Hesco 274 Cam

[MrShoeBoy]

Just got my new Hesco 274 cam today! Plus all the other parts I need to install it in my 4.6L stroker.

So the question is do I install it retarded, straight up, or advanced?

This doesnt seem like a popular cam choice from seaching on this board, jsdude is the only one I could find with it actually installed 4 deg advanced.

Opinions?

Thanks,

AARON

[SilverXJ]

It would help if you gave us the specs, valve timing too...

[MrShoeBoy]

Hesco H-274
Advertised Duration: 274
Duration at .050: 224
Lobe Centers: 108°-112°
1.6 Int/Exh: 480
Valve Timing
In open: 23
In closes: 71
Duration at .050 224deg
In valve lift: .480

Ex opens: 71
Ex closes: 23
Duration at .050: 224deg
Ex valve lift: .480

Motor is a 96 block from a ZJ factory deck height, 4.2L crank and rods, Sealed Power h802cp pistons, 91 head with port and polish, no shave, Hesco springs and retainers, Mopar performance head gasket, factory size valves, 5 angle valve job, from what I remember CR is 9.44. Fuel and spark will be controlled by a Megasquirt stand alone ECU. Ditching the factory computer as soon as the cam is broken in. Motor is in a half buggy comanche, manual trans, Stak 3 speed transfercase with LOW gears, bigger axles with 5.13 gears, and 35" tires. Motor sees a lot of WOT action, not a lot of idle, not a lot of low RPM cruising, typically run between 2400rpm and 5200rpm.

AARON

[SilverXJ]

Being that you have such low gears and it sees a lot of WOT I would either install it straight up or retarded 2*.

[MrShoeBoy]

Thanks Silver. Hesco had similar advice. I just wanted some opinions other than theirs for comparison and to support my own.

AARON

[jsawduste]

I would agree that this is NOT the best cam for low RPM. It does OK advanced but it has a definitive powerband. Say 2200 on up to the rev limiter. With deep gears and an manual it works well.

Would I change it ? Naw it works fine for what I want. But then my crawl ratio is 96 to 1.

Idle has a nice lope but still pulls decent vacuum. Enough to keep the MAP sensor happy at least.

[MrShoeBoy]

Thanks again jsawduste. So another question for ya: I was trying to get the cam setup and using the Hesco degree instructions, Cloyes double roller timing chain set in the "factory" position, and 274 cam I kept getting a reading of .040 from the base of cam lobe at TDC. Then cam centerline was 118. This didnt seem right, so I spoke with hesco and they said its crazy retarded. Need to reset the timing chain to advanced and see what it does, with the goal of .058 or even .060 and a CL of 108. What did your numbers look like when you installed it? Can the block really be that far off, or an issue with the cam grind, or timing set? What would cause this variance or is it just the nature of a high performance cam and heavily modified motor?

The low RPM off idle doesnt bother me, I got the gearing to take care of the low end. I want to rip from 2500 to 5200 I have parts for a Megasquirt on order so management issues shouldnt be a problem. Just need the time to assemble it all

AARON

[SilverXJ]

Reset the timing chain. It sounds like you are one tooth off.

When I installed the Isky cam it was out 12*. 10* was due to the timing chain off a tooth and the other 2* was dues to the cam grind.

[MrShoeBoy]

1 tooth= 14 degrees according to Hesco. Will try again later this week and see what happens with the install. Work is hell right now

AARON

[SilverXJ]

It probably varies between timing sets.

[MrShoeBoy]

Silver, which timing set do you have? I am running the Cloyes doubler roller timing set.

AARON

[SilverXJ]

JP Performance billet

[jsawduste]

Cloyes DBL roller. Ran the cam in a set of V Blocks before installing and found the numbers within .5 degree.

Try again with the chain. Mine degreed out at 3.56+ advanced in the engine.

Just a comment-The Hesco cam one selection down from the 274 has the wrong published lift. it is more around 450

[MrShoeBoy]

Got the cam setup and running in the truck. Went with the 112CL, Cloyes double roller timing chain and gears set to the advanced keyway. This cam has quite the lope at idle and sounds WICKED as the rpms rise! Does not play nice with the factory ECU, I still gotta do some tweaking with the Apexi and see if it will run any better. I just need to get it out of my work parking lot to home so I can install the Megasquirt. Updates on this will come later

AARON

[SilverXJ]

Does not play nice with the factory ECU, I still gotta do some tweaking with the Apexi and see if it will run any better.

Can you elaborate on this?

Also, did you reset the PCM? It was/is still using the program from the previous cam and needs to learn new programming.