I'm looking into buying a new cam.

To start off, here is what im running. 1986 LG4 with the good ole T5 tranny. It's Edelbrock preformer intake, Edelbrock preformer carb (500cfm), Hooker shorty headers, Hooker Y pipe, Hooker super-competition cat-back exhaust, no cat, deleted air conditioning, and no emissions. Timing has been advanced a bit and I run premium gas at the pump. Emissions are no concern.

So, with that being said, what would be a good cam for my car? It's not daily driven car either. It does go to the track, so I'm looking for a cam thats gonna give me good preformance.
Thanks.
-Greg

 

May as well go with an edelbrock performer cam to match up with intake and carb and i would seriuosly try and find a bigger carb.

 

I'd like to go fuel injection with in a few years, so I wouldn't be up for buying a different carb. If I purchase a cam, do I need new lifters? How is the Comp Cam XE262H? I have heard this is an ok cam? What kind of gains am I looking at?

 

The edelbrock cam comes with lifters.

Depending on the cam you have and what your going to your probably looking around 20HP+

 

Would this be a good kit?

Also, how would this transfer over to a 350. Would it still be a good cam for a 350?Comp Cams Kit

Are there any other kits that have a similar price range? Would it be best to go with a whole kit like that?

 

I dont think it would be too bad of a cam, pretty pricey though.

Choosing a cam is kindof a hard thing to do, lots of things need to be considered. Do you want to rap your engine up to 7k to make power or would you rather make a little less power but down lower in the RPMs. Also depending whch cam you go with you could loose alot of vacume which will affect your brakes and anything else running off vac.

 

How do you like your Edelbrock Preformer cam?

 

At the moment i hate its guts...

Im having to use 30*+ initial advance and have nothing below 1725RPM. With some other TGO members suggestions we have come to the conclusion its most likely cam timing is off. I did use an OEM timing chain and gears so i wouldnt doubt it skipped a tooth, But am yet to pull the cover and check the timing.

 

That would be a great cam for your combo. It would run great, idle, good gas milage, and give a very noticable increase in power.

PLEASE do not get an Edelbrock cam. They are out dated, old tech, junk. And the Edelbrock cam doesn't "match" your combo any better than the cam you chose above. Edelbrock doesn't even make that cam.

-Tom

 

The old "Vette" cam would run real well in your engine. It is melling number C-410-P. It cost like $60.00 at autozone without lifters. Just ask for a 1978 corvette 350 cam with special high performance. That is what is going into my current 312 TBI. Peak HP @ 5,500, Peak torque around 3,500, good idle, good vacuum, and good durability. In the mid 70s with all the smog BS, a catalytic converter, detuned HEI, detuned Q-Jet, restrictive air intake, restrictive exhaust, cast iorn manifolds it still made 245 HP in a 8.5:1 350. Even with 45 cubes less, with your mods you will have some power.

 

Yeah, but for $89.99 you can get a better cam (Summit racing brand cam) WITH lifters. Even if you can get lifters from Autozone or where ever for $30.00, the Summit cam would still be better...IMO.

The COMP XE cam you picked is better than all of the cams suggested in this thread so far.

-Tom

 

i ran a performer cam in an almost stock 350 with 3:42s and it really worked great...idled great and pulled better than i thought it would. and i got it from a buddy for 50 bucks....was worth the try

 

The Mellings L82 is a much better cam than the summit cam. It will literally run circles around it. I used to have the 214* & 224* one. My L82 cam is 224* @ .050 intake, 224* @ .050 exhaust, 115* lobe center, .450" lift on the intake, .460" lift on the exhuast. Has a moderate acceleration rate that will last longer than most aftermarket grinds. The 115 degree lobe seperation will sacrifice a little mid-range power for a broader torque curve, more vacuum, better idle, and better fuel mileage. The L82 cam is one of the best I have found for a daily driven street machine. Then again why wouldn't it be. GM knew what they were doing when this cam was designed. It is a newer grind then the early 70s grinds that have been mentioned here. The XE262 is a good cam, but I feel with such a stock engine and your needs it will fall short.

 

Well, Im going to check into that Comp Cam kit then. I'd like to get the kit, as it never really hurts to replace 20 year old stock parts. I'll keep you guys posted on how it goes (prolly this spring).

BTW, how much horsepower do you guys think my cars got. It's got 100k miles and all the specs are in the original post.
Thanks for all the input.
-Greg

 

probably looking @ 300 at the flywheel with the new cam.

 

Really!? holy man. I figured right now I was at like 200 at the wheels.

 

well you do loose about 20% in drivtrain. So with 300fwhp you will only be putting around 240HP to the ground.

 

I'd be way pleased with that.

 

I have a question about the whole vacuum thing. Before I started my 383 build my car already had an aftermarket cam in it. To tell you the truth I do not know the specs. of the cam but it was an upgrade from stock but and it was still on the conservative side. Anyways the thing that got my attention was the brakes. My car would pull left if the brakes were applied. Do you think the problem is because of my cam?

84z28350 I know that you gave me some advice about a cam selection last week; you know the cam that I am interested in (comp cams 08-305-8). Do you think this cam will become an issue of vacuum pressure for me? And do you think my brake problem was because of vacuum pressure due to the cam.

 

No, low vacuum causes high pedal effort.

 

so the problem is probably within my brake system. And I am guessing when you said "no" you were talking about the cam that was in my car. Do you know if the cam that I want to get will create a vacuum and/or brake problem?

 

What are the specs on the cam you're looking at?

 

Comp Cams 08-305-8 (276HR-14)

RPM Range: 1800 to 5800
Advertised Duration: 276 in/ 290 ex
Duration @ .05: 220 in / 230 ex
Lift w/ 1.5 rockers: .51 in / .51 ex
Lobe sep.: 114*

 

Vacuum will probably be adequate.

 

Thats great news!! Well thanks for your help

 

Is this a good buy if i can get both for $350 or so? Would it help me make a lot more power? How are heads that are ported? Is it better just to get a good set of aftermarkets? Again, how would this setup work on a 350 if I decide to go that way in the future?

"$250 - Ported L98 heads. These are good heads. They have had a bowl job, and a radius. Stock valves, with LT4 valve train. Good for .550" lift. They need valve seals, but otherwise work and run great.

$150 - Lingenfelter 211/219 camshaft. Still in great condition with only about 2,000 miles on it."

BTW that cam is "Lingenfelter Camshafts L98, LT1, LT4 1987 - 1996 Tuned Port Injection - Hydraulic Roller" Will that work in my carbed 305?

 

Anyone got any thoughts?