I have an 305 cc q-jet in my 89 bird and i have a new Edelbrock Performer RPM cam for it, ive heard people saying about the pressed factory studs on the heads should be replaced on other setups, should i replace mine also?

thanks

 

It wouldn't be a bad idea...

That's not a good cam choice at all for a LG4 with the computer carb. It will be very difficult to get it to behave. IMHO it's not a good cam choice for anything really, but it's particularly unsuited to a low-compression 305. A better choice would be either a Comp XE256 if it's an auto or XE262 if it's a stick or an auto with a 2400 RPM stall converter or higher.

You will definitely need to replace the valve springs, that's not really an option, you will be back working on that part of things early and often if you don't. IIRC the cam lift is high enough that unless you use larger diameter springs than 1.25", which will require machine work to upgrade the heads, you will definitely lose some of the pull-out studs; merely upgrading them to real ones by itself will only move the excessive loads created by the overstressed springs to some other component, it won't eliminate all reliability problems. But upgrading them is pretty much a necessity regardless.

 

what if i was to use a set of 350 interceptor heads w/ a complete new valve train rebuild, would the springs and such support the cam, i really want to use the edelbrock cam i got it off a friend for 10 bucks, brand new, he just used the lifters out of the kit so i have a brand new cam vs. 100 or so for another

 

I think the point is that the Performer RPM cam is more meant for a 350 and not a 305. The regular Performer cam is probably as large as you want for a mild 305.

And what are "350 interceptor heads"? Use the casting number to tell us what it is.

It isn't the heads that are the problem, it is the duration and lift of the cam that is too radical for the 305. It just won't run well at normal rpms on the street, i.e., it won't idle well unless it is set somewhere around 1000 rpm and to cope with that you need a looser torque converter, like RBL6983 said. If you had a stick it wouldn't matter as much. Moreover, the cam won't produce any significant power until you are at the 2000-2500 rpm mark, which is another reason you will need a looser torque converter, so you can get the engine into its powerband in a reasonable amount of time.

Try and sell the RPM cam to someone who could use a good deal for their 350 and then follow RBL6983's advice and grab a milder grind.

 

You got new lifters didn't you.?

 

yes, i have new lifters, rods, and rocker arms, new cam bearings are already in