably dropping off. Car has gone 8.10's in eigth with tire spinning lousy 2.3+ 60 ft times and has run 13.08 @104+ in quarter. Crosses line in 2nd gear at @5200. (much similar to running a powerglide with 3.78 rear gear)

What I do find surprising is how fast speed comes up relative to engine sound. Big difference over another car I had with 4.56 gears.

The 60916 pulls hard from off idle up. This cam makes great torque and good power. I wouldnt be concerned about dropping back to a set of longbranches though I'd probably change back to stock or performer intake if I did. I doubt it would hurt street performance.

[Tim Corcoran]

Bruce has an excellent example of not needing a big cam and low gears to have a great performing street rod and still maintain drivability and nice freeway driving with a 2.56 gear. Too much converter on a street car and all you do is burn rubber all day while looking at Mustang and Camaro tail lights.