Mopar Perf. ''Purple Shaft'' Mechanical Camshaft 312/590

Would this Mopar Perf. ''Purple Shaft'' Mechanical Camshaft 312/590 fit on a 344 with ported J heads 2,02-1,60 M-1 intake Holley 650Hp Headers in a -65 Valiant. 727, shiftkit and 8 3/4 with 5,38 29X10,5 Bracket/stripcar.

With that gear you could do it. Just make sure you have piston to valve clearance. And retainer to guide clearance. You would be running 10*'s more at .050 than I am, and about .030 less lift.


I almost bought that cam but they were on back order so I ordered a custom cam.


Edit: FWIW I think your carb is too small. You could use an 850 pretty easily. Hope you have at least 1.75 headers, if not bigger.

Last cam went flat. I do have race fenderwell headers. I have the cam, came with the car.

I have a Comp Cams hydraulic cam as well! Xtreme Hi-Lift, XE285HL
Serious Street/Strip

I never used that cam.. do you know the duration
at .050... is this a 1/4 mile or 1/8 mile car..
if its a 1/4 I dont think it will rev high enough
with that gear... but with that steep of gear I'm
thinking 1/8 car
EDIT
By the way... love the chopped roof line

It's 270 @ .050, 106lsa
I would want pretty good compression and plenty of stall if I were hoping to be satisfied with the results.

Duration at .050'': 265°/265°
Im just trying to get something together to go racing while I build my fuelaltered! Mostly 1/4 mile!

Maybe I use the Comp Cams hydraulic cam insteed! Xtreme Hi-Lift, XE285HL
duration at 050 241/247, lift 0,545/0,545
This is a flattop piston engine.
Runs high in the front sometimes too!

I think you'll be disappointed trying to use that hyd cam with 5.38 gears.
Those xe/hl cams usually struggle to get past 6000rpm.

I will save the hydraulic for a street stroker then!

It's like many things that involve racing.......... The worst part to use in any situation is...... The one you already own.

Provided you have enough spring, and retainer to seal clearance, and v/p clearance, a couple of decent cams for a flat top 340 would be a Comp 20-635-5, or a 20-618-5.

Yes I know! To many leftovers from different builds! Have a pair of W-2 also if they fit the cam better! But then the headers dot fit well on the exhaustport!

Myself... I would run the W-2s.. cut the flanges
off the headers and weld on new ones for the W-2s..
its a pretty simple job IF the tubes are big enough
for the rpm you will run.. as Fast said.. forget the
hyd cam.. it'll never make the rpms you need
EDIT
For the headers.. I normally make a mandrel that
I would drive into the tubes at the flange for the
shape of the port.. pretty simple.. heat some times
was needed.. most of the time it wasnt

Fed,your combination is very similar to what I'm running in a Dart. I would use the W2 heads also, have them on mine and very happy with them. I haven't put in the 5.38's yet, still with 5.13's. Should also add that I'm pretty happy with the .590 Purple Shaft. Pretty old school build but it's proven and I am enjoying it...when I can get away to race!

I used the 590 purple shaft on my big block tunnel ram. Shifted at 6,800 rpm, through the lights at 6,500 rpm. 3150 pounds 4.88 gears 10.80's. Very dependable, consistant times, easy maintenance.

I ran a similar combination. Stock stroke 360, ported j heads, 590 cam, victor manifold. 904, 4.88 gear, 65 valiant. Ran 10.20's @ 130... i think you have too much gear like others have said.

It's very difficult to get enough valve spring and installed height on those iron heads to really use that cam.

I never had a problem. Put 2 motors together that were pretty much identical bolth with that cam. Springs were never a problem....

People always crack jokes about purple shaft cams but I loved my 590 in my old 451" low deck with Eddy heads, it went 9.80's in my old DartSport and was very streetable. That's as fast as I wanted to go on a tight budget.

That's a good running combo. When I ran the 557 purpleshaft in my 340 years ago I was running 11.70's and there was a guy with a 340 Dart there that was running a very similar combo but he was running the 590 cam and was going 11.20's. That's kinda what made me want to try the 590 in my big block car and it ran extremely well.
It's hard to go wrong with a cam and lifter kit for around $170!
Fast68Plymouth recommended a couple Comp cams so I would definitely look into those.

It was a great little combination. I have to give all the credit to my cousin Shane Studley who races Super Stock, and helped me build the engines.

It's not like your uncle didn't have it going on. Don did my heads on my stocker about 12 years ago. Great guy.

Yup, Don was a great guy and taught Shane all of the HP secrets.