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Mopar .508 292 Bad Cam or Bad Rap? #2266003
03/09/17 03:03 AM
03/09/17 03:03 AM
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Porter67 Offline OP
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I picked up one of these kits for $100 bucks.

In the past ive used this cam twice, one time with poor results, stock vert/323 rear low comp 340.

Another time with good results with high comp, 3500/3.91s Good enough to hammer 95% of what I ran... (although 1980).

So its an old design but past that is it s bad cam or just used the wrong way?

It is a entry level bracket cam isnt it?

Re: Mopar .508 292 Bad Cam or Bad Rap? [Re: Porter67] #2266017
03/09/17 03:31 AM
03/09/17 03:31 AM
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Cam should match the combo. Stock converters work best with stock cams. I've run the MP 284 and 292 hyd in street strip 360's. They can run pretty well with the correct parts around them,but I would not consider using either with all the options. I only use hyd cams when building for someone who can't lash valves from time to time or something my mom might drive.

Re: Mopar .508 292 Bad Cam or Bad Rap? [Re: Porter67] #2266034
03/09/17 04:39 AM
03/09/17 04:39 AM
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Granite Bay CA
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The small block version was actually a 292/508. The big block version was 292/509.
My understanding is that they were designed to work with stock shaft rocker arms. That explains why they were long on duration, somewhat short on lift.

I ran one for years in my 493. I had almost 11 to 1 squeeze and 3.91 gears and a 27.5 inch tire. It actually was a decent performer with decent manners. I'd guess with only 383-440 cubes it would have idled rougher. Less gear or less converter stall would have resulted in slower low speed performance. Without looking, I'd guess that the DC or MP book would suggest Higher than stock compression and lower gears.

I had a 292/508 in my Frankenduster. That 360 had around 9/0 CR and stock rebuilt heads. The car felt much slower out of the hole. I had 3.55 gears and a 4 speed in the car. I should have went with a smaller cam since the stock heads and lower compression were not a good match.
Live and learn, right?

Re: Mopar .508 292 Bad Cam or Bad Rap? [Re: Porter67] #2266077
03/09/17 09:48 AM
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What im kinda getting at is since im getting older ive learned that not everything has to be a stroker or have a roller camshaft to run well and be semi fast.

Yep, hyd cams might be great for moms car but the same could be said for the poser hyd roller cams that I will never use.

With oem based iron heads if the difference in running a old slow ramp cam vs a new lobe eating fast ramp solid cam is say 75hp, wouldnt I be farther ahead with the old ramps and a 150 shot?

Im a little confused that some, even today are trying to find the so called best of both worlds with good low/high speed characteristics, but im just concerned about wot and really dont mind if it drips raw fuel at idle.

Id drive my moms car if I wanted all around good manners.

Re: Mopar .508 292 Bad Cam or Bad Rap? [Re: Porter67] #2266087
03/09/17 10:22 AM
03/09/17 10:22 AM
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Richmond, Indiana
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I have had that cam in my 340 for 15 years. It is a nasty grind, but my combo works well. I have a PTC converter that flashes / stalls around 3500-3800, and a reverse manual valve body. My compression is very close to 10:1 with iron heads. I have 4.10s in the rear.

I'm turning 4,000 rpm on the highway at 70mph, but it still makes me smile!


1970 340 swinger. sublime
1967 barracuda fastback BB
55 Plymouth Project
Re: Mopar .508 292 Bad Cam or Bad Rap? [Re: Porter67] #2266093
03/09/17 10:37 AM
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Ive a ptc 9.5 vert in the box that was actually speced for a 450hp stock stroke 360 and have a 4:56 gear so it might be close.

I actually liked the cam way back because in the early 80-s a 12 second street car was fun and quicker then most mis matched cars and far quicker then any older stock big block cars.

And for simplicity I can still use a good single spring.

For the $100 I paid for it I think im gonna run it, the worse that can happen is I spend a weekend to change it out, but I think it might do ok with a 12.1 comp ratio.

Re: Mopar .508 292 Bad Cam or Bad Rap? [Re: Porter67] #2266551
03/10/17 01:38 AM
03/10/17 01:38 AM
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Freeport IL USA
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Years ago, I had one in a low comp small block backed to a 4 speed and 3:23 gears. The 4 speed was its saving grace. I had a lot of fun with that car, and wasn't really worried about it being the fastest it could have been, it was plenty fast on the street. It also sounded awesome!

