batchik2

i want to install a better cam in my camaro before spring. i want to know what cam i should get. its goin into a sbc 350, and i would like to know if anyone know what the specs are for that cam. i was told the motor came out of an old k-5 blazer.

ME Leigh

I wouldn't go bigger the an XE-262 for those smog heads.

ede

you migth want to mention what you're going to do with it and what you already have other wise any information you get is pretty meaningless.

batchik2

its gonna be basicly my car to drive around on the weekends and i plan on taking it to the drag strip every friday, but mainly i want something good on the street and good on the strip.

ShiftyCapone

iTrader: (7)

What current mods do you have now. You cannot just put a new cam in unless there rest of your car is up to par. Do you have a full exhaust? Do you need more fuel? Can the stock heads take much lift? There are lots of things that should be addressed before a cam goes in.

batchik2

ok here we go:
its a '76 chevy 350 bored .030 over which makes it a 355. its got a 600 cfm holley, with the holley contender intake manifold. stock heads, long tube headders, TRUE dual exhaust, i have a freshly rebuilt 700r4 tranny with a B&M trans pak, and before it hits the road this spring im goin to install a new ring and pinion set (3.73:1). the car is a weekend cruser and i will be taking it to the strip quite a bit this summer. im just lookin for what cams people recomend and what specs people recomend (lift, duration, etc..). any input would be greatly apreciated

RB83L69

If it still has the stock 76 truck heads, they'll be the ultimate smogger crap, probably either 882 or 624 castings. Therefore, they have poor flow and very low compression.

I'd agree, don't go any bigger than the XE262. In fact the XE256 might be better for such a motor as that.

hydric

with your set-up, i'd worry more so about your heads than your cam

save up n get a nice set of heads (i see decent ones on ebay go for under 500 all the time, ported n polished also) then throw in a cam and you wont be sorry

batchik2

i just checked and i do have the 882 heads on that engine. i also have the origional 305 in my garage. and i recently did a valve job on them for an engines class i took in school. can i use those, ive heard of people doing that before. and if so, whats the best streetable cam for that.

RB83L69

Either that same cam (XE262H), or the next one bigger (XE268H)

F-BIRD'88

The 882's should be walked out to the curb for the morning trash.

Your 305 heads are a good choice for a budget upgrade. The chambers are smaller which will raise the compression ratio on your 350.
The 305 heads have smaller 1.84"intake valves.
You should take them back to school and install new
1.94" valves and home port them.
Then they will work nicely for ya.
We've found that a Crane Powermax 278H-2
works well with this combination. (With the 3.73's and ported 305 heads/350motor.)
You can look up the cam specs here.

Powermax H278-2

batchik2

i was lookin up the cam in jegs and in fine print it says for 278 degrees a 2500 stall cam is required, would the 272-2 still have a good amout of power because it keeps the rpm range at 1500-5800.

F-BIRD'88

The 278degree cam has enough low end torque to work
well with a stock converter ( as long as its not too low of a stall speed. (2000rpm is ok) A high(er) stall will allow the car to launch better of course ( if you have the traction) It will improve acceleration of either cam.

But....
As long as you have the rear gearing and the compression ratio up near 10:1 the 278 will work well for ya. The 272 degree cam makes good power too. yes it will have a little more low end torque.

use a Performer RPM intake manifold.

the 278 is the best overall. It has a good broad overall powerband and drives nice on the street.

If you're going to go to a higher stall then get a 3000+ stall converter (9.5- 10") a 2500stall will not give you enough additional launch torque to justify the $$$ spent

Getting the heads right has more effect to the success
of this build than the cam does.

The 882's suck, that your biggest bottleneck.
But you already own a good solution, your 305 heads.

Upgrade your 305 heads as discribed, use a thin head gasket if nessessary to get the cr up to spec , and use the 278 cam and 3.73's. you'll like it.

Does the 350 have dished pistons or flat tops?

What converter do you have now?

A small 110-150hp nitrous kit will give you much more bang for the $$$'s than a new converter will.
The Crane H-278-2 is very NOS friendly too.
just right for a daily driver (commuter) that will be bracket raced on the weekends.

batchik2

someone told me that i need to buy new pushrods too, if so why and what kind???