I'm rebuilding a 1972 455 Oldsmobile engine and I have some questions. I'm going to bore it 30 over to a 462 using the stock crank and reconditioned stock rods with L2323 forged pistons and Iam uncertain as to what kind of cam to use. Its going to be running the stock GA heads a performance Edlebrock manifold and a quadrajet carb. The engine is going to be put in a 67 vista cruiser with a TH400 trans and stock rear gears that is primarily going to be a driver but i would like it to be able to handle the occasional burn out. Im open to installing a converter with a different stall speed and headers if the cam would require it but also an option that would allow me to keep the stock converter and headers as well. I apologize for any information I might have left out this is my first motor.

Thanks

Andrew

 

Well there is a wide range of cams you could put in that thing. It really depends on what you really want out of it. The 455 will make enough torque to do a burnout really without even trying so that's really not a consideration.

I had a nice cam in a J headed 455 with those same pistons that I put together in 93 and even with a 2.56 gear I managed a 13.89 @ 97 mph in a 70 Cutlass.

 

Thanks for the info could you give me some of the particulars of the cam you had good experience with like what brand or the model?

 

I used an Erson JB100. It's designed to be used in a boat and made GOBS of low end torque. I did more than a few 300' - 400' long burnouts on that car. It was actually kind of stupid how far I could burn the tires...and this with the "junk" J heads.

I'm not sure of the availability of it now as Erson has been sold a couple of time since then, but if you can get a hold of them the man you would want to talk to would be Steve Tanzi. He is the cam GOD and if he can't help you find a cam for what you want ouf the engine, nobody can.

 

Awesome thanks again

 

I have a 1969 Olds 98 2 door convertible. (heavy car) with a 455 REBUILT .030 over with 10.5 - 1 compressions pistons with C heads (big valve I think?) with Chinese hei distributor, Edelbrock Perfomer manifold, Holley 770 street dominator car, and with 31 cam ( from 350). Not sure of rear end but being a convertible it is probably not the highest thing out there. I have timed engine to 12 before at 650rpm. Getting hesitation when I punch it and not a lot of power. I am trying for huge burnouts, rapid acceleration, etc. What do I need to do or where did I go wrong?
Thanks for any help!