duration at .50 is 214/219 lift is .452/.465 how much bigger is this than the l98 cam thats already in my car? and would this be too big for the car in Sig? ------------------ 87 IROC-z 305 TPI Borg Warner T-5 fresh rebuild 10-bolt 3.73 Richmond gears rebuilt GM posi, formerly BW 9-bolt w/3.45 gears(broke it) Ported Plenum and Runners Homemade AFPR ACCEL 8.8 wires, High output coil,and cap & rotor Bosch platinum + 4 plugs Ram Air w/ K&N filters, MAF sensor screens removed, TB coolant bypass Polyurethane tranny and torque arm mounts No Cat, Dynomax Headers & catback w/custom tips K&N oil filter,Mobil 1 synth,Factory Oil Cooler, Futura GLS Super Sport tires 265/50/15 rear and 235/60/15 front mounted on 86 monte carlo SS rims. 406 siamesed TPI in progress

There are alot of opinions on cam size. Here is mine:

If not for the ECM you could run some pretty radical cams in the 305. Usually (because of the ECM) people get in trouble with duration and not lift. The lift specs for the cam you spoke of are moderate in fact I would be inclined to add 1.6 rockers to improve the lift abit.

I have found that 305s respond well to lift up to .525. The duration, specifically intake duration, is another matter. I have found that anything above 210 degrees at .050 tends to increase power at the expense of engine manners -- in other words driveability, idle, gas mileage, etc. The bottom line is the ECM may end up responding very poorly to increases in cam duration depending on whether it is MAF or MAP based and as I see it the 214 degree cam is right on the borderline.

Some years back I tried a cam at 217 degrees on a 305 and it was a disaster. The car simply would not run right and I had to keep throwing money at it to try to correct the problem until finally I pulled the cam. Hundreds of dollars down the drain, hours upon hours lost.

I plan to upgrade my cam eventually and will use the LT1 cam to do so. It has modest but reasonable duration and excellent lift, coupled with 1.6 rockers should be an interesting mod.

my .02 cents worth,
RP.




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'91 Formula Firebird G92,WS6,5-speed,3.42 a ton of fun to drive.

That sounds like the crane 2032 cam 214/220. I'm putting it in my car this week(w/1.6 roller rockers). I do agree custom tunning will be a must, but so will any cam if you want to get the most hp gain out of it. There's a few already that run this cam with good results so, I think it's perfect for a 5 speed car. The cam specs for your car on on this site under specifications section. I think your cam is stock is like 202/207 or something similar, I know the 89 L98 cam is like 207/213 with low .4xx lift. I don't believe the Lt1 cam is a good upgrade for the work involved since it seems to be very similar to the stock L98 cams, good upgrade for those with the "peanut cam"

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14.62@96mph headers, muffler, chip, ghetto stuff, duct tape
89 GTA 305 TPI 5 speed 3.42 gears

This is the cam that I'm getting fitted (87 LB9 auto IROC)as I write this. Hopefully I'll have it back together in the next 2 weeks, just waiting on my damn pistons!!!

Anyhoo. This cam will work fine with the 305, but I wouldn't recommend going any bigger unless you're wanting a bit of a rough idle. Idle will be rough at a cold start up but will smooth out after the motor warms up. I'm also using crane gold 1.6 RRs and fitting aluminum L98 heads along with 2800rpm 5 disc vigilante etc. I'm hoping for low 13s with the complete package-currently at 14.7@96. Also, the stock chip will work. However, the car wont be performing as good as it could with a custom burnt PROM.

Also, the specs for the cam you have are:

LB9 Auto:
duration@50 179/194
lift (1.5) 350/384
LSA 109
(190bhp@4000/295lbft@3200)

5sp/L98:
duration@50 202/207
lift (1.5) 404/415
LSA 114.5
(215bhp@4400/295lbft@3200) LB9
(225bhp@4400/330lbft@2800) L98

One more thing, this cam will work great with a supercharger which is what I'm preparing for next year.

Hope this helps and good luck with your car.

