Here's my setup:

1989 5.7 Hydraulic Roller Cam 350
Headman Shorty Headers
Edelbrock Performer Intake Manifold
Edelbrock Performer 600 Carb
Underdrive Pulleys
2400 Stall Torque Converter in Built 700R4

With purchase of the cam I will also get matching lifters springs timing chain and all that good stuff. I just do not know what type of lift and duration I should be looking at. Essentially, I want a pretty rough idle but I will be using this car on the street so not too too aggressive. I know pretty much nothing about cams so I apologize for my ignorance, just need some help. If there's any other info related to the setup u need, just let me know.

Thanks in advance.

 

Why? That doesn't accomplish anything.

How much lift can your heads take? In other words, have the guides been cut down, or do you have to keep it under .480" or so?

If the guides have been cut so you can take more than .500" lift, then the Comp XR270HR would be a nice street performance cam that would match the rest of your combo.

Except the carb. It doesn't match anything. . .

 

hahaha very true.. step up to a holley 650 DP and an edelbrock RPM airgap.. and things will start to come alive rather quickly

 

I want a rough idle just cause I like the way it sounds, that's not a 100% necessity. Everyone I ask says something different about the carb and intake. Some ppl say that the edelbrock carb is good, others say to go with a demon or holley. As far as the intake, it usually varies with a dual plane vs. single plane. This kind of stuff is like Greek to me. I just want to make sure I do the right thing the first time rather than keep re-doing things. BTW, My heads are completely stock, they were not machined or anything.

 

you wouldnt want a "rough" idle on the street.. i have it and gas mileage is deep in the single digits.. around 6-8 depending on my driving.. use the cam that five7kid recommended, keep the intake and carb as those are easily changable.. see how you like the cam and modify at your discretion..

 

Are you willing to pull the heads? If so, have a machine shop cut the guides for positive-type stem seals (they should know what that means), have the rocker studs pinned so they won't pull out, and have the heads assembled with good springs.

With regard to the intake, about all you need to know is this: Dual plane = steetable; single plane = race-only. I would probably step up to the Performer RPM, it's a little better intake and would really hit the sweet-spot of the cam I recommended above. The idle will be noticeably not stock, but still easy on the street & wallet.

If you aren't going to race regularly, the Performer carb would probably be okay, I suppose.

 

perfect, just the info i need. Yes i have the heads off and I will ask the guy who is going to re-do them about the guides and the rocker studs. Thanks for all the info.

 

If your block is a roller block, and the cam that is in it now is really a roller, you don't need to replace the lifters.

The Edelbrock carb is just a Carter AFB. It's not really a performance carb. They can be made to run pretty good and all that, but all else being equal, a Holley or a Demon (if you accidentally get one that works right) will beat it. Which is not the same as saying that it's "no good" or "ditch it" or any of that, just, it's not the "best" for max power output.

However, a 600 is too small for a reasonably strong-running 350 with a dual-plane intake.

I'd suggest a Comp XR270HR cam also, a Holley 650 or 700 with mechanical secondaries (which will take some driving education but will outrun a demand-secondary carb every time), and a Performer RPM manifold. This will run best with a distributor set up for about 15-18° of advance at idle, about 18-20° of centrifugal advance set up for 34-36° at 3000 RPM and above, with the advance curve starting to come in at about 1200 RPM and all in by 2800 RPM. It will need 12-15° of vacuum advance on top of that. The carb will most likely want to be jetted 2-3 sizes leaner in the primaries than it comes out of the box, with about a 9.5 or 10.5 power valve.

 

Thanks, all that info really helps. What holley do you recommend, they make practically a 1000 different carbs. Also, why do you say I don't have to replace the lifters? Everyone i talked to says to replace them. The engine has about 103,000 miles on it.

 

Roller lifters basically don't wear out.

Flat ones are a different matter altogether. ANY time you put in a new cam, you need to replace those. Not so with rollers.

As far as Holley carbs, take a look at list # 6210.

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...HLY%2D0%2D6210