I am in the process of rebuilding a 1981 454 for my AC guy. It is in my best interest to keep this guy happy as he has always bailed me out in the high heat of summer to fix my AC.
This is in a 1981 1 ton truck that he wants to be able to pass emissions as well as have a good sounding camshaft and have some power.
The engine is a 9.5 CR 049 peanut port heads 2.19 1.88 valves, high rise air gap intake and Q jet carb.
An RV cam should pass emissions but will not have the sound he is after.
A cam with a narrow LC will give the sound but will probably not pass emissions.
I suggested an antique historical plate here in AZ but for some reason he is hesitant.
Does anyone have any real world experience suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

IF it really has that sort of static compression ratio, I'd suggest a Sealed Power blueprint series cam for a performance passenger car cam (hydraulic lifter) for a 1970/1971 454. There may be hydraulic roller equivalent grinds?
A performance cam in a 1 ton truck is just silly, in my opinion, and I've never seen a "RV" cam that delivered the promise of better performance.
You'll end up with a lame, poor performing truck that sounds cool idling, at best.
I think with a pre-emissions camshaft profile and a good exhaust system you can have the best of both worlds, or close to it.

quote:

1

1

Cam/Lifter Kit

71

KC-1088R

Exc. Spec. Hi-Perf.; w/4 Bbl. Carb.; Hyd.; Pro-2000 Perf. Cam; Duration at .050", 204 Int., 214 Exh.; Valve lift .476"

N

N

Int., .501" Exh.; Lobe Separation 112 Degrees; Incl. (1)

CS-1088R, (16) HT-817, (1) 55-403B

Check this catalog page:
https://archive.org/details/Se...s/page/n599/mode/2up

Mr. Goob. Yes I agree with trying to be emissions legal and having some performance and sound is a lost cause.
I had planned on a .580 lift 222/234 108 cam but the duration and narrow LC will not cut it at the emissions station.
I just found out the truck did not come with cats or the smog pump so the emissions standard are probably pretty lax.
Wondering if he added some cheap cats to his dual exhaust if that would help?

You could just build it stock and pull a couple of plug wires off....

An '81 1-Ton truck can't have much, if any, in the way of emissions standards?

quote:

Originally posted by Goob:
You could just build it stock and pull a couple of plug wires off....

An '81 1-Ton truck can't have much, if any, in the way of emissions standards?

Looking for that like button

Look for a GM hyd roller take out cam or something from Elgin.

Bruce, is the build on your dime? Just asking, because if it is, converting the engine to a roller setup will dent your wallet pretty hard.
If he is buying the parts, and is willing to spring for a roller cam, springs, lifters, pushrods and rockers, then that would probably give you more options for a cam that will actually improve the power, and still meet the emissions standard. I would probably not want to add a pair of cats to a vehicle that did not require them from the factory, (another expensive proposition, which may not help it pass). Surely AZ does not have the onerous California type regulations, right? Does the truck / engine have an EGR setup on it? I had a similar truck in the 80's that kept failing the tailpipe sniff test by a slight margin. It had a tangle of many vacuum lines, all off a multi-port fitting on the intake. I disconnected and plugged them all except for the EGR line, and that made the difference, it then passed easily. So keep that in mind later on.