What the @#$% is an RV CAM anyway??

Hey man! My stall converter has a huge cam and NOSS!

Doc.

 

RV cam was named for its inventor - Arvie Von Lederhosen

 

Doc, it's NAWS! lol now, as punishment for that snafu, go watch the fast and futile or what ever that's called.....

sorry, that just struck me funny...

 

Duuuwd, that is like, totally like, uncalled for. If I didnt have to go polish the dubs on my Hyundai we would have words!

Doc.

 

I had to Borrow Mr. Peabody's "Way Back Machine" for this. RV Camshafts were introduced in the late 1970's. Compared to Camshafts of the Time they were High Lift, Low Duration Camshafts with low overlap. The concept was to maintain good to excellent Vacuum, good air velocity in Manifold and increase cylinder pressure to produce More Torque, more power to Pull better from Low RPM up into Mid-range. Think of this: 4x4 with 30 Inch Tires and 2:76 gears, or, an RV at 6000-7000 lbs lumbering down a back road to a remote camping area. Only using Idle to mid range rpm but requiring more torque. Install an RV Camshaft in your Mostly Stock Streeter, with 2:76 gears and you are adding some fun, without revving to 7000 rpm.
The Comp Xtreme 4x4 Camshaft, below, would be very close to an original RV Cam. The Melling is the STOCK SBC camshaft. Chevy used to install their Own RV type cam in 4x4's in the 1980's but I no longer have P/N. There are MANY Camshafts to choose from now and better cylinder heads so the demand has dropped off for the old RV cams.

Comp Cams Xtreme 4x4 X4254H MELLING CCS2 Copy of Factory Camshaft
Hydraulic Flat Tappet Camshaft
Part Number: 249-12-235-2 Melling CCS2
Strong low-end and mid-range torque, good idle.
Operating Range: 1000-5200 RPM
Duration Advertised: 254° Intake / 262° Exhaust Melling 269/258
Duration @ .050'' Lift: 210° Intake / 218° Exhaust Melling 194/202
Valve Lift w/1.5 Rockers .447'' Intake / .462'' Exhaust Melling . 390/.409
Lobe Separation Angle: 111°

 

Well, how about a SBC manifold stretcher, to make exhaust manifolds fit???


I when to the parts store and asked an old parts guy for one and he laughed at me! I said I’m serious! I had to get the book and show him that tool! He couldn’t believe it! Lol








Bones

 

Well, this is "stretching this thread" out a bit, too.

 

EEE GAAADS I installed an sp2p on a OT 350 4wd pickup. Did absolutely nothing for mpg's or performance. Stock cast iron was superior in every way except weight.

 

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/gm-factory-cams-specs.1227162/

Post 2 has listing of common factory performance cams.
Post 3 has common RV chevy cams, most are around .440 lift with 215 to 220 or so duration.

These 3 cam specs make up about all small block chevy RV cams, many companies make them - because they work great
204-214 .420-.443
214-214 .443-.443
214-224 .443-.465

Read thru the lift and duration specs and it will start making sense.

 

210/218 .447/.462 112 Im liking that, shorter duration for the lift than most of the common offerings.

 

I had one of these cams in my '65 pickup and liked it so much I put one in my '46 pickup. I wanted another stoplight stump puller and it delivers. Has great manners until you stuff it, then it gets quite angry very quickly. Smooth idle, but sounds healthy. I like it for what it is.

https://www.compcams.com/xtreme-4x4-210-218-hydraulic-flat-cam-for-chevrolet-small-block.html

 

The Melling part number is MTC-1 for a Small Block Chevrolet. I have one in my 350 that was in my El Camino, then installed into my O/T Suburban. The 350 was a stock crate replacement engine, I ran it for a year until the warranty was up. Then I installed the MTC-1. Granted, it’s not a monster cam, but it really woke up that Chevrolet. I liked it so much, I installed the same version in my E-250 with a 351. Same thing, it runs great. The MTC-1 has the same specs as the Edelbrock Performer, I wouldn’t be surprised if Melling made it for Edelbrock.

 

RV cams were a thing in the 70s and 80s. Designed for extra punch in the normal rev range of street driven motors. It was VERY popular to rebuild your smogger Chev 350 at home with an RV cam, Edelbrock single 4 barrel intake, Rochester Quadrajet carburetor, and small diameter headers to pick up an extra 30 or 40 HP and 2 or 3 MPG over a stock engine, for your daily driver car or pickup truck.

 

^Yep. Practical and affordable. And it works just as well today as it did back then.

 

I requested a RV cam when I had the 351-W built for my Sunliner since I was going with 2.75 gears but after the first trip to Daytona going through the hills in Kentucky and Tennesee it did not run too good going less then 65 so I think I did not get one.

 

Probably a hint....

 

well i got one in my '53 flatty. i don't know who made it since it doesn't say anywhere on it. it does have 3/4 stamped on the end. it runs good and goes to about 5000 rpm.

 

3/4 was back in the day a 3/4 race cam, not really an RV cam....

 

Got a "Bulldog" cam in my 261, which would have be considered by the specs as a 3/4 cam back in the days. Lot's of low end and cruising torque. Exactly what I wanted.

 

I have an Edelbrock RV cam in my truck. It has gobs of torque from off idle to about 4500 rpm, great idle quality and drivability. It makes for a well mannered cruiser…

Edited to add specs, .500 lift, intake [email protected], exhaust [email protected], 114 LSA, 109 intake centerline.

 

A good RV cam has 6* advance ground in…..a bad one needs a 6* advance button added to the cam gear.

 

Some cam companies used to market a "RV Cam". They basically were designed to produce good low to mid range torque in an otherwise stock motor.

.

 

they probably charge you a dump and water fee

 

Many years ago I had a 318 rebuilt for a small MH, the shop asked what it was going in. The guy said “you should use an RV cam”. So I said get one. I’ve long since lost the paperwork, so can’t offer specs on what was used.

 

Beaner is exactly right, this is what this cam is designed for and does.

 

A waste of time.

 

The thread, the gain, or the effort. I wasn't sure which and thought it best to ask.

 

I don't know about y'all but my RV has a Thumper cam in it....