A buddy had that cam in an auto car, and the converter gave him fits, there wasn't enough compression or gearing to make it work, he was pretty miserable with that cam.

I believe that cam needs compression, a high stall converter, and gearing to work, or a 4 speed with a driver having enough ability to cover the weak points.
If I had one laying around, I'd stuff it in a motor with a stick behind it. Gene

Re: Mopar .508 292 Bad Cam or Bad Rap? [Re: Porter67] #2266608
03/10/17 03:38 AM
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fredericksburg,va
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Had the 509 in a 383 hc in a Duster, 4.88, 29.5 slick, stock street Hemi vert, would run 11.68 -117, 7.38 in the eight, idled nice (600) after working the 780 holly and collector length. Put the engine in a 68 Dart (good vert and 14-32s) went 7.05. I thought the cam worked nice.

Re: Mopar .508 292 Bad Cam or Bad Rap? [Re: poorboy] #2266712
03/10/17 12:31 PM
03/10/17 12:31 PM
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I ran the big block version in a 67 440, headers, single plane intake, 850DP, 3500 TCI converter and 3.91 gears. I didn't like it, the same engine with a General Kinetics 280/480 was a hoot to drive. If a guy could find the right combination of parts it may rune fine, but I never knew anyone that found the right combo.

If it were me I'd sell to a purple cam follower and buy a more modern grind twocents .

Re: Mopar .508 292 Bad Cam or Bad Rap? [Re: Porter67] #2266740
03/10/17 01:13 PM
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Aurora, Colorado
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The cam was designed for bracket racing, and it does work well in that application. Had a 11:1 compression 360, ported heads, and 3,500-4,000 stall converter.

Re: Mopar .508 292 Bad Cam or Bad Rap? [Re: Porter67] #2267402
03/11/17 02:11 PM
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I had one in a 340 many years ago. It was a decent cam, the car ran very well. I loved the sound it made, had a really lopey aggressive idle. Probably a bit much for a street car but I managed ok. I think I was running a 2300 stall, could have used more.

Re: Mopar .508 292 Bad Cam or Bad Rap? [Re: Porter67] #2267405
03/11/17 02:16 PM
03/11/17 02:16 PM
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Spencer NY
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Works great with a 11.9-1 408. No stall needed

Re: Mopar .508 292 Bad Cam or Bad Rap? [Re: killermopar] #2267471
03/11/17 04:04 PM
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EV2, We have one in my sons car now. Was my race motor. KB107's,2.02 intake valve w/bowl porting, 273 rockers and 750 DP. 11.49@117 in a Duster. Runs 12.50's all day in front of a TKO600 in a 67 Dart. My always worked well.


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Re: Mopar .508 292 Bad Cam or Bad Rap? [Re: Porter67] #2274193
03/22/17 12:44 PM
03/22/17 12:44 PM
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That cam gets a bad wrap due to improper useage. As you yourself has found out in the stated wrong combo of low compression, gear etc...
An entry level bracket cam is a good description. As seen by other members postings, you can get going pretty good with it.

I have noticed that my time with that and other Purple cams is that they respond well with a good dose of compression. There not ideal for the street. The old MP catolog "Speed Tips" will be accurate if not slightly in the "sandbagging" side. Best results, like all things occur at sea level. Over @ E-town, the have seen guys run a bit faster than the "tip" section said it would.

"For the street", I myself like a wider CL than the Purple cams.
I have had good results with the Purple cams at the track.

Re: Mopar .508 292 Bad Cam or Bad Rap? [Re: Porter67] #2274248
03/22/17 02:52 PM
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I have one that was a racer brown and sold under the old Mopar DC line Great cam from 4000 up but horrible fuel use and stink ass idle. Use a Holley to clean it up Loved the power up top got tired of lack of torque down low even with 4.10s. Finally changed out after years of use and went with a way better cam for me a hotted up version of 68 340stick cam. Plenty of power and still revs. Now can pull out in 3rd gear

Re: Mopar .508 292 Bad Cam or Bad Rap? [Re: Porter67] #2274262
03/22/17 03:21 PM
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Great replies, and exactly what im looking for.

