hey guys, just curious what everyones general idea of a point of no return is on this.. i got about 160k on my motor, and thinking a cam swap will be risky... its an auto with 273 gears, compression is pretty good and all... so is the leak down... But that doesn't really tell me how decent the bearing are and i am not gonna rip the motor apart to changfe bearings!

Steve

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86 Firebird, LG4, t-tops, 2.73 open rear, SLP 3 inch cat back exhaust, catco cat.

Gonna be sellin the 86 in the spring to hopefully get an 88-92 formula 350, and supercharge it!! (amoung some other sweet mods)

My Webpage- Battle of the birds, My own Thirdgen Page, still under construction, http://www.geocities.com/soares711/index.htm

88 Firebird Formula- deseased 2/9/99- 305 TPI, SLP 3 inch exhaust, SLP Intake runners, SLP cam, 3.45 BW disc brake posi, WS6, NOS, and all that good stuff, 13.8 on the motor, 12.89 on NOS and slicks! Hit by what else!?!? a FORD EXPLORER!!!!!!

 

The biggest concern you will have is your bolts and the connecting rods. This is because you'll be pulling higher rpms and it is those two parts that seem to give at higher rpms.

Obviously, if you "revver up" a lot, then your bearings and rings will probably wear out quicker. But none of these is caused by the cam by itself. It is strictly due to pulling higher rpms and more frequently. You could cause your engine to to "give up the ghost" by not changing the cam and just "hot rodding" it a lot.

So I wouldn't worry too much about changing the cam (unless you are planning on 400+ HP), it will be the rpms you pull and how often you use your new found power.

However, your tranny and rear end may have something to say about this.

 

Oh, also consider changing your valve springs. On an old engine, even adding just 1.6 RRs may be enough to have them fatigue on you. Those are more likely to give than anything in your bottom end.

 

well its an lg4 and all it would be getting is freash heads and headers and a cam, but i decided against it... i might have a 87 gta with a 350 that needs some help falling into my hands.. anyways, my main concern was that with that many miles and run time, that the cam bearing tolerances would be way too large for what is really needed, therefore causing a knock or chatter of sorts... since i doubt anymore than 275 hp woulda come outta this combo the bottom end would be fine... this would have been a freashen up, but we will see...

Steve