COMP Cams Book Grinds- Flat Tappet Cams and Cam Kits

Flat Tappet Cams - COMP Cams Book Grinds- Flat Tappet Cams and Cam Kits

Pontiac V8 COMP Cams Book Grinds- Flat Tappet Cams and Cam Kits

Pick By RPM Range — COMP Cams Book Grinds- Flat Tappet Cams and Cam Kits for Pontiac V8s

These are the COMP Cams Xtreme Energy hydraulic flat tappet catalog grinds for the Pontiac V8, listed for 265 through 455 cubic inch engines, 1955 to 1981. A book grind means a published profile with a stated rpm range, so you can line the whole ladder up and pick by where you want the power.

The XE family runs from the XE256H through the XE294H, all on a 110 lobe separation. Butler stocks them as cams, as COMP cam and lifter kits, as Butler-spec kits using a Butler version of the 852 lifter, and as full master kits.

Flat tappet cams and lifters carry the manufacturer’s warranty only — read the full warranty notice at the bottom of this page before ordering.

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More About COMP Cams Book Grinds- Flat Tappet Cams and Cam Kits

1. The Ladder, By RPM Range

The most useful thing about a book grind is the published operating range. Match it to where your car actually spends its time, then check that the rest of the combination can get there. All are on 110 lobe separation.

XE256H.447"/.455" lift, 256/268 duration, 212/218 at .050", rpm range 1000 to 5200. COMP calls this family a best seller with excellent all-around performance in street carbureted applications, and this is the step most people mean by that.
XE262H.462"/.470" lift, 262/270 duration, 218/224 at .050", rpm range 1300 to 5500. One step up, still behind a stock converter on most combinations.
XE268H.477"/.480" lift, 268/280 duration, 224/230 at .050", rpm range 1600 to 5800. The idle gets noticeable and the rest of the top end needs to keep up.
XE274H.488"/.491" lift, 274/286 duration, 230/236 at .050", rpm range 1800 to 6000. A built street engine cam.
XE284H.507"/.510" lift, 284/296 duration, 240/246 at .050", rpm range 2300 to 6500. Compression, converter and gear all have to be chosen for it.
XE294H.519"/.524" lift, 294/306 duration, rpm range 2800 to 6500. The largest flat tappet XE in the Pontiac catalog.

The lower end of each rpm range is the honest part. If a cam's range starts at 2300 rpm and your converter flashes at 1800, the car will feel slower than the one it replaced everywhere you drive it.

2. What COMP Says These Profiles Do

Straight from the product data, the Xtreme Energy claims and the fine print that goes with them.

The benefitsquicker opening lobe profiles deliver increased responsiveness and more area under the lift curve; more vacuum allows a step up in duration for greater performance; best seller with excellent all-around performance in street carbureted applications.
The considerationsthey work best with COMP Cams roller rockers and matched valve springs, and they require other performance parts such as an intake manifold and headers for best performance.
What that means in practicea quick-opening lobe puts more load into the spring and the rocker. Dropping one of these into an otherwise stock top end and reusing the factory springs gives away most of what you paid for.

3. Fitment and the 110 Separation

Applicationlisted for Pontiac 265 to 455 cubic inch V8s, 1955 to 1981.
110 lobe separationtighter than the 112 Butler uses on its own Hi-Torq flat tappet grinds. Tighter separation gives a rougher idle and less vacuum but more midrange and peak power.
If you need vacuuma power-brake car or anything with vacuum accessories may prefer the same duration on a wider separation. That is the trade, and it is worth making deliberately.

4. Flat Tappet Break-In

All flat tappet cams require a break-in oil that already carries a high zinc package, and they require a more extensive break-in process. This is on every product in this category.

ZDDPthe zinc and phosphorus package is what protects the lobe and lifter face. Modern API oil on its own is not enough.
Break-in spring pressureuse the correct seat pressure for break-in, then move to final springs once the cam is in.
New lifters with a new camalways. A used lifter face will not match a new lobe.
Twenty minutes of varied rpmabove idle, with the timing and cooling already right so you are not troubleshooting during break-in.

Flat Tappet Cam & Lifter Warranty Notice

Due to so many variable that can affect flat tappet cam and lifter life from break-in and beyond Flat tappet cams are subject to manufacturer’s warranty ONLY. This is due to stringent break-in procedures that must be followed (including removing inner springs for break-in), rocker ratio, the special oils/additives required, lifter bore inconsistencies of size and angle in stock blocks, issues of lifter bore wear and oil bleed off on 40-50 year old Pontiac blocks and so many other variables that can affect cam/lifter life both right from the point of break-in as well as durability after break-in. Keep in mind that just because an engine “ran for 40 years with the stock flat tappet cam and lifters” doesn’t mean that a more aggressive cam that also requires new, stronger springs will have the same life. Or even make it through break in. Block/Lifter bore issues are magnified once you change cams, springs and/or rocker ratio.

If you have an issue with a flat tappet cam/lifters and you believe it’s a warrantable issue then Butler Performance will return the cam to COMP/Lunati/Melling for inspection and any warranty/replacement will be at their discretion. We do not warranty flat tappet cams in any way past the manufacturer’s warranty. We do not warranty any parts damaged by or parts needed to replace a flat tappet cam/lifters including any labor involved.

BUTLER PERFORMANCE HIGHLY RECOMMENDS UPGRADING TO HYDRAULIC ROLLER CAMS.

Not sure what your Pontiac needs?

Email our tech team at tech@butlerperformance.com. Tell us your engine, heads, car, and power goal, and we will put the parts together as one combination that works.