What’s the best cam for Olds 403? Then, you’re in the right place.
The Oldsmobile 430 is an excellent motor that is reliable and well maintained, with a surprising torque amount. Sometimes, for that extra performance and thumping sound, you need the best quality camshaft.
Choosing the right camshaft can be stressful, so below, we’ve reviewed the seven best cams for Olds 403.
Best Cams for Olds 403 – Comparison Table
Comp Cams 42-600-5 (Editor’s Choice)
With its thumping idle and long exhaust duration, it is best for high performance while off-roading. It comes with a 107 Degree Lobe Separation Angle and 0.491/0.476 Valve Lift.
Features
This camshaft’s projection profile and granulate segments utilize a blend of an early fumes valve opening, a long fumes span, and a liberal measure of admission and fumes cover to amplify the cams’ harsh sitting qualities.
These camshafts are accessible in various pound profiles; everyone will deliver an unpleasant, rich fumes note and necessary drive and force measures inside an assorted rpm range. Thumpr Series cam and lifter packs give a huge force increment over an indistinguishable water-driven level tappet crush without losing the support’s unwavering quality or simplicity.
Pros
- It gives a high performance on the street.
- Provides excellent reliability and is easy to maintain
- It has thumping idle.
- It has a long exhaust duration.
- Best with 2000+ converter and gears
Cons
- It would be best if you verified the valve spring pressures to make this camshaft work on your Olds 403
This camshaft is for those who want to grab attention in any street performance as it provides thumping, high-performance idle. Plus, it is value for money for its features.
Comp Cams CL42-229-4
With this hydraulic flat tappet camshaft, you can increase your gas mileage and power band performance. These camshafts are designed for street engines with an 8:1 to 9:1 compression ratio.
Feature
This camshaft works well with all stock components, including intakes, exhaust manifolds, and carburetors. As a result, these kits offer good gas mileage and power increases throughout the rpm range for most street applications.
It comes with a basic operating range of 1500 to 5500 RPM with 110 Degree Lobe Separation Angle and 0.456”/0.456” Valve Lift. It performs well with stock parts such as rockers, manifolds, heads, compression, torque converters, and gears.
This camshaft kit includes a camshaft, a set of lifters, instructions, and assembly lubricant.
Pros
- It is the best cam for the economy and improved power.
- It has broad authority and a noticeable idle
- Provides excellent performance for mild street machines
Cons
- No negative point about the product found yet.
This camshaft is helpful if you want to increase your street machine’s gas mileage and power band performance. Its high-energy grinds are an excellent blend of efficiency and performance.
Comp Cams CL42-236-4
This magnum hydraulic COMP’s option will give your engine all the horsepower and torque you are looking for in one affordable pack. In addition, this Hydraulic Roller Cam offers excellent power.
Features
This camshaft is designed for hot street/strip cars. Magnum Series cam and lifter units require a higher pressure proportion, backside gear proportion, and slow down force converter than stock.
These Magnum pressure-driven cam and lifter packs give the most extreme top-end execution to your elite vehicle with an exceptionally forceful profile.
It comes with an operating range of between 2,500-6,500 RPM with 110 Degree Lobe Separation Angle and 0.518”/0.518” Valve Lift. These kits include a camshaft, a set of lifters, instructions, and assembly lubricant.
Pros
- Great high RPM power
- It is best with aftermarket torque converters.
- You can use it with mild ratio rocker arms and traditional performance valve springs.
- It comes with a very rough idle
Cons
- The valve lift of this camshaft can get better.
This camshaft model is great for you if you want excellent RPM power for your unique car with increased compression.
Comp Cams 42-413-9
Competition is one of the leading companies. It manufactures this camshaft for Olds 403. The cam weighs around 9.97 pounds which is easy to carry.
Features
The warranty from the manufacturer backs this camshaft. It provides excellent performance to your street superpower car. It comes with an operating range of 1800 to 6200 RPM with an advertised duration of 268.
Pros
- Delivers Great performances
- Enhances your vehicle
- Increased engine vacuums
Cons
- It comes with a basic operating range.
These cams provide a better gas response and more top-end horsepower than comparable cams from other manufacturers by utilizing an energetic lobe profile.
