i have an 86 z-28. i just swapped in a 350 with a 4bbl carb. the carb is a rebuilt quadrajet. the 350 was initially fuel injected.(took the engine out of a 89-90 corvette) so the torque in the motor sucks now. it has aluminum heads and an edelbrock aluminum performer series manifold(dual-plane) i do have headers and a full 3" exhaust. anyone recommend a cam for me? it is a 5 speed manual car. looking for power and low end torque. a nice idel would be good but not necessary. dont want a really rough idel though. any help would be great.

 

I am surpised to hear that you lost torque in your swap. I performed the same exact swap and I had absolutely no problem with torque loss. It should be roughly equal to TPI at the torque peak, and only slightly softer at very low rpm (2000 or so), probably maxing out at 350lbs or so.

I think you have a tuning issue with your car - timing and fuel. I super tuned my car on an a/f meter and it picked up even more bottom end, probably even more than the stock TPI gave the motor originally. Tune it before making any decisions about purchasing anything.

As for cams for torque, the ZZ4 crate motor cam is a good one, especially considering the price and the apprx 50lbs of tq it gives vs the stock TPI cam. I have seen take-outs for $50 at some big chevy parts dealers. You will need to get a timing chain ($75), gaskets, and a few other items. It is a lot of labor to do in a vehicle and may not be worth the hastle without a head & intake swap.

 

The LT4 hot cam has a nice torque curve. I'm sure that would work well in that engine. What gears do you have?

 

first off i should say that the car is a carn car right now and not fuel injected. thats why when i did the swap the torque sucked because a cam in a FI car; the lobes are ground down alot to compensate for the long intake runners.

anyway. the car has 2.73 rear end gears.
this is also why i want a cam to compensate for the long gears.
i really want a cam to get back my torque and get more power.
i do plan running the car at the strip, but i also want to drive it to school. please help.

 

on the ZZ4 cam, u need a new timing chain set up? i just got a ZZ4 cam from a performanc shop for 125, and i wounderd what i needed for a smooth intstall.. i wana know what other parts other then gaskets i need... do my heads need to be milled for bigger valve springs cause of the bigger cam? thanks

 

okAY SO EVERYONE RECOMMENDS A ZZ4 CAM? FOR MY APPLICATION?

A 350 4 BOLT
ALUMINUM HEADS
HEADERS/FULL 3" EXHAUST
CARBURATED QUADRAJET

EVERYONE AGREE?
WHAT ARE THE SPECS ON THIS CAM?
WILL THIS GIVE GREAT ACCELERATION? THIS IS WHAT I WANT
HOW FAST CAN I GET TO 100MPH

 

ahhh! i cant tell if ur yelling, or just forgot to hit the caps lock off... yea... but a ZZ4 is a roller cam... make sure u have a roller block, or ur gunna have to retrofit some stuff

 

is there a way to tell if i have a roller block without takin it out or takin it apart?

 

id check into something like the 270h comp grind, looking at about 224 intake dur @.050. .470 lift
or maybe a 280h, on the bigger side. 230 intake dur @ .050 .480 lift

both are good torquey cams. or call comp, they can be very helpful over the phone, especially if youre looking for something special.

adam

 

yea... what year is your car, and look at ur valve covers... if there centerbolt valve covers, then u got a roller cam, if there perimiter valve covers, then u got whatever.. flat tappet cam...anyway.. 87 and up had rollers, and 86 and down had flat tappet hope that helps

 

okay i now know i have a roller cam because of the center bolt valve covers. now

"onebadwagon" id check into something like the 270h comp grind, looking at about 224 intake dur @.050. .470 lift
or maybe a 280h, on the bigger side. 230 intake dur @ .050 .480 lift

will either of these cams increase my ability to get to 60 or 100 quicker? or are they just for torque. but remember i need enough vaccum for brakes and so forth. more recommendations please.

thanks to all that have already relpied.
oh and how much are these cams?