Camshafts, Piper 285 blank or Catcam 5500327

[Fordy]

So 4 years ago i built my engine and its undergoing a major rebuild, the more a strip the more i find worn or damaged,

Crank pitted on main journals,
1x Conrod bent
3x Inlet valve collets cracked in half and valve grooves elongated
Oil pump scored beyond believe was a refurb unit 4 years ago
8x Cam followers pitted
Camshaft pitted on lobes was reprofiled 4 years ago by piper 285

So my rebuild so far includes
New crank
Forged 77m wossner pistons, pec rods
Ductile liners
Head modified bigger inlet 36mm and exhaust valves 32mm, 3 angle seats yada yada, head skimmed to 73mm
Head CC'd at 41.5cc
Compression ratio atm up around 8:5-1 (Megasquirt fitted so not worried)


But with finding my cam pitted, I wonder if the 285 is really needed anymore?

Looking through as much as i can wouldn't a 5500327 BB cam be better suited?
My thoughts are, Bigger valves require less lift for same flow and I noticed the higher I rev'd up to 8000rpm at times the more often push rods got bent, got to admit flat shift was being used so probably didn't help kinder lobe ramp rates happier valvetrain

SO

CatCam "BB" 5500327 OR Piper 285 blank?

[R5MJH]

i highly recommend the bb cat cam our old c1j that i built has just made 220bhp with that cam and a t28 @21psi i sold the engine but everything was brand new std pustons but brand new this cam is slighty less lift than a 285 if you check the cam wizard, id rate it more than the 285 boss. it had more left too but was emptying the bowl pmsl

[Fordy]

I have been running 24-26psi with t28 and 285 before noticing my potential valve drop

I seem to think the 285 is all peak hp and a small torque band

Finding someone with experience of both cams is going to be a task

Catcams are cheaper and much better customer service than piper from what ive found when asking about valve springs

Stick with what I know or sell the piper springs and cam and try something new

[R5MJH]

im not saying it wont make more lol check the cam wizard and put the cams against each other



https://rtoc.org/tech.php

btw i ran piper springs with the bb cam it was fine boss

[Fordy]

Custom larger valves and titanium retainers means my piper springs just don't fit anymore

Forr the cost of the catcam I might take the risk on it

[R5MJH]

what i will say is forget what people say and set to the correct 113 degrees as literature states, i was advised to set to 110 degees but went against it, tbh ive been in cars with both but prefer the snap power from the bb cat cam

your choice boss but let us know what ya do

[Ian S]

As far as the C1J engine, a camshaft come with specific angles, AFAIK, if it's a Piper 285 at 110° then it should be set to 110°, a Piper 285 at 112°, set to 112°. Etc. With twin cams I presume you can play with that valve timing a bit.

[Fordy]

Advancing and retarding the cam with the 110-113 just moves the powerband down or upwards.

im more interested if I'll gain a longer torque curve or reduce it with the bb cam

[Woznaldo]

I've recently fitted a Cat Cams 325, but I'm still running the engine in so can't give any useful feedback just yet.

[RPM]

If you do sell the cam, please could I have first dibs :-)
Thanks