hey guys. So im looking at upgrading my 401s Cam. The engine is fresh built and hasn't been put in the car as yet or broken in. Been reading a bit across the internet. Have asked my builder for advice as well and as he gets back i thought I would ask here and see what you all think. So a bit of basic info. Car: 1949 Hudson Custom Weight: Stock curb side was about 1700kg/3730lbs Gears: 3.50 Tire Size: 28inch Trans: 700R4 Converter: 1650 but realize i may need to upgrade. Engine: 1965 Buick 401 or as most affectionately know them by a "Nailhead" Usage: Highway & city. I live small town & highway drive to city a few times a week. Also weekend cruiser. And the work done by Dual Quad Dave of HAMB reads as: 1965 Buick 401 core Bored .060 over to 413 Decked .020 to compensate for modern head gaskets New cast pistons New Hastings moly rings Balanced Rods resized w/ ARP rod bolts Crank turned .010/.010 and polished Oil galley plugs converted to screw in New Melling oil pump New Melling cam/lifters New Melling valve springs Heads rebuilt w/ new valves, new iron guides, cut for Teflon oil seals, milled .010 New freeze plugs Updated to modern silicon front/rear oil seals Good used timing cover New timing chain New water pump Included pulleys& alt/ps brackets. Included stock exhaust manifolds Stock Power steering pump. New Powermaster 1wire alt. Stage 1 porting. Polished chambers. cleaned up castings. Adjustable pushrods. Stock 4brl Intake- swapped out to Eelco 2x4 Media blast & prime. think thats about it. no doubt i missed stuff. Dave who built up the donk was great. Gave lots of performance options and stages. Answered all my questions well and gave options. On top i have Eelco 2x4 intake with 2 650s. Pertronix ignition. Anyway. As i do other work on the car i have been kinda regretting not getting the cam done when i got the darn thing built. Better half keeps asking "is it going be loud and lumpy?" I had been thinking Thumpr 91-600-5 or TA Performance TA-25 ideas and suggestions? Thanks Alex
What's the guy that built it say about a cam? Ask Dave! How much will the valve springs handle? Compression ratio ?
I think the stock cams for these were pretty good. Even better than some, or most, of the aftermarket's supposed "speed parts." Look up Russ Martin. He'll have the answer.
I think I've seen Russ Martin indicate that the stock grind is a good one. Check out his web page and the tech info.
Them things make all their power and great big gobs of it by 2800 Rpms. They work the way they work because they are what they are. Teaching them something different leads to you learning something. What does the builder, Davd suggest?
Why mess with a good thing??? Your engine will already put out almost 3 times the horsepower of the original Hudson engine. That will be plenty for your intended use. If you want to go to the drag strip every week end, that is a different story. Always believed that racing engines and cruising engines should be kept separate. Have a stock 322 nailhead in my 51 Meteor. lots of power for cruising. Just my 2 cents worth!!!!
Of your two options, I would say investigate TA Performance. Give them a call. Thumper cams always seemed kind of silly to me - all of the pain and none of the gain of a race cam. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
It looks like you have the perfect engine. This is Russell Martin's take on camshafts. http://nailheadbuick.com/tech-info/buick-camshafts
You can get them from PML http://yourcovers.com/buick_nailhead.php or from Russ Martin at nailheadbuick.com Still waiting on Dave to get back. Thinking i may try to find a way to start it up soon and see how it sounds etc. Thanks for the comments guys.
I'm researching this stuff right now for my 401 build. I am considering the TA-25 Hydraulic, as I am also doing a dual quad setup, they are in town and easy for me to grab off the shelf as well: http://www.taperformance.com/products.asp?cat=157 Of Note, Schneider Racing Cams grinds TA-Performance camshafts for their needs, or so I have been told. They have a bunch to choose from: http://schneidercams.com/nailheadbuickv-8.aspx Not to be ignored is the wealth of information that Carmen Faso can offer up. Carmen Faso ~ J&C Parts of Tonawanda, NY Engines - Headers - Cranks - Heads - Speed Equipment 716.693.4090
When I built my 401 Nailhead, I had the guys at Bullet Cams grind one. At the time they asked, Do you want a smooth idle or a somewhat loppy idle? Of course I chose the loppy idle, and loved it. Pick up the phone and call them: http://www.bulletcams.com/
I think that TA-25 would work well for you, the thumper isn't bad either, its just won't be quite as good down low to get your Hudson moving. The thumper will wind out better and sound meaner, the TA will get you off the line a bit better but run out up top. The converter should be fine either way. A cheat sheet for other posters: Stock cam: Late 401 factory cam and 66 425 207 duration @ .050, valve lift .431 and 114 LSA TA-25: lift.459/.479 AT .050 218/228 LSA: 112 Thumpr: LSA: 107 Lift: .465 Dur @ .050: 227/241
There is a good resource for Nailhead and Buick specific questions if you want to research. Here is a thread discussing the 091 Super Wildcat Cam, a factory grind option. Http://www.teambuick.com/forums/showthread.php?20800-401-camshafts Also, I believe 1959-1961 has a real lopey idle from the factory. The owners of this luxury marque complained, so Buick smoothed it back out so the folks wouldn't offend the country club set while rolling in. Sent from my SM-G935V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I'm a big fan of the W-30 cam that Carmen Faso sells. The stock cams have a pretty loopy idle and work decent. Russ has some decent ones and understands what the Nail needs. T/A seems to not quite. Heres the specs from the W30 cam carmen sells. W-30-10 Camshaft.. Caremen Fasco Cam doctor analysis-- Buick 57-66 364-401-425 intake & exhaust Lobe center seperation --------------- 109.6 cam degrees valve overlap ------------------------------ 13.4 crank degrees Intake valve opening ------------------------------ 6.7 btdc lobe center ----------------------------------- 109.7 atdc Valve closure -------------------------------- 45.7 abdc Duration @.050 ----------------------------- 232.4 crank degrees max cam lift --------------------------------- .29149 inches net valve lift--------------------------------- .46633 inches Lobe area ------------------------------------ 24.52 in * deg Exhaust valve opening ------------------------------ 45.9 bbdc lobe center -----------------------------------109.4 btdc Valve closure -------------------------------- 6.7 atdc Duration @.050 ----------------------------- 232.6 crank degrees max cam lift --------------------------------- .29094 inches net valve lift--------------------------------- .46551 inches Lobe area ------------------------------------ 24.47 in *deg
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