Cams! Crow or Crane

[mr j-man]

hi all!

just goin through the stages of choosing a cam an valve set up for my 5.0L efi mtr and am curious as to what u guys think of Crane or Crow setups in comparison to each other!
Im looking at the the hydraulic types!
I have contemplated a solid cam setup as thats what i have in my carbed 308....any opinions about running a solid setup in the 5.0L.
Also does anyone know what do the efi heads on the 5.0L flow up to at standard condition?

Cheers guys Have a good easter holiday!

[wez84]

I think the vn style heads flow about 400-450hp (not 100% on that but)
solids are good for higher reving but around the street hydraulic are fine
I havnt had a great deal to do with the different types of cams but the crane 286 is a really good street cam
fairly popular aswell. Camtech also do some real good packages give them a call and talk to them.
CAMTECH CAMS - 304 & 355ci stroker VN-VS 1988-1999 (EFI heads) Camshafts & Components

[soop]

Inlet cfm at 25 inches

.1 77
.2 123
.3 163
.4 182
.5 187
.6 188

Exhaust cfm

.1 60
.2 101
.3 129
.4 142
.5 147
.6 150

Standard VN 5.0ltr flow.

As for solid vs hydraulic, Solid maintains better valve geometry at high rpm but needs regular mainenace.

[ari666]

couldnt find a bigger pic

[ari666]

Inlet cfm at 25 inches
.5 187


Exhaust cfm
.5 147

so to clarify for the other guys: inlet at .500 lift flows appox 304HP exhaust flows 239.61HP

[DANNY8]

If ur gonna build up a motor, go VN heads for sure. I don't know the technical jargon, but we got 2 motors nearly identical except one runs VN heads (made 174rwkw leaning out), the other has Yella Terra carby heads (made 146rwkw). Carby heads just seem like a waste of time IMO. I'm putting 2gether my 3rd donk with VN heads at the moment....this one has a snail hanging off each head!

[ari666]

yeah there is no doubt VN heads are the way to go. i was more posting to squash this "i have heard that vn heads flow to 400HP" thing... it seems that it only takes one guy to say it and it suddenley becomes truth.

[atomicSS]

hey guys seems like u are the bunch to help me too i have a 286 crane cam can i put this straight in my stock VR SS 5.0 or is there more i have to do and anyone roughly know the cost to get it fitted when supplied? thanks

[wez84]

yeah there is no doubt VN heads are the way to go. i was more posting to squash this "i have heard that vn heads flow to 400HP" thing... it seems that it only takes one guy to say it and it suddenley becomes truth.

In my race can i have just over 300HP at the wheels with stock port vn heads so that pretty close to 400HP at the motor i will have to look for the dyno sheets for proof. thats why i said 400- 450HP

[wez84]

hey guys seems like u are the bunch to help me too i have a 286 crane cam can i put this straight in my stock VR SS 5.0 or is there more i have to do and anyone roughly know the cost to get it fitted when supplied? thanks

If its a manual you shouldnt have any probs beside a tune with an auto you will prob need a higher stall converter aswell.
The 286 works best with 10.5:1 compression but standard comp will work fine.
Also some new lifters and 1.65:1 roller rockers would be nice for it.

[Smitty]

...........
The 286 works best with 10.5:1 compression but standard comp will work fine.

hahaha
you havent seen a 286 in a car with std comp then? struggles to make a poofteenth more power than the Holden cam
a 286 NEEDS at least 10:1 comp to start boogying and preferably 10.4 to make decent power

Also some new lifters and 1.65:1 roller rockers would be nice for it.

new lifters are MANDATORY with a new cam (as is LOTS of cam break in lube) unless you like taking lobes off cams

[Smitty]

hi all!

just goin through the stages of choosing a cam an valve set up for my 5.0L efi mtr and am curious as to what u guys think of Crane or Crow setups in comparison to each other!
Im looking at the the hydraulic types! ............!

have run both in the race car... (also tried Wade and Camtech)
much of a muchness really (although Crow can give you a package - cam lifters and matching ECU)
currently running a Crane 304
and I prefer hydraulic for the race car and a must for the street (if you dont want to waste your weekends...)