This is a real mid/late 70-s day 2 build, positive deck height and a dome at 805 grams with piston and pin so im not trying to spin things to the moon.

But the car is 3200, 4:56/5k ptc vert on a 28 drag radial.

So I hope to get the best out of it as I can.

And since its a old school deal with 4 inch side pipes, im wanting the stank azz bad manners that only wot can cure.

This is more fun for me then a cookie cutter 600 plus stroker build.

And I consider it a REAL street car build, just not friendly.

DSC00004.JPG
Last edited by EV2Bird; 03/22/17 03:22 PM.
Re: Mopar .508 292 Bad Cam or Bad Rap? [Re: Porter67] #2274307
03/22/17 04:21 PM
03/22/17 04:21 PM
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Originally Posted By EV2Bird
Great replies, and exactly what im looking for.

This is a real mid/late 70-s day 2 build, positive deck height and a dome at 805 grams with piston and pin so im not trying to spin things to the moon.

But the car is 3200, 4:56/5k ptc vert on a 28 drag radial.

So I hope to get the best out of it as I can.

And since its a old school deal with 4 inch side pipes, im wanting the stank azz bad manners that only wot can cure.

This is more fun for me then a cookie cutter 600 plus stroker build.

And I consider it a REAL street car build, just not friendly.


Yeah, you'll be happy with it then. They sound awesome at idle. Make sure you degree it in for your chassis weight. Not much in the top end with these so you may actually want to run a big aluminum dual plane.

Re: Mopar .508 292 Bad Cam or Bad Rap? [Re: Porter67] #2274394
03/22/17 06:56 PM
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My t/a car is apart and I had the 484/284 cam in it and it behaved well with the 2bbl center.

I had also run the 508/292 on my 68 340 with a 2bbl intake for a bit of time and the manners were better.

Really not sure why I had a 2bbl on it, but even with the 2bbl it would kick the crap out of all but other mopars (early 80s where most cars just had cam/headers) 13-14 second cars street cars.

So maybe the factory 3x2 off my t/a car might work semi well.

Re: Mopar .508 292 Bad Cam or Bad Rap? [Re: Porter67] #2275773
03/25/17 02:47 AM
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With your gears,converter and compression and even average iron heads it should run easy 10's and sound pretty nasty at idle. We did 20 years ago. We run 10.40's today with less gear,converter and comp,power brakes,power steering etc,but a girly(hyd) roller cam. lots of ways to go but for your needs you will be happy.

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Re: Mopar .508 292 Bad Cam or Bad Rap? [Re: Porter67] #2275812
03/25/17 07:27 AM
03/25/17 07:27 AM
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If I were gonna run a roller, ive a 70-s cast roller cam and lifters, a nice reed unit where the lobes look more like one of todays solid lifter cams.

The shop does a block wash off, ive washed it good one time, spent several hours getting things in order and am about ready for the final wash and them cam bearings, ect.

The pistons I have are an odd set, all 10, remember when sets came in 10 and that was normal?

Max 360 CH iirc is like 1.687 and my pistons are 1.777 and so the quench pad before the dome is about .070 above deck. But with the chamber and wide selection of gaskets it will work out.

Id liked to of cleaned up the decks but dont even want to take .005 off because for the oem finish its really decent and I bought this block new and its in decent shape.

I ran into a really nice set of J castings and if needed will opent he chamber diameter and if I need few more cc-s I will polish the chambers, but might do it anyways.

Prior to getting started I did moch alot up and it is all doable and I think I can get a actual workable quench number on the pad itself.

In the end I dont care what fuel I run and another factor is in at 4k feet above sea level.

Another positive is ive a nice set of not moly rings but the better steel chromium nitrated top ring in the 1/16 size although its tempting to ditch the cast second ring and run a std. moly ring there.

But im trying to pull from my parts on hand.

Its so tempting to go with a small solid cam but until I know my true piston to valve specs im ok with this cam.

If this was 1975, this would actually be a very nice build with the venolia pistons and light rods and head work. Only bettered by a W2 build but very few had the W2 in 75 since they didnt semi mass produce them till 76.

Last edited by EV2Bird; 03/25/17 07:30 AM.
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