I came across a great deal on a balanced and blueprinted 383 ('91 F-body block) used briefly for road racing. It has a really wimpy cam in it and I'd like something that takes advantage of the motor. I have to pass smog here in CA, and so far the recommendation has been the LPE 74211 or 74219 for this combo:

Dart II Sportsman Heads (not ported much)
Crower 1.5 roller rockers
Scat 383 cast steel crank (nitrided)
compression 10:1

The block already came with a TPIs Big Mouth intake - I want to go with, based on looking at other California fast 3rd gens...keeping this intake and going with the SR plenum and runners.

I know the 74211 will pass smog, have a friend who has a famous LPE 383 4th gen Camaro with this cam that passed with no problem and also laid down 12s with no problems. Will the 74219 pass smog?

This is for my 1991 Formula with a five speed and 3.42s. Yes I am planning on upgrading the tranny!

 

I assume you would be ok as long as all you smog equipment was intact I would run 2 good cats and obviously your air injection get it tuned well and not worry about it

 

Thanks Formula 350 (I bought a 1989 brand new - wish I had it back). It would be helpful to hear from a Californian running these cams though!

 

Not from Cali but it sounds like you will have a very stout motor! Good luck.

 

Thanks! I am looking forward to the "neck snapping torque!" I have decided pretty much on the 74211 cam as the idle quality is better and the torque is a bit better in the daily driver useable range.

 

James_85Z28 used that cam in his 350 and passed no problem.
Vincent uses a bigger Lunati cam, 226 on the intake side and passes smog and he also has a 350 (maybe 355, but it doesnt matter).
So, just get it properly tuned and you should have no problem at all passing smog, especially with a 383.

 

Cool, thanks for the info! Do you know if James has a dyno sheet he posted? I am just wondering if the 219 LPE cam will be sacrificing too much torque on the low end vs. the 211. This is a street car that will see an occasional demo lap for students on the road race track and hopefully some autox (pretty scarce in my area around Sacto). I am not into drag racing which I am sure the 219 would be my choice if I was.

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/sout...highlight=dyno

Your powerband would be shifted to the left because of the larger displacement engine.

 

Thanks bud! Spoke with LPE and the 219 is on the way!

 

The tune will be the biggest part of whether it passes or not.

My hotcammed 350 vortec setup passed cleaner than my stock GTA after tuning :-)

later
Jeremy

 

I think the tune is going to be great..I know one of the best in the USA, Big Jeff Creech. Can't remember the name of this shop at the moment, I believe he is in South Carolina.

 

Carolina Auto Masters in Durham, NC.

Carolina Auto Masters

Yep, Jeff's a great guy and has an awesome reputation as a tuner (and engine rebuilder and parts installer).