Comp Cams SK42-207-4
It is a hydraulic flat tappet camshaft manufactured by Competition Cams. You will get more exhaust duration and lift than intake with the dual-energy camshaft and lifter kits. The camshaft is designed for mid to upper-range horsepower.
It fits Oldsmobile 403 very well. In addition, it is available at a great price.
Features
The camshaft’s basic operating range is 1000 to 5000 RPM, along with 110 degrees of lobe separation. It has a double roller timing chain. All parts are marked, which makes the installation easy.
Pros
- Lifters are included with the cam kit.
- All parts are marked and easy to understand
- High-performing product
Cons
- No negative point about the product found yet.
The camshaft looks good and is available at a fair price. It possesses a lot of power with a loud throttle sound. It fits well with Olds 403 motors.
Comp Cams K42-423-9
This 27 pounds camshaft got manufactured to give you high performance on the street. With this product, you can take advantage of its latest technology.
Features
It comes with an aggressive lobe profile. The camshaft provides better throttle response and more top-end horsepower than equivalent kits from other market manufacturers while delivering increased engine vacuum.
It comes with an operating range of 1,800-5,600 RPM with 0.505 inches Valve lift and 110 degrees of separate lobe angle. It has a double roller timing chain style.
Pros
- Provides excellent performance
- Excellent RPM
- It comes with a Hydraulic roller lifter style.
- The camshaft has valve springs.
Cons
- This camshaft is not compatible with computer control.
This camshaft is suitable for those who want a high-performing engine with a hydraulic roller lifter. But the cam is not compatible with the computer controlling that you should consider before purchasing it.
Comp Cams 42-223-4
The COMP camshaft employs the latest cam technology to provide maximum performance. Whether your use is off-roading, towing, or street performance, this camshaft is suitable for Olds 403.
Features
This camshaft for Olds 403 provides excellent performance in street carbureted applications. To deliver increased responsiveness and more area under the lift curve, it has quicker opening lobe profiles.
It has a basic operating range of 1600 to 5800 RPM with a 110-degree lobe separation angle. It has a 0.477”/0.48” Valve Lift. It provides more vacuum, increasing the Olds 403 for improved performance and assisting power brakes. In addition, it gives you the best performance with aftermarket intake manifolds, headers, and lower gear ratios.
Pros
- Good for street machines
- It has a slightly rough idle
- Value for money
- Aggressive lobe profile
Cons
- No negative point about the product found yet.
Choose this camshaft if you are looking for something reasonable with excellent performance while off-roading.
How to Pick the Best Cam for Olds 403?
Finding the best vehicle camshaft for your valued belonging, the Olds 403, can be an examination. With limitless contributions, every producer professing to be superior to others, you need to ensure your ventures and the advantages you can get.
Our readers must be thinking on what basis we can choose the proper camshaft for our car engines? Many factors make a camshaft best, like RPM, performance, valve lift of the motor, and many more.
We have a top-to-bottom guide for your efficiency and comfort that gives you prime purposes for replacing the cam on your Olds 403.
Below we have listed the essential factors that you must consider before buying the best cam for Olds 403:
RPM Range
If you want to get the best cam for stock 403 Olds, one crucial factor will be the RPM range. Why? We answered this question in detail in our article regarding the best shocks for a 383 engine.
The stock RPM for Olds 403 is 185hp@3600 RPM, 320ft/lbs torque @2200 RPM.
Cost
The average price range is $150-300, but we included several top models that cost even more. Usually, if some camshaft for the Olds 403 costs more, it’s a price for additional features or a kit.
Wrap-Up: The Best Cam for an Old 403
Oldsmobile 403 was a pretty short-run engine. However, it has increased the cars’ performance like the Firebird, Buick Riviera, and Olds 442. Like any other motor modification, your Olds 403 car also deserves a camshaft upgrade for enhanced performance and a more reliable sound.
The winner from the above list of the best cam for Olds 403 is the Comp Cams 42-223-4. The top features that stand out with this camshaft are its excellent performance in street carbureted applications, quicker opening lobe profiles that deliver increased responsiveness, and more area under the lift curve. In addition, it provides more vacuum, which allows an increase in the Olds 43 for improved performance and assists power brakes.