Well...my 305 is close to retirement. Going to build up a 350. This is my daily driver, so I'm not really looking for anything extreme, a good street combo. For that reason, i'm sticking with the LTR TPI setup for the low-end torque, I'm not looking for ponies here, just loads of torque, enough to really register on the a$$ dyno! Looking for 300 HP or a little more but well over 300 ft/lbs of torque. I have a budget of about $2500 bux I've looked into getting a vortec TPI setup. I've researched them alot over the last few weeks, and found that they flow the best at around .500 lift. Not so sure if vortec setup is the way to go or not for my budget and build requirements. I know strokers are torque monsters, but I don't think I have the cash to lay down for that type of setup. Plus it will be daily driven. Is there maybe a way to build up the 305 to pull out some good torque numbers using my budget? What would you guys suggest for a good combo heads/cam to match the LTR TPI and really crank out the torque. Thanks!

Doing more research, not sure if I'm looking in the right direction, but I came across a possible cam maybe?
If I'm thinking i the right mind-set, this would be pretty much the ideal specs for what i'm looking for. Am I correct in thinking that? Especially since TPI stops flowing good around 4500 RPM.


Xtreme Energy XE250H Hydraulic Flat Tappet Camshaft Only
*Note: In order to use these camshafts in 1955-57 265ci blocks, it is necessary to machine a small groove in the rear main journal of the cam to allow oil flow to the top of the engine. Very strong torque, excellent mileage, smooth idle.
Operating Range:600-4600 RPM
Duration Advertised:250° Intake / 260° Exhaust
Duration @ .050'' Lift:206° Intake / 212° Exhaust
Valve Lift w/1.5 Rockers:.432'' Intake / .444'' Exhaust
Lobe Separation Angle:110°



Would a good 170cc vortec head compliment that cam? Or what kind of head am I looking for?

if you want a budget setup that makes 300hp on motor and a bunch of torque....look no further than vortec heads with machined with fresh springs to handle .500-.520 lift. SDPC sells them.

get the vortec base manifold and either ZZ4 cam with 1.5 rockers or LT1 cam would work with 1.6 rockers. I'd stick with hydraulic roller cams since they make much better power and torque. They got better ramp rates which takes advantage of good heads. those two cams are capable of making big low end torque to be a fun daily driver

a better choice would be aftermarket cam, abit bigger than above and what u selected. I'd go with comp's xe26x roller cams. i like the 264... either the computer controlled for abit better driveability or the regular XE grind.
next choice which might be better is the comp cam XFI 260 grind. but use with 1.5 rockers on the vortecs and get appropriate springs.

that should be capable of low low 13's or even high 12's well tuned with good runners and good gearing converter. I have a stock L98 with just exhaust and doing 13.63 with slight chirp of wheel spin. i'm sure i can get a 13.5x if i try harder. vortec heads/mild cam/vortec base/runners should definately knock off atleast .3-.4 seconds with a good tune. probly more tho

I was initially looking at the vortec setup with the zz4 cam or equivalent.

But I was looking at other options. What kind of torque do you think I would make with a set of bow-tie heads (I can't really find specs on these) and that comp cam that I listed above or a diff mild cam?

I was really trying to make a good daily driver, with a ton of low-end torque, to really scoot around at lower speeds in the idle to 3000 rpm range. not going to the track at all. 1/4 mile times and high speed power aren't my focus.

Seeing what kind of numbers I can pull off of a stockish 350 TPI.

Comp's site shows this dyno run using that mild cam in a 355 with dart heads and carbed.

http://www.compcams.com/Technical/Dy...50H-10_001.asp

Couldn't I expect around that torque level with TPI and a set of bow-tie 180cc or world 200cc heads?

Keep in mind, the low-end torque is really what i'm looking for here. I wanna scoot around town quickly low-rpm won't go above 3000-3500 rpms much. Alot of the quick accerlating between lights (750rpm-2500rpm 0mph to 35 in .5 seconds) I really wanna plant my a$$ in the seat for those few seconds. And yet I wanna pull out onto the highway and get 20+mpg. Set the cruise at 75 @ 1800ish rpms

ZZ4 with stock L98 TPI's is usually around 240-250whp or so with a good exhaust and tune. bolt on runners and base with some port matching and it could reach 250-260whp with that cam. the torque is usually well up over 300lbft at the wheels.
on the motor, the numbers are closer to 280-290hp and 350-400lbft torque.

pretty stout for a mild motor.

if you do get some heads for it, stay at 180cc runners. anything bigger is more suited for 383's and up.

decent heads and fairly mild cam with even stock TPI will make 300hp on motor and upwards of 400lbft of torque.

I'd upgrade TPI to some bigger tube runners and base to enhance power output everywhere. you'll make more torque but better yet, u make more hp where you need it at 4000-4500rpms. that power is nice.

I'd stick with the vortec base and some runners with ZZ4 cam or slightly bigger. that will make good power but you'll have tons of lowend torque and get good mileage.

but remember tons of lowend kinda sucks for the street since u cant use it. unless your on DOT slicks all the time, but even then my car can roast those off at first gear runs startin under 30mph. street tires it loves to burn those off, and i got suspension mods everywhere. you really cant floor it till your at the top of first gear then into second but by 50mph the pull is stopping and just feels lazy lol