Yeah, I know, I want it all - I want a cam that's good for my daily driver, but plan on adding an intake and maybe Vortec heads eventually...but don't want to sacrifice gas mileage, that's really important - but I also want a cam that can really open up my LO3 - Summit's are cheap - what would you recommend? Thanks. Also - I'm not as much a high RPM kind of guy...my LO3 pulls best from 'bout 2500 to 3500 - but I do suppose that's because of the cam, etc...whatever you think.

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'89 RS LO3- 140,000 miles
14x3 K&N Open Element
Ram Heavy Duty clutch
Edelbrock TES (Jet-hot coated)
Catco cat
Edelbrock 3" Cat-back
Pioneer DEH-P77
Dual .50 caliber machine guns just under ground effects

Coming:
KYB shocks
Edelbrock Strut Tower Brace
South Side Machine subframe connectors

When your buddy reaches for a 10-pound sledge and says "I think we're gonna have to modify the floor pan, okay?" the answer is NO.

 

Come on, somebody please...

 

If you are using the stock heads w/ stock springs, go with K1102 or maybe the K1103. Using my trusty Desktop Dyno2000, The K1103 is only gonna be worth around 10-12 hp at 5000rpms, but you'll lose about 10-12lb.ft in torque at 3000rpms. If your looking for gas milage then I doubt that you'll see much of the 5000rpm range. Besides, the TBI (which I assume you have) will choke about there anyway. That and torque is what snaps your neck back anyway.

I have about the same cam as the K1103, but from SSI. I am putting in a 350 and keeping the TBI. I can get away with the larger cam because the 350 alone is worth about 30-40lb.ft of torque over the 305 with the same cam.

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92 RS w/t-tops 305 TBI Auto.
170K miles and don't burn a drop o'oil
-K&N Truck filter #1500 w, open ele.
air cleaner
-Dynomax 2 1/2" cat-back
-B&M TransPak
-Jet Stage2 Chip
-180* T-Stat w/ 185* Fan Switch
-JVC CD--Alpine speakers & 4ch. amp
Rockford 2ch. to 2 MTX 12" subs

 

OHHH!! Keep in mind that the factory cam is a roller cam. If you are gonna switch to hyd. then you're gonna need new pushrods, dist. gear, and maybe timing chain and gears (which sould always be replaced after a cam swap anyway.) Talk to Summit. They'll tell you everything you need to do.

 

Thanks for plugging the numbers for me...upon additional though (I know, two in one month) I'm considering the Edelbrock TBI 305/350 manifold/cam combo. Could you possibly throw those into ol' Desktop Dyno for me? And I may add Vortec heads or something later..thanks a bunch! Other crap's in my sig...

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'89 RS LO3- 140,000 miles
14x3 K&N Open Element
Ram Heavy Duty clutch
Edelbrock TES (Jet-hot coated)
Catco cat
Edelbrock 3" Cat-back
Pioneer DEH-P77
Dual .50 caliber machine guns just under ground effects

Coming:
KYB shocks
Edelbrock Strut Tower Brace
South Side Machine subframe connectors

When your buddy reaches for a 10-pound sledge and says "I think we're gonna have to modify the floor pan, okay?" the answer is NO.

 

Well, unfortunately I can't put in specific intakes except for dual plane, single, TPI, forced induction, individual runners, or sequential fire. That's all that program allows. But it does figure optimum intake flow as it's baseline. I'm sure the Edelbrock is better than the stock one. With carbs, you can look at around 10-15hp gain with an Edelbrock intake over stock. I dunno about TBI.

As far as the Vortec heads, I have read that they are usually worth about 30hp more than stock GM iron heads on a 350 (except the LT1 heads, but we can't run those on our blocks. Reverse cooling system you know). I do have the flow #s for the Vortecs. Those heads are really stout in the low end torque range. On a 305 you should gain about 15-20hp, again depending on the cam.

 

OOPPS,
About the cam. Usually Edelbrock cams are pretty good, just not real agressive. Is it a roller cam? If it is and it's pretty cheap, jump on it. You may want to stick to your guns though and go with the Summit cam. It all depends on your wallet. Lord knows we all wanna run 10 second et's and get 25 mpg. But that takes a lot o' money. Probably takes two cars!! LOL!!

 

NO kidding about the 2 cars...anyway, I think I'm going to go with your recommendation...Edelbrock TBI intake and Summit cam...but what cam should I go with? Is the 214 the magic number to go with the TBI intake? Thanks...

 

Baron, as fare as using a flat tappet cam you are goimg to run into a lot of extra expenses, and as fare as the vortec heads go you'll have to change intake manifold again to match them. I would consider a L98, LT1 or LT4 cam, you can usualy find a used one in great shape for less than the Summit cam and keep your stock roller lifters and change nothing else in the valve train, inculding the distributor gear. Hope this helps some.

Steve

 

Good point Steve.

Baron, Steve is right. You have to try and plan for future mods that you are going to do. I am building a 355 right now that has been in the making for about 2yrs. Just 'cause I can't make up my damn mind. "Do I wanna go radical or conservative. Do I wanna drive the car to work and the strip, or tow it to the strip only."

The Vortec heads are a great starting ground, but keep in mind the money you're gonna lose by having to buy another intake for them, after you just bought one. I think Jim Pace Performance Parts has a kit for the Vortecs. About 700 bills. Intake, gaskets, heads of course, all bolts, and rocker arms. I'm not sure what else. Check that out though. That and for about 40-50 bucks, you can buy an adapter plate from Holley or www.TurboCity.com to run a TB on a Carb intake. Or Pace has a TBI intake for the Vortecs. See what it would cost to switch them.
www.paceparts.com

 

Okay, thanks to you fellas, I've been doing some more thinking and planning; please tell me your opinions on this setup:

World 305 heads
LT1 cam
Edelbrock TBI intake

Is this smog-legal? Sensible? Worth it? Any idea what kind of power would be produced? This IS my daily driver...thanks again! And...if I was going to do the cam first, would I have to replace springs too? What other "hidden" expenses are awaiting me for a cam swap only?


------------------
'89 RS LO3- 140,000 miles
14x3 K&N Open Element
Ram Heavy Duty clutch
Edelbrock TES (Jet-hot coated)
Catco cat
Edelbrock 3" Cat-back
Pioneer DEH-P77
Dual .50 caliber machine guns just under ground effects

Coming:
KYB shocks
Edelbrock Strut Tower Brace
South Side Machine subframe connectors

When your buddy reaches for a 10-pound sledge and says "I think we're gonna have to modify the floor pan, okay?" the answer is NO.