Hi-Torq Performance Series Hydraulic Roller Cams (500-600 HP)

The Power Broker: Butler Performance Hi-Torq Series Hydraulic Roller Cams (500–600 HP)

Why Hydraulic Roller? The Performance Advantage

Butler Performance strongly advocates for the use of hydraulic roller camshafts over the older hydraulic flat tappet designs, especially in high-performance engines.

• Modern Lobe Profiles: Roller cams, by their design, utilize a wheel on the lifter to follow the lobe, allowing for much more aggressive and faster opening/closing rates of the valves.¹ This provides greater "area under the curve" (more flow for a longer duration), translating directly into more power across the RPM band.

   

   

• Reduced Friction and Wear: The rolling motion drastically reduces friction compared to the sliding motion of a flat tappet lifter, increasing both efficiency and component longevity—a critical factor for the classic Pontiac block.

• Low Maintenance: Being a hydraulic design, these cams are self-adjusting, eliminating the need for periodic valve lash adjustment common with solid lifter cams.

• Safety: They remove the risk of wiping a flat tappet lobe, which is a common failure point in performance builds, particularly with modern oils that lack sufficient ZDDP (Zinc Dialkyldithiophosphate).

The Hi-Torq Performance Series: Engineered for High-Output

The Hi-Torq Performance Series is specifically designed to bridge the gap between street-focused cams and all-out race cams, targeting the 500–600 HP output when paired with the right supporting modifications.

A key offering in this series is the Butler/Comp Hi-Torq Street Performance Billet Roller Cam (BP804X).² This grind is a foundational component often found in Butler Performance's own 461–474 cubic inch street engines that regularly produce 600 horsepower.³

Note: The choice of Lobe Separation Angle (LSA) allows the builder to fine-tune the engine's power band and idle quality, a customization Butler Performance offers to match a vehicle's specific use.⁴

For those pushing the 600 HP mark and beyond, the series also includes more aggressive grinds, which offer increased duration and lift for maximizing flow through large-port cylinder heads

The Complete Performance Package

Achieving the 500–600 HP goal is not just about the camshaft; it requires a matched combination of high-quality components. Butler Performance offers these Hi-Torq cams as part of a complete Master Kit, ensuring the entire valvetrain is correctly matched:⁵

1. Billet Hydraulic Roller Camshaft: Custom ground for Pontiac engines.⁶ 

2. Hydraulic Roller Lifters: High-quality, tested lifters designed to handle the aggressive roller profile (e.g., Morel or Johnson lifters).⁷

3. Timing Set: Typically a heavy-duty double roller set for accuracy and strength.

4. Valve Springs, Retainers, and Locks: Engineered to handle the high lift and higher RPM potential of the roller cam.

5. Distributor Gear: Crucial for roller conversions, often a polymer or bronze gear is required to prevent wear on the billet cam core.⁸

    

The Butler Performance Hi-Torq Performance Series provides the ideal foundation for anyone seeking a true street-dominant machine—one with excellent drivability, reliable idle quality, and a massive surge of power that backs up the legendary look of a classic Pontiac muscle car.