I got a 87 Trans Am with a 350 TPI 5-spd. I'm wondering if I should consider changing camshafts. I'm trying to locate a oil leak in the exhaust side and I'm planning on pulling the heads off so I thought it would be a good time to change it. The one I have installed in it was for my 305 TPI. It's a CompCams 08-300-8
specs are lift intake .480" exhaust .512 with 1.6 roller tip rockers Duration at .050 Intake .206 and exhaust .210 lobe separation 112. I'm thinking of the LT4 camshaft I can get one from work for $170.00. I'm going to install a Edelbrock TPI intake and have it ported or just get the TPIS one already ported when I start tearing it down and also have my Plenum ported. My heads are stock L98 iron Heads that have been ported, 3/8 screw in studs, and larger springs to handel the lift. I also have SLP Runners, #24 SVO injectors, Holley AFPR, Edelbrock 52mm Throttle Body, Hooker Headers and a Dynomax Exhaust system. Would the car run better with the LT4 cam or just keep what I have? I don't want to hurt the performance if the heads are not good enough for the LT4 cam. I'm not good at the camshaft selection and from what I've read if your heads can not handle it it will hurt performance. As for the computer I will get a custom chip as soon as I settle on what camshaft to run. Right now It's a Hypertech Chip for a 305. Sorry the post is so long I just wanted to give as much info to get some input on which one will work best. Thanks for your help. Jason

 

You've got a damn good cam in there now. You can't go up a whole lot with the 305 without starting to kill its bottom end torwue. The next step up in that series (266HR?) is about the limit. Personally, I think the LT4 cam would be too much for a 305 TPI, but I'm no expert.

How does it run, at top end and at bottom? Got any ETs or HP numbers or other cars to compare to? What torque converter are you running? Those would be clues as to which way to go.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

 

"87 Trans Am with a 350 TPI"

Anyway, that still is a pretty good cam for a 350. Personally I'd stick with it.

 

Duh!! The 305 comment was from elswhere in the post. My turn to overlook the obvious!

In that case, it's still an OK cam, but you could stand a step up. However the LT4 cam is not the thing IMHO if you're going to keep the TPI. The 266HR would be a better choice. Unfortunately, if you work where you can get the LT4 cam cheap, you probably have to pay what everybody else does for a 266HR... the same would apply in reverse no doubt.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

 

The LT4 cam is a little big for my car, so yes it would be way too much for a 305.

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1987 Chevy Camaro IROC-Z
L98 TPI 350 (5.7L)
TH 700R-4 Transmission
Borg Warner 7.75" 9 Bolt Rear End

Current Mods: LT4 Hot Cam, Comp Cams 1.6:1 Roller Rocker Arms, Edelbrock TES 1 5/8" Headers, Hooker 3" Aerochamber Cat-Back System, Gutted Catalytic Converter, Performance Resource Chip, Accel Ignition Coil, Cap, Rotor, 8.8mm Wires, K&N Filters, JET TPI Air Foil, Ported TPI Plenum and Base, All Free Mods, Falken ZIEX Z-Rated Tires.

Best ET (w/o LT4 cam): 14.32 @ 97.7mph
(corrected for elevation)

 

Look at the comp cams 08-305-8.
510 lift
220 intake @.050
230 exhaust @.050
114 lobe seperation

use 1.5 rockers to keep the heads from wearing out to soon.
I love this cam!!!!
Goodluck Mike

 

Is there such a difference with the LT4 cam and the LT4 hot cam?? Or did I mistake what I was told.