Vortex 270 H.O. – Hydraulic Flat Tappet Camshaft
Ford Big Block (429 / 460 CID)
🔥 Purpose & Identity
When your big Ford needs to sound mean, hit hard, and pull like it’s strapped to a locomotive, the Red Line Vortex 270 H.O. delivers. This grind gives the 429/460 a commanding idle, instant throttle punch, and a relentless midrange charge — the street/strip attitude serious gearheads demand.
⚙️ Camshaft Specifications
Duration @ .050": 224° / 224°
Advertised Duration: 270° / 270°
Valve Lift: .470" / .470" (≈ .490" with 1.73 rockers)
Lobe Separation Angle (LSA): 112° standard; 110° and 114° available
Installed Intake Centerline (ICL): LSA − 4° (108° on standard 112 LSA)
RPM Range: 2,000 – 5,800 rpm
Idle Character: Distinct lope with sharp, responsive bite
📊 Valve Timing Events @ .050" (Cam installed 4° advanced)
Standard 112° LSA (ICL 108° / ECL 116°)
Intake Opens: 4° BTDC
Intake Closes: 40° ABDC
Exhaust Opens: 48° BBDC
Exhaust Closes: 4° BTDC (= −4° ATDC)
Overlap @ .050": ~0° (crisp, controlled idle)
Optional 110° LSA (ICL 106° / ECL 114°)
Intake Opens: 6° BTDC
Intake Closes: 38° ABDC
Exhaust Opens: 46° BBDC
Exhaust Closes: 2° BTDC (= −2° ATDC)
Overlap @ .050": ~4° (harder chop, stronger hit)
Optional 114° LSA (ICL 110° / ECL 118°)
Intake Opens: 2° BTDC
Intake Closes: 42° ABDC
Exhaust Opens: 50° BBDC
Exhaust Closes: 6° BTDC (= −6° ATDC)
Overlap @ .050": ~−4° (smoothest idle, max vacuum)
Notes: Overlap shown as IO + EC using EC as ATDC (negative = BTDC). All events are symmetric and calculated for 224/224 @ .050 with the cam 4° advanced.
⚖️ LSA Power & Idle Characteristics (Your Offerings Only)
110° LSA → Tight & angry. Most overlap of the three. Strongest low-end hit and midrange, choppier idle, slightly lower vacuum. Great for aggressive street/strip builds that want the rowdy sound and fast response.
112° LSA (Standard) → The sweet spot. Balanced torque curve, crisp throttle, clean street manners, and stable vacuum. Signature Vortex sound without going over the edge.
114° LSA → Broad & composed. Widest torque spread, smoothest idle, and best vacuum. Ideal for heavier vehicles, EFI, power brakes, and daily-driven manners with serious pull.
🏁 Performance Behavior
Big midrange authority with a deep, undeniable cam presence. The 270 H.O. brings the 429/460 to life right where you drive, surging through the mid band and carrying hard to 5,800 rpm. It sounds lethal at the light and feels brutal under your right foot.
🎯 Recommended Applications & Build Setup
Compression: 9.0:1 – 10.5:1
Induction: Dual-plane or air-gap; 750–950 CFM carburetor or EFI
Exhaust: Long-tubes (1 ¾"–1 ⅞") and free-flowing duals
Gearing: 3.50 – 4.10 rear gears
Converter / Clutch:
Automatic: 2,600–3,000 rpm stall
Manual: Street/strip clutch rated ≥ 650 lb-ft
🔧 Valvetrain & Component Recommendations
Valve Springs: Dual spring such as COMP 924-16 or equivalent
Seat ≈ 125 lb @ 1.900"
Open ≈ 340 lb @ ~.500"
Coil-bind height ≈ 1.090" — maintain ≥ .060" clearance at full lift
Retainers & Locks: Steel retainers (e.g., COMP 742-16) with 7° locks (e.g., 611-16)
Pushrods: 3/8" hardened chromoly (measure final length after checking preload and geometry)
Lifters: Premium hydraulic flat tappet set (matched)
Rocker Arms: 1.73:1 roller rockers recommended for stability and accuracy
Valve Seals: Positive Viton-style seals
Assembly Notes: Verify installed height, spring pressures, retainer-to-rocker clearance, and valve-to-piston clearance
🧠 Installation & Break-In Notes
Use new lifters, degree to target ICL = LSA − 4°, and break in with high-ZDDP oil at 2,000–2,500 rpm for 20–30 minutes. Recheck lash/preload, geometry, and spring pressures after break-in.
💡 Why Choose the 270 H.O.
You want the sound, the surge, and the shove — every time you crack the throttle. 270 H.O. is the step above a mild street cam: nastier idle, sharper response, and a torque curve that makes a heavy Ford feel light.
🏆 The Red Line Cams Advantage
Red Line Cams brings 35+ years of real-world camshaft design and engine-building experience. Every Red Line cam is crafted from OEM-quality cam cores, precision-ground and individually inspected for accuracy, durability, and repeatable power — the way real street and strip engines should be built.