High-Performance Small-Block Chevy Cams & Valvetrains

By merely changing the camshaft and match building the proper valve train, you can turn an otherwise docile street engine into a high-RPM performer capable of making much more horsepower. Without a doubt, camshafts and engine valvetrains are the most misunderstood areas of engine performance and have been for a long time. Since camshaft selection is vital to making real horsepower, improper selection and tuning has cost horsepower junkies real power for decades. Finally, help is on the way! Graham Hansen, author of the best-selling How To Build Big-Inch Chevy Small Blocks, takes the mystery out of camshaft and valvetrain function, selection, and design. He covers camshaft basics, including a thorough explanation of how a cam operates in conjunction with the rest of the engine and valvetrain. He discusses technical terms like overlap, lobe centerline, duration, lift, and cam profiling. You'll see comparisons between roller and flat-tappet cams addressed and analyzed. This book covers rocker arms, lifters, valves, valvesprings, retainers, guideplates, pushrods, and cam drives, as well as detailed information on how to degree a cam and choose the proper cam for your application. Finally, matching cams to cylinder heads, analyzing port flow, and proving it all through dyno tests round out this informative volume. It covers 1955-1994 Chevrolet Small Block engines, including 262, 265, 267, 283, 302, 305, 307, 327, 350, 355, 400, and 406 cubic inch displacements. This book is a must-have for anyone trying to squeeze all the available horsepower from the ever-popular small-block Chevy.