I bought this engine and was told it was rebuilt not too long ago but the guy "forgot" the info on the cam so I'm going to have to get in there and tear it out and look at it. so far everything else looks good so I have no evidence yet to think the cam absolutely sucks, but I was thinking I'd like to get a performance one I choose. So I found this on ebay, let me know what you think SBC Camshaft Kit Cam Lifters Chain Gears 350 HP Chevy ($100) This listing is for a 350 Horsepower cam kit. Includes Speed Pro Camshaft #cs1095r Includes Speed Pro Lifters #HT817 Includes Melling Timing Chain and Gears #3-499s Chevy 262-400 cid Hydraulic camshaft, 2200-5500 RPM Range, 291 intake/287 exhaust Adv Dur, Duration @.050 224 intake/224 exhaust, Valve Lift .450 intake/.460 exhaust, Lobe C/L 114. Application notes: 350cid/ 350 HP LT-1, L82 Hydraulic camshaft matches G.M.# 3896962

Why waste money on another cam if you don't know if you have a satisfactory one in there already?

Be a kick in the nuts if it turned out to be the same cam you have in there

If your planning on changing the cam anyway then you might as well go ahead and pull the cam out and check the part number on the cam you have. You may have a real great cam in there already. It takes more than an old 350 horse 350 cam to make 350 horsepower make sure your cam matches your heads, intake, torque converter, and gear. IMO if I was going to spend money on a cam I would go ahead and get a comp X-treme energy or a lunati voodoo, I have had very good luck with both of these flat tappet designs.

Did like the specs on the voodoo cams but 200 seemed like a lot to drop on just the cam and this one has the cam, lifters, and timing stuff. Of course I'll tear the old cam out and check it first, but if it were a decent brand i'm sure the dude would have at least known that... I won't buy the set until I have the old one out, but I wondered what people thought based on the price/specs. Thanks for the input!

If I'm not mistaken that ebay cam is pretty much like the 1970 chevy 350hp cam, just a hydraulic version. They work good enough. What kind of heads and intake are you running?

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-CL12-242-2/ $170

You'll have better throttle response, more vacuum, and a little bit more lift.

Well the heads are just rebuilt stock heads on a '73 engine. (not ported or anything, straight up rebuilt) I put a holley street performer intake on it though. Most people will say go with Edelbrock but it's a preference thing and I like Holley.

I love the range on that cam. the page said it improves top end power, is that at the expense of low end? I don't need top-end power as much as low-end... Most races here are decided stoplight to stoplight and I don't get a ton of opportunity to tear down the highway... Kinda slow speed limits in SC so I usually don't even get into the top gears

It's still small enough that bottom end will still be, a small 2800ish stall and gear wouldn't hurt. i like that cam, I ran it bfor I went bigger Also it should match your intake, and while those heads aren't ideal they'll run. Got a buddy that had a 355 in a big ole 84 monte with those heads, slightly dished pistons, a 490ish cam that ran 7.60's in the 1/8 with a 150 shot and ran off 87 when he drove it

well I'm going to be running (hopefully) a 700r4 to keep my gauges all working so a good stall converter will definitely be in order. I want this engine to be pretty good but once I clear my garage out of third gen parts and such, I'm gonna start the build process over for a more "classic" set of wheels

haha, small block chevys work in everything my friends. I've had lots of old cars they have all had sbc, except for 2 - a Cadillac with the big 500 engine, and I've got a 28 ford right now all original