So I picked up a long block in great shape (only thing wrong I can find so far is a bent pushrod) for DIRT cheap. It came out of a 92 suburban. I'm assuming it's an LO5. From what I've seen in my research, since it's a truck motor and not out of a car, i'm thinking it's not a roller cam motor.

I'm swapping from the stock 305 TBI in my 89 firebird. I read the sticky posts and understand the basic necessities as far as ecm, sensors, injectors, etc. What I really can't seem to find solid info on is cam selection. Obviously there are infinate selections out there as far as lift/duration, etc. What I really need to know is what KIND of cam I need. Could I use a roller, will a hydraulic flat tappet work, is that what it has? This is my second build, the first was carb'd edelbrock performer package with the cam picked out for you in an '81 camaro with no regards to emissions equipment (or an exhaust system for that matter). This time I want to really plan a good solid build, on a VERY low budget.

Any pointers are appreciated, but the two specific questions I need answered are:

What type of cam should I use (roller, hyd. flat tappet, etc)

Should I use 1.6 rockers or stick with stocks?

Also, any specific cam hints would be helpful, such as a good used one to pick up (like if an LT1 will fit or something like that)

 

You can use a flat tappet cam, or a factory roller cam if you've got the machining done inside the block and you find the other parts you need.

 

You should reaize that those LO5 heads are the no-flowing swirl-port heads, and will make peak HP at 400o rpm, no matter what cam you add. They don't respond to pocket porting. I've done this, when I worked at a shop with a new SuperFlow 1020 flowbench.
Running this engine in place of your 305 is a simple matter of installation, plus a truck chip and the 350 injectors, or the Holley 670-cfm TB for the '92 350.
Then, your easiest route to more power, keeping TBI, is the vortec heads and GM's matching intake. www.sdparts.com offers a package to do this. The manifold is actually exactly very good.
Then, the 350 will actually respond when you get around to adding cam, headers and exhaust.
You could then get the RamJet 350 cam from GM, under $200 new, and reuse the roller lifters in your 305, the block is already machined for them, and see around 350 horses at 5000 rpm, which would put you in the 13s.
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Sorry to post twice.
Anyway, you can cam as big as you want, but this cam will love your current gearing, and I'd be surprised if you couldn't get 27 mpg at a steady 65 mph.

 

thanks for the tip man. I ran a desktop dyno with stock heads, HP manifolds and the ramjet roller cam w/ a 570 cfm TBI. Came up a shade over 300 hp but dead after like 4200 RPM. Vortech's are a little over 350 and with like 412 ft lbs with a HUGE area under the curve, looks like I'll be saving my pennies.

More good news, after more research and some block inspecting, my LO5 has the machining and tapping necessary to swap the roller stuff over from my 305. I'm pretty stoked about this now, things are falling into place for the swap like crazy, just picked up sweet deal on a flowmaster and 4th gen tips on craigslist (30 bucks!), now I just need my headers and Y pipe, cat, cam, 570 cfm TB, injectors, esc, knock sensor, ecm and open element air cleaner. All stuff I can junkyard crawl for one weekend at a time. Seems like here up north prices dip slightly in winter at the 'yards for 3rd gen stuff and they're less hesitant to let you go pull parts yourself.

Need opinions though, paint the block chevy orange, pontiac blue (is that cheating?) or gunmetal grey?

 

Earlier this year I helped my brother put a rebuilt 350 into his '92 Suburban. He gave me the shortblock (I left the heads for him to take to the scrap yard). It is machined for the roller lifter parts as well, but had a flat-tappet cam in it. My plan is to make a 383 out of it.