Rob

What about the same cam on a 350? I'm planning to use it as part of a TBI to TPI swap in my 90 Sierra.... Also I want to use Vortec heads but the base manifold is like $400 so what heads ould you reccomend?

Thanks,
Tim

hey i gotta 86 auto trans am, would thsi crane cam mentioned here work in mine good?

No it won't work in your '86, it's a roller cam. I'm sure they make a cam with similar specs for non-roller engines.

RMK I think you're nuts hoping for low 13s on stock L98 "vette" heads and a stock chip. High 13s yes, but I doubt low 13s. Maybe some traction will help though, both you and I should run quicker for our trap speeds. I'm doing the same combo pretty much, crane 2032 cam, home ported 305 heads, siamesed base, 1.6 roller rockers, ported edelbrock headers, 3" cut-out, I have a 5speed, so no torque converter. I'm hoping for 100-102 mph trap speeds, which should be high 13s for me maybe 14.0, I'd say you will need at least 106mph for low 13s w/o some serious suspension/driving mods. I can't wait to get this stuff done and post results, probably mid dec.

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14.62@96mph headers, muffler, chip, ghetto stuff, duct tape
89 GTA 305 TPI 5 speed 3.42 gears

So you "need" 106 to go mid 13's? I say no. You ran 14.6 @ 96. Not to knock your car, but my A4 car went 14.01 @ 95 - then 13.00 @ 103. It's not how fast you go, it's how fast you get there. I've seen many cars go mid 13's @ 99, it's all in the off-the-line hook.

Low 13's w/ a NA 305 do seem a bit overzealous, my guess is 13.70's.

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1986 IROC, fully loaded, Mini Ram'd 383, Art Carr 700R4, Accel DFI, 12 bolt rear, etc, etc......

We'll see what the thing runs when it's finished. I know, I know. I'm hoping for a lot with low 13s, but you have to have somethiung to aim for. My crap tire/non posi set-up doesn't help matters though. 13.5-13.7 is more realistic I admit. I'll post the results when it's finished though.

Also, for whoever was enquiring about the cam in a 350. Crane gained 18bhp when that cam was fitted into a stock 87 L98 motor.

RMK

Yea I managed to find the 104224 cam on ebay for $140!!! I sent the money order today....speaking of the L98 Vette heads how well do they flow?? Valve sizes? Exhaust runners?

Thanks alot,

-Timbo-

If you're building up a 350 there are a lot better heads out there that you can use. I'm using the L98 heads because I have a 305 and need the smaller valves.

What kind of heads do u think then? I originally wanted 2 use Vortec heads cuz I know how good they flow but then u have 2 get a $400 manifold....

-Timbo-

Wow a cam question about a 305 and not a 350 I have basically the same stock type setup and plan the same mods and this seems to be the best question and answer session I have seen on this forum. My 91 B4C has 145000 miles on the 305 TPI, 5 speed setup and hopefully will hold up to many more once I get it going again. My question is this: RMK mentioned using aluminum L98 heads......were there stock aluminum heads or do you mean aftermarket heads designed for a 350?

TIA
Brad

Hi I have a 89 corvette with the crane 3032 cam and i wish i went bigger. mine is a 350 with alumium heads. I think my stock cam had a 400 415 lift and a 114.5 lobe seperation. that came will probably go in my 89 rs 305 tbi.

Brad,

GM made the aluminul L98 heads for the corvette. They have relativley small valves and 58cc chambers. There isn't a great deal of choice out there head wise for people with the 305 and I wanted aluminum heads so these were it.

Regards

Rob

I mentioned the Vette aluminum heads.... I just want those for now till I'm ready to do more mods...then I'll go w/ AFR 195cc or 200cc alu. heads..... this is what I'm planning short-term... Crane 104224 cam, L98 Vette heads, 1.5 ratio rockers, TPI 88-92, Custom PROM, 1200-1500 stall, 3.73 posi.... I really want 2 find a used TBI harness cuz my 90 Sierra that I'm doing this to is TBI & I'd like 2 resale the TBI w/ the wiring harness