Help with engine build/cam selection
10-01-2010, 01:58 PM
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Car: 84 Trans Am
Engine: 350
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Help with engine build/cam selection
I am at the point in my build where I have to pick a cam. Here's the short version of the story. I had a 350 2 bolt 30 over in my car that I bought used out of a 77 Camaro. It was cheap. I put new bearings and seals in the motor, threw it in the car and drove it for a year or so. I wiped out a cam lobe on the crane cam that was in it. Pulled the heads and cam for replacement. Valve seats were shot, so I bought a set of Cast Vortec from GM. Put an edelbrock performer RPM cam in. Car ran great lots of low end torque. Ran low 13's. Ended up wiping out that cam. Not sure why I lost 2 cams. Maybe running the wrong oil. This was back in 03/04, not sure if that was after zinc was removed from some oils.
Car is almost done with restoration. I took the motor in for a re-build. I was going to go with the same setup. The local shop who use do build motors has expanded their repair shop to the point where they no longer do any machine work. They out sourced the work. Heads went to the head guy and block to another machine shop. Turns out the heads were done before the block was looked at. Block and Crank are shot. I found a great deal on a ZZ4 short block that was a GM 350HP crate motor. So now I have this ZZ4 and heads. Heads got a port and polish. Seats were cut and edelbrock 5794 spring kit was installed to match cam.
The guy that did the head work said he did not like the way the springs were seated and they would walk. So they were cut and he installed what he called a cup. It looks like the springs are sitting on top of a copper disc the size of a half dollar recessed into the head. To bad the block was not checked first. I was told the heads can now handle .550 lift but I don't know for sure. It was a very reputable head shop, but I was displeased with the lack of communication. So I am going to have them measured to see what they can handle.
So now I have a roller block and heads set up for the old flat tappet. The spring kit is also recommended for the roller performer rpm cam. It has a lift on the exhaust of .549. Whats my best course of action here. Could another cam be okay with the edelbrock springs, or should I stick with the edlebrock if the heads can handle the lift. Any recommendations? Should be around 9.7:1 CR. 3.73 gears 16 in tires. ZZ4 block edelbrock performer rpm intake and 750cfm carb.
Car is almost done with restoration. I took the motor in for a re-build. I was going to go with the same setup. The local shop who use do build motors has expanded their repair shop to the point where they no longer do any machine work. They out sourced the work. Heads went to the head guy and block to another machine shop. Turns out the heads were done before the block was looked at. Block and Crank are shot. I found a great deal on a ZZ4 short block that was a GM 350HP crate motor. So now I have this ZZ4 and heads. Heads got a port and polish. Seats were cut and edelbrock 5794 spring kit was installed to match cam.
The guy that did the head work said he did not like the way the springs were seated and they would walk. So they were cut and he installed what he called a cup. It looks like the springs are sitting on top of a copper disc the size of a half dollar recessed into the head. To bad the block was not checked first. I was told the heads can now handle .550 lift but I don't know for sure. It was a very reputable head shop, but I was displeased with the lack of communication. So I am going to have them measured to see what they can handle.
So now I have a roller block and heads set up for the old flat tappet. The spring kit is also recommended for the roller performer rpm cam. It has a lift on the exhaust of .549. Whats my best course of action here. Could another cam be okay with the edelbrock springs, or should I stick with the edlebrock if the heads can handle the lift. Any recommendations? Should be around 9.7:1 CR. 3.73 gears 16 in tires. ZZ4 block edelbrock performer rpm intake and 750cfm carb.
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