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What heads/intake/cam setup for most hp out of a NA 540??

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What heads/intake/cam setup for most hp out of a NA 540??

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Old 01-22-2010, 08:05 AM
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302:
I went Merlin III block Canfield heads (310 with work) Nickerson Carb Big oil pan/thermostatic cooler MSD digital 6 with crank trigger.. All goodies.. But.. went too small on cam..
Cam: 114 Lobe Separation
Intake: 234 duration 572 peak valve lift @.050
Exhaust: 232 Duration 572 peak valve lift #.050

Put this together almost 5 years ago and runs as good today as it did then.. 20-50 vtwin oil also.. Wish I would have went with a bigger cam though..

Kid
How often are you adjusting the valves with that solid cam? Are you running a jesel type setup? Bob will be doing a new cam for me next winter.. can’t decide hydraulic or solid though..
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Old 01-22-2010, 08:59 AM
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Originally Posted by JohnSchiavarelli
302:
I went Merlin III block Canfield heads (310 with work) Nickerson Carb Big oil pan/thermostatic cooler MSD digital 6 with crank trigger.. All goodies.. But.. went too small on cam..
Cam: 114 Lobe Separation
Intake: 234 duration 572 peak valve lift @.050
Exhaust: 232 Duration 572 peak valve lift #.050

Put this together almost 5 years ago and runs as good today as it did then.. 20-50 vtwin oil also.. Wish I would have went with a bigger cam though..

Kid
How often are you adjusting the valves with that solid cam? Are you running a jesel type setup? Bob will be doing a new cam for me next winter.. can’t decide hydraulic or solid though..
I got a very similar set up as yours do you know what kind of hp numbers you are seeing.
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Old 01-22-2010, 09:18 AM
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Originally Posted by JohnSchiavarelli
302:
I went Merlin III block Canfield heads (310 with work) Nickerson Carb Big oil pan/thermostatic cooler MSD digital 6 with crank trigger.. All goodies.. But.. went too small on cam..
Cam: 114 Lobe Separation
Intake: 234 duration 572 peak valve lift @.050
Exhaust: 232 Duration 572 peak valve lift #.050

Put this together almost 5 years ago and runs as good today as it did then.. 20-50 vtwin oil also.. Wish I would have went with a bigger cam though..

Kid
How often are you adjusting the valves with that solid cam? Are you running a jesel type setup? Bob will be doing a new cam for me next winter.. can’t decide hydraulic or solid though..
what was your hp and torgue #s ???
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Old 01-22-2010, 11:39 AM
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The 623hp @ 5800.. forgot the tq off hand.. will find the dyno sheet tonight when I get home..

I know I left some HP on the table with that cam..

In the boat running a P5 26 pitch blade I cannot spin it past 5100-5200.. Just running out of cam and motor.. having halls prop work on it now.. want to get the RPMs closer to 5600..
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Old 01-22-2010, 12:24 PM
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My 496 cams are a little on the large side however well thought out. I plan on running at around 5,800. These cams are basically taylored around a 540 package and would probably lower the R's to around 5,600 with the bigger CI.

244/248 - 647/637 on a 111 lobe sep. This was a Gellner special. Slightly different grind than what he normally uses. I would use this cam with a 540 or even up to a 565 CI.

Forgot to mention they sound ungodly wicked also.
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Old 01-22-2010, 12:35 PM
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Originally Posted by 302Sport
The engines started as a gen 5 or 6 502 and is now a 540.....what is the best combination to run????? It doesnt bother me to always have to run 93oct
Call bob madera. RMBUILDER on this site.
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Old 01-22-2010, 01:27 PM
  #17  
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I have a 509 cid package W/10hrs. on them. We just dynoed them last week after removing them. 632hp/573TQ/@ 5800 if someones looking. Dart Big M standard decks, Brodix Heads and Manifolds, Demon 1150's single carbs, Jesel belt, Jesel drive train solid rollers, Corillo rods & Crank, Diamond pistons, Stellings W/ 4.5 dry tails if needed. 91-93 oct. I'm not giving them away but with these parts who would?
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Old 01-22-2010, 02:07 PM
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Originally Posted by JohnSchiavarelli
302:
I went Merlin III block Canfield heads (310 with work) Nickerson Carb Big oil pan/thermostatic cooler MSD digital 6 with crank trigger.. All goodies.. But.. went too small on cam..
Cam: 114 Lobe Separation
Intake: 234 duration 572 peak valve lift @.050
Exhaust: 232 Duration 572 peak valve lift #.050

Put this together almost 5 years ago and runs as good today as it did then.. 20-50 vtwin oil also.. Wish I would have went with a bigger cam though..

Kid
How often are you adjusting the valves with that solid cam? Are you running a jesel type setup? Bob will be doing a new cam for me next winter.. can’t decide hydraulic or solid though..
Tight lash solid roller... I checked the lash about mid season and all seemed good so I ran it for the rest of the season as is/was, then pickled for the winter. I'll check/adjust the valves beginning of this season. I'd say check the lash every 25-30 hrs. If the lash grows by more than a thou or two, there's a problem. Your 26 Velocity should be a rocket with or without a solid roller if you're in the 700 hp neighborhood.

I have Jesel sportsman type shaft rockers. Don't get those, get the Pro's. Or, talk to Bob about T&D's. He'll steer you right.
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Old 01-22-2010, 02:55 PM
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I just finished a project with Bob Madara that included AFR 325's, custom hydraulic cams with 114 lobe separation, Jesel rockers,Trend 7/16 push rods, Victor intakes custom reworked by Wilson manifolds and Pro systems 1150 Dom's on 9.9 to 1 572 CI engines and made 724 HP @ 5900 rpm with 694 TQ @ 5100 (these are uncorrected numbers) so in some shops these would be sold as 800+ HP.


By the way after a month of trying I also found out that 3 circuit carbs are not the best for marine applications. I am sure glad I do not have to pay for dyno time.
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Old 01-22-2010, 03:14 PM
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BRIAN41 aren't your carbs from prosystem 3 circut?
They quoted 1050's 3 circut for mine, told me that what they use now.
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