I am wanting to get a little more "umph" out of my camaro. It is a built 350...see sig for details.

So first off I am wanting to go with comp cam. If I had to guess, the highlift cam I have now is a mid-range, from the slight lope of the engine.

What do you YOU suggest for power/torque. From your experience. I am pretty much unconcerned about gas mileage or emissions.

If I go with a comp cam it's only reasonable I need better roller rockers and springs? Correct? Suggestions?

I am pretty sure that I have vortec headers, thats what they look like at least. Would it be worth getting shortys? I am about to have my exhaust re-run. So now would be the time to mess with headers if I am going to.

Any thoughts suggestions are appreciated.

 

Do you mean, "Vortec heads"?

It would be wise to know whether or not you have "Vortec" heads. Center bolt valve covers do not Vortec heads make.

 

Wait... Say that again.

 

I can take the valve covers off and check the stamp on the heads, but I am 98% sure they are vortec heads

 

How many bolts hold your intake onto your engine? 12? 8?

 

Would have to check... At work now.


What's are we going to know from that? Interested to know.

 

wether or not you have vortec heads.

 

That's a confirmed 8 bolts.

 

So you have Vortec heads.
Cam / valve lift choices are limited unless you do mods or fit different springs to the heads
( assuming you have stock Vortec heads )

 

Ok. How so? I have ZERO knowledge of cams and valves. What are you guys with vortec heads running?

 

You're stuck with cams below .450 lift to be safe. No decent aftermarket cam is gonna be lower than that.

Better springs can help, but the retainer hits the valve guide, and that's the main issue that limits lift.

You can have the valve seats machined along with the valve guides and run a decent valve spring and any cam you want... Or...

You can buy beehive springs, like the 26918 from Comp. They fit factory vortec spring pockets. They use smaller retainers that give you a good deal more clearance. Note that those are LSx replacement springs, so you can actually use springs from any LS engine. LS3 yellow springs are a decent alternative if your cam isnt too large. The seat pressure is a little low for medium sized roller cams, but medium sized flat tappet cams usually need a spring right in that range, and those LS3 springs are 1/3 the price of the Comp springs.

Anyway, I dont know what a "high-lift" cam is... You may well be causing minor damage right now if the lift is high enough and you or whoever set up your heads didnt take measures to prevent that from happening.

You need to find out if you have a roller cam or a flat tappet cam.

You already have 3.42's and a manual (that will probably break behind serious power, but just dont do anything super harsh on it and it'll probably be fine until you can afford either another T5 or a T56) so you dont have to worry about gears and a stall converter.

 

So if I wanted to run this...

Cam..
http://www.compperformancegroupstore...Code=RLERCAMXