Vortex 268 Street Performer – Hydraulic Flat Tappet Camshaft
For Ford Big Block V8 (429 / 460 CID)
 
🔥 Purpose & Identity
The Red Line Vortex 268 Street Performer is for Ford big block drivers who want muscle-car sound and midrange authority without giving up street manners. Designed to make the 429 and 460 wake up with a strong hit of torque and a crisp, responsive midrange, this cam is your bridge between daily-drivable smoothness and a dark, aggressive lope that makes heads turn.
Built for high-torque street machines, muscle trucks, and weekend bruisers, the 268 Street Performer delivers controllable chaos — torque everywhere, sound that demands attention, and performance that’s unmistakably Red Line.
 
⚙️ Camshaft Specifications
Duration @ .050" – Intake 218° / Exhaust 218°
Advertised Duration – 268° / 268°
Valve Lift – .454" / .454" (≈ .477" with 1.73 rockers)
Lobe Separation Angle (LSA) – 112° standard (also available 110°, 112°, 114°)
Intake Centerline – LSA − 4° (e.g., 108° ICL on 112° LSA)
RPM Range – 1,500 – 5,500 RPM
Idle Character – Noticeable lope with deep tone; clean street manners on wider LSAs
 
📊 Valve Timing Events @ .050" (Cam Installed 4° Advanced)
 
LSA 110° (ICL 106° / ECL 114°)
Intake Opens 4° BTDC • Intake Closes 34° ABDC • Exhaust Opens 41° BBDC • Exhaust Closes 3° ATDC • Overlap ≈ 7°
LSA 112° (ICL 108° / ECL 116°)
Intake Opens 2° BTDC • Intake Closes 36° ABDC • Exhaust Opens 43° BBDC • Exhaust Closes 1° ATDC • Overlap ≈ 3°
 
LSA 114° (ICL 110° / ECL 118°)
Intake Opens TDC • Intake Closes 38° ABDC • Exhaust Opens 45° BBDC • Exhaust Closes 1° BTDC • Overlap ≈ −1°
 
🏁 Performance Behavior
This cam lives where big-block Fords shine — in the meat of the torque curve. The Vortex 268 Street Performer hits with strong midrange surge, sharp throttle response, and an idle that turns from steady to sinister as the LSA tightens. It’s perfect for street/strip builds that need real power without high-maintenance habits.
 
🎯 Recommended Applications & Build Setup
Compression Ratio: 9.0:1 – 10.5:1
Induction: Dual-plane or air-gap intake with 750–850 CFM carburetor or EFI
Exhaust: Long-tube headers and free-flowing dual exhaust
Gearing: 3.25 – 3.91 rear gears
Converter / Clutch:
Automatic: 2,400 – 2,800 rpm stall converter
Manual: Street/strip clutch rated ≥ 600 lb-ft torque
 
🔧 Valvetrain & Component Recommendations
Valve Springs: COMP 924-16 or equivalent dual spring
Seat Pressure ≈ 120 lb @ 1.900"
Open Pressure ≈ 320 lb @ .475" lift
Coil Bind Height ≈ 1.100" (maintain ≥ .060" clearance)
Retainers & Locks: COMP 742-16 retainers with 7° locks (COMP 611-16)
Pushrods: 3/8" hardened chromoly; verify length after checking preload and geometry
Lifters: Premium hydraulic flat tappet lifters (matched set)
Rocker Arms: 1.73:1 ratio roller rockers recommended
Valve Seals: Positive-style Viton seals for reliable oil control
Notes: Confirm retainer-to-rocker and coil-bind clearance before final assembly
 
🧠 Installation & Break-In Notes
Always use new hydraulic lifters with any new camshaft
Degree the cam to verify installed ICL (should measure 4° advanced)
Use high-ZDDP break-in oil; run at 2,000–2,500 rpm for 20–30 minutes
Check spring pressures, pushrod length, and valvetrain geometry before final torque
Maintain .060" minimum coil clearance
 
💡 Why Choose the 268 Street Performer BB
If you want a 460 that hits hard, sounds mean, and still behaves in traffic — this is the one. The 268 Street Performer delivers torque you can feel, lope you can hear, and quality you can count on. It’s the perfect step up from stock without stepping into the race-only zone.
 
🏆 The Red Line Cams Advantage
Red Line Cams brings over 35 years of real-world camshaft design and engine-building experience. Every Red Line camshaft is built from OEM-quality cam cores, precision-ground and inspected to deliver durability, repeatability, and that unmistakable Red Line performance edge.