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Recommend a cam for my car

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Old 05-21-2016, 10:32 PM
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Recommend a cam for my car

Hello I have an 89 Camaro RS parts car with a 305 TBI and T5.i am going to swap the motor and trans into another car. I am pulling the TBI and installing a carb. Which cam would you recommend for a dual purpose Street/Strip car.
Old 05-22-2016, 11:57 AM
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Car: Fourth Gen '94 camaro
Engine: 350 Gen II
Transmission: A4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Recommend a cam for my car

U need to provide some info.

1-what type of cam do u have and want? Hyd roller? Flat tappet?

2-what is your compression ratio? Stock? Modified? Compression test/pressure?

3-what is your exhaust system set up? Cat(s)? Single pipe? Dual pipe? Headers? Long tube or short tube?

4-how many miles street use? How often drag raced? Road/circuit raced?

We can only help u as much as u help us.
Old 05-22-2016, 05:30 PM
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Re: Recommend a cam for my car

I'm assuming that it has a roller in it now. It's bone stock but will be changing the exhaust to true 2.5 duals with shorty headers.. Mostly street cruiser with some 1/8 mile drags. It doesn't have to pass any emissions testing or anything like that. I just want a car I can take out and have some fun with.
Old 05-22-2016, 11:06 PM
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Car: Fourth Gen '94 camaro
Engine: 350 Gen II
Transmission: A4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Recommend a cam for my car

Reads like u have the TBI 305 motor which was an L03 with only 170hp. Im finding the L03 had something like 8.6 compression - maybe only 8.5 actual. That means it likes a short cam. Problem is there are very few short roller cams other than stock cams. U can shop for yourself but u what something less than 270 degrees full duration and more like 265 degrees full duration with lobe separation angle at 110 degrees. U need extra duration on the exhaust until u install the full duals then a single pattern cam would make more sense. I really like comps XR264HR for your car and no larger. Maybe step down to the comp XR258HR. But u will need better valve springs for both those cams.

Hope this helps and good luck.
Old 05-23-2016, 01:57 PM
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Re: Recommend a cam for my car

Thanks CardoO I will check into the como cam XR264. I'll probably end up building a bigger motor later on down the road but this will get me started.
Old 05-25-2016, 08:35 AM
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Re: Recommend a cam for my car

L03 has 9:3 compression. Get a stock L98 or Lt1 cam it will be a good bump in power and work with the factory heads without changing springs or anything. Those crappy heads aren't gona really breathe after 4500 rpm anyhow so why over-cam it.

Last edited by dmccain; 05-25-2016 at 01:53 PM.
Old 05-25-2016, 01:41 PM
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Re: Recommend a cam for my car

Is the lt1 what's known as the hot cam upgrade?
Old 05-25-2016, 01:52 PM
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Re: Recommend a cam for my car

No
Old 05-26-2016, 01:46 PM
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Re: Recommend a cam for my car

Originally Posted by dmccain
Those crappy heads aren't gona really breathe after 4500 rpm anyhow so why over-cam it.
It's not so much the RPMs that the heads limit, it's the amount of valve lift above which no flow increase occurs. That limit is about .450" (and you'll need better valve springs well before that). You'll also run into guide/retainer interference above that.

Originally Posted by snakeshooter
Thanks CardoO I will check into the como cam XR264. I'll probably end up building a bigger motor later on down the road but this will get me started.
Not a good choice for an LO3. See the above. That cam is .510" valve lift. You will absolutely need head work to run it.
Old 05-26-2016, 06:21 PM
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Re: Recommend a cam for my car

I'm looking into the stock LT1 cam now. Can I run stock valve springs? Will I have to change lifters or can I run the ones in the engine now?
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