Cam for a 540

[fbc25el]

Hi. I have 540 with afr 315 heads flowed & the pockets cleaned up . It has a victor manifold and a 1050 domminator on it. It also has a crane cam 139731 that has 587-610 lift and 226-234 @.050 dur. Steve Schmidt in Indy. did all of the machine work and assy. I am verry happy with his work! He did tell me that the cam was too small. After two years of running I do think it could use a bigger cam. I have a crane 139021 (next size up) when i put the figures in a desktop dyno program it shows almost no improvemts. Any thoughts. It also has cmi-E tops. Thanks.

[Mrhorsepower1]

The camshaft is too small. I have built many 540 packages similar to what you have and can get you into the right cam to make the power your looking for.

Dean Gellner
Gellner Engineering Marine Power
(216) 398-8500

[Griff]

The 731 is a good cam for a 454ci, but way small for a 540ci.

Call Dean listed above.

[MikeyFIN]

Steve Schmidt is an excellent engine builder and has a deep following in the Pro Stock Racers around the globe.
So Is Dave Gellner and I may also add that the Cam is way too small.

I´d go with something maybe a tad big for your taste but I take you have a single engine boat and a smaller one in size ?

Here´s my choice (http://www.cranecams.com/?show=browseParts&lvl=2&prt=5&Vehicle_Type=Marine&Cylinders=8&Engine_Make=CHEVROLET&Year=1994&Engine_Size=396-454%20C.I.&partNumber=139651&partType=camshaft)

[PatriYacht]

A few years ago, when I was building my 540's, a bunch of guys were building similar engines with AFR heads and a number of them were dyno'd. A few guys used the Crane 741 cam and the engines made peak power 650-675 hp at 5800 or so. One guy used a custom cam from Rmbuilder .628, .630 lift, 236,240 duration @ .050 and his engine peaked at 5900 at 700 hp. Using more duration seems like it is going to make the power peak to high to ever use. Btw, I used the custom cam and AFR 335's and while never dyno'd it has gone 78 gps compared to 67 with stock 500's. And it's still propped wrong.

[AIR TIME]

Hi. I have 540 with afr 315 heads flowed & the pockets cleaned up . It has a victor manifold and a 1050 domminator on it. It also has a crane cam 139731 that has 587-610 lift and 226-234 @.050 dur. Steve Schmidt in Indy. did all of the machine work and assy. I am verry happy with his work! He did tell me that the cam was too small. After two years of running I do think it could use a bigger cam. I have a crane 139021 (next size up) when i put the figures in a desktop dyno program it shows almost no improvemts. Any thoughts. It also has cmi-E tops. Thanks.

call DEAN he has a hot set up with cam/intake I see you have the 1050 he can do wonders with it too. I picked up 3 to 4 mph going from a 850 to custom 1050. will add the custom intake andcam in the fall to break 700hp:sifone:

[mikes280]

for a off the shelf cam the 741 is hard to beat i built a set of 496's with a nice set of bb2's and used the 741 and made 640. 675 is pretty comon in a 540 with that cam

[MERPerformance]

How about 780 HP 548 cid, Profiler heads, solid roller, 6000 rpms, 1025 cfm BG carb w 4150 flange, HVH 1" 4 hole spacer, cam specs. not off my head. Call RM Builder I'll give him the specs.