HE3038BL, Is there something better for me? Advise

Posted By: JeffL

HE3038BL, Is there something better for me? Advise - 03/15/14 03:11 AM

Please advise.

WHAT I HAVE
440 bored to 4.390
Venolia lightweight pistons with .990 pins
Pistons are .003 down in the cylinders
Standard LY rods with bushing for .990 pins
3500lb car
28 inch tire
Auto trans with 3000 stall
3.91 gear
Edelbrock Performer RPM 84cc aluminum heads (stock no mods)
Crane 1.5 roller rockers
Hughes HE3038BL camshaft
Edelbrock performer RPM manifold or just standard edelbrock performer (I have both)
Street Demon 625 1901 carb
Schumacher Tri Y headers
2 1/2 inch exhaust

WHAT I WOULD LIKE
Mild camshaft for street cruising with power brakes.
Nothing crazy.

Should I just keep the HE3038BL in there?

Thank you

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: HE3038BL, Is there something better for me? Advise - 03/15/14 03:39 AM

I would post the specs on that cam

Posted By: JeffL

Re: HE3038BL, Is there something better for me? Advise - 03/15/14 04:32 AM

Click here for cam specs. Scroll down to HE3038BL Specs.

Thanks

Posted By: Diplomat360

Re: HE3038BL, Is there something better for me? Advise - 03/15/14 04:58 AM

Quote:

Please advise.

WHAT I HAVE
440 bored to 4.390
....
3500lb car
28 inch tire
Auto trans with 3000 stall
3.91 gear...
WHAT I WOULD LIKE
Mild camshaft for street cruising with power brakes.
Nothing crazy.

I have the step up, HE3844AL (small block). With 28" tall tire, 3.91 gear, 360 motor, Perfomer RPM intake, the 2800 stall converter just wasn't enough. I have a 4000 stall waiting to go in...but when the engine is in the cam powerband it pulls like mad!!!

Given your description I can't quite tell if you are OK going bigger or already feel you are too big as-is?

If you are thinking going bigger, the HE3844AL in my motor is definitely as hot as I would want to go in a streetable setup...in fact, if I wanted to keep my 2800 converter I would go down a size to where you are at today.

Posted By: JeffL

Re: HE3038BL, Is there something better for me? Advise - 03/15/14 11:58 AM

I am thinking of smaller, milder. Even with a vacuum canister, brakes get a little stiff when in stop and go traffic.

Posted By: dogdays

Re: HE3038BL, Is there something better for me? Advise - 03/15/14 05:13 PM

Hughes cams are easy to identify.
HE means it's the older version
add 200 to first two digits, = 230* @ 0.050 lift
add 200 to second two digits = 238* @ 0.050 lift
It's ground on a 110* LSA.

http://www.hughesengines.com/TechArticles/8oldercamshaftprofilesbigblockhydraulic.php

Newer Hughes grinds are noted by HEH, they replaced the HE series about 5 years ago, something like that.

I'd suggest giving them a call and explaining the problem. Something like the HEH2832 ground on a larger LSA, like 113*, would be my guess as something that would not degrade performance but have a smoother idle for more vacuum. I may be all wet on this, let us know what they suggest.

R.

Posted By: Diplomat360

Re: HE3038BL, Is there something better for me? Advise - 03/15/14 05:55 PM

Quote:

I am thinking of smaller, milder. Even with a vacuum canister, brakes get a little stiff when in stop and go traffic.

dogdays has a great suggestion, yeah, call Hughes and get their recommendation...

Now, having said that, and given that you've got this thing stuffed into F-body, I was able to go away with the power brake problem by putting a dual-chamber (tandem) power brake booster into my M-body coupe...believe it or not, but that HE3844 cam will dip as low as 6-7" vacum @ idle but breaks NEVER go funny. The tandem booster is actually 1" smaller in diamter too...which helped out with space in the engine bay...let me know if you want the booster part number (nothing custom made, it was an OEM replacement actually...for another body style...).

Posted By: RobX4406

Re: HE3038BL, Is there something better for me? Advise - 03/15/14 06:04 PM

Ignition timing will play a big role in how that camshaft reacts, especially at idle. If you total timed it, start over...

IMO, if it doesn't have around 20* of initial timing on it, you aren't close to have a good idle tune up.

That cam should pull ~12+" of vacuum and idle pretty decent in the 800-900 range. It's not a big camshaft at all.

Posted By: lewtot184

Re: HE3038BL, Is there something better for me? Advise - 03/15/14 07:04 PM

i'm familiar with that cam although i have not run it. i have run the intake lobe (283@.006, 233@.050) on a single pattern cam and it was kind of mild, no lopey/radical idle. that is an engle k58/k60 cam and they are not as radical as a comp cams equivalent. it's probably going to want 15+ degrees of intial timing if you want the low rpm vacuum up. i'm using a k65 solid, 238@.050-.510 lift, and can get around 10" of vacuum at idle in gear with a stock 10 3/4" converter. i wouldn't be afraid to use it but you may have to play with the ignition timing. carb looks to be very small.

Posted By: Mopar Guy

Re: HE3038BL, Is there something better for me? Advise - 03/15/14 10:37 PM

Quote:

Ignition timing will play a big role in how that camshaft reacts, especially at idle. If you total timed it, start over...

IMO, if it doesn't have around 20* of initial timing on it, you aren't close to have a good idle tune up.

That cam should pull ~12+" of vacuum and idle pretty decent in the 800-900 range. It's not a big camshaft at all.

If this cam is instaled whit the corekt centerline it should be a great working pretty drivebell cam for a 440 engine but your carb is a tad to smal if you whant to use the cam in the upper rpm�s

Posted By: gch

Re: HE3038BL, Is there something better for me? Advise - 03/16/14 04:18 AM

I used to run this cam in a 440 with ported iron heads and it rocked!It is a great cam with good mid range and hp for a street car.
Follow the ignition advice,run the rpm intake and put a 750cfm carb on it if you want to see it shine.
With those gears and converter it will obliterate tires at will.

Posted By: lewtot184

Re: HE3038BL, Is there something better for me? Advise - 03/16/14 04:28 PM

i had a chance to try that cam. had it in a block, degreed it, and for some dumb reason i passed. i doubt that that cam will need a 3000rpm converter or 3.91 gear and don't doubt that it will obliterate the tires.