[wez84]

hahaha
you havent seen a 286 in a car with std comp then? struggles to make a poofteenth more power than the Holden cam
a 286 NEEDS at least 10:1 comp to start boogying and preferably 10.4 to make decent power



new lifters are MANDATORY with a new cam (as is LOTS of cam break in lube) unless you like taking lobes off cams

Can't say I have seen a 286 with standard comp. but crane don't recommend a comp for it that I have seen I'm am running 10.5:1 in my race engine with the 286 which is what was recommend to me

[Blown V6 Hatch]

Straight from Cranes website:

HQ Heads:

HYDRAULIC - Fair idle, strong mid
range-top end street & strip performance.
Needs 9.5-10:1 comp 3.08-3.5 gears,
hi-stall converter etc. for best results.
BASIC RPM 2200-6000

EFI Heads:

HYDRAULIC - Fair idle, strong mid range-top
end street and strip performance. Needs 9.5-
10:1 comp. 3.08-3.5 gears, hi-stall converter etc.
for best results.
BASIC RPM 2500-6000

Both applications show that atleast 9.5:1 comp is required for the 286, but as smitty said, i'd be going for 10:1 comp as a minimum.

Unless you enjoy waisting money and getting blown away by stock EFI 5 litres, i'd suggest not using the 286 on standard compression.

[RVK 355]

hi all!

just goin through the stages of choosing a cam an valve set up for my 5.0L efi mtr and am curious as to what u guys think of Crane or Crow setups in comparison to each other!
Im looking at the the hydraulic types!
I have contemplated a solid cam setup as thats what i have in my carbed 308....any opinions about running a solid setup in the 5.0L.
Also does anyone know what do the efi heads on the 5.0L flow up to at standard condition?

Cheers guys Have a good easter holiday!

what type of use will you be using the car for,bit of a cruser around town, or something with abit more go with out having to rev the guts out of it, or something like drag racing/burnouts?

[RVK 355]

Inlet cfm at 25 inches

.1 77
.2 123
.3 163
.4 182
.5 187
.6 188

Exhaust cfm

.1 60
.2 101
.3 129
.4 142
.5 147
.6 150

Standard VN 5.0ltr flow.

As for solid vs hydraulic, Solid maintains better valve geometry at high rpm but needs regular mainenace.

gues you have never owned a solid cammed motor?

[Blown V6 Hatch]

gues you have never owned a solid cammed motor?

LOL, now you've gone and done it.

Off topic, congrats on the 6th place at UBC, nice work. Nice photo of the car in the latest Street Machine. Chalk one up for the N/A Holden V8...

[ari666]

Both applications show that atleast 9.5:1 comp is required for the 286, but as smitty said, i'd be going for 10:1 comp as a minimum.

yeaaahp. i tried the 286 on my stock 308 (9.4:1) and it was gutless as hell. even now with flat tops and a bit shaved off the heads it could still use some more comp. PLUS a 2500 stally isnt enough, even though thats what they recomment. power doesnt start till 2800 in mine

286 has been a HUGE mistake on my build so far. hopefully now i have sorted out all the issues i shouldve checked before buying it.

[Blown V6 Hatch]

yeaaahp. i tried the 286 on my stock 308 (9.4:1) and it was gutless as hell. even now with flat tops and a bit shaved off the heads it could still use some more comp. PLUS a 2500 stally isnt enough, even though thats what they recomment. power doesnt start till 2800 in mine

286 has been a HUGE mistake on my build so far. hopefully now i have sorted out all the issues i shouldve checked before buying it.

Generally, where the cam starts to make power, you add 500rpm to that for the converter.

So, HQ heads would be 2700rpm and VN heads would be 3000rpm. Having said that, i'd probably run a 3000 converter with either set-up with the 286.

[mr j-man]

cheers guys
ive never had any intension on using the 286....Most like use a 276 or 284 yet im not sure on the 284! As for the solid cam setup i never had a drama with it on my ol 308... was a 280-2 with lifters to match mind u my stally was a 4000. Some of you have said the solid setups require alot of maintanence and so forth why is this so????