I am building a new motor for my 1977 Vette. It currently runs a carbed 350 with a TH350. I'm building a TPI motor for it using the intakes and computer from a 1992 Camaro, along with it's serp system. Catch is I'm putting it in a 1973 SBC 400, with a retrofit roller setup. I understand some of you don't like the idea of drilling am grinding on a block, but I only paid $100 for the 400 block, and managed to get new V6 lifters for $50, 7.5" pushrods for $50, and the various other parts I need for under a $100. The only thing I haven't been able to pin down is a good cam to use with this motor. I understand I will have to have the ECU's chip burned to change the air and fuel ratios, but I need a cam and specs before I can send the chip off.
I am using a stock 400 crank, hyd. roller lifters, 1.5 roller rockers, and TPI from a 1992 Z28 with 24# injectors. I want to have a little grunt on the bottom end, but still not get winded at the top. I would like to use a stock roller cam of some kind from one of the SBC designed with them from the factory so they would be easy to find and cheap. Any thoughts and help is appreciated. Thanks a lot.

 

A LT1 camshaft can be picked up fairly cheap, alot of people used them, or a stock LT4 cam would be alittle bigger. Both would be fairly small in a 400 but if thats what you want. You could try to find an aftermarket cam that would fit your bill, and your power needs. Most stock hydraulic rollers are quite small, especially in a 400. If you are using a stock TPI setup, you are gonna run out of steam on top anyways.

 

Its going to be damn hard to get a chip for that motor from somebody far away... Definately not going to happen without some datalogs of the engine running... and you won't get the engine running without a custom chip.. I suggest that you spend the money that you would [wastefully] spend on someone making you a chip and purchase the equipment to burn chips yourself.. That engine will require MAJOR calibration changes, no way a outsourced custom chip will be right without sending it back and forth many times.

 

I found 3 cams, all from the same place, and at $80 each. I don't know if they are from a specific GM car or truck, or if they are an aftermarket grind, but I was hoping someone with a little more cam knowledge could inspect the specs and help me decide if one of the three would fit my needs based on what I have. Thanks. All 3 cams are at .050".
#1 206/210, lift .450"/.480", lobe sep. 109'
#2 208/221, lift .474"/.510", lobe sep. 109'
#3 218/228, lift .492"/.492", lobe sep. 109'

 

None of those cams are EFI friendly due to the tight LSA.
Another good choice for an inexpensive cam would be the ZZ4, although you could probabaly go with a hot cam if you wanted to with the 400, and still have good idle quality and vaccum.
ZZ4 cams are available on ebay all the time for about $120-$140

The ZZ4 cam is like the #2 cam shown above, only with 112deg LSA

 

EFI friendly meaning that they won't work at all well with the stock tuning... I'm running a comp roller with 206/212 duration .512"/.520" lift and 110 LSA with no problems... Granted, you need custom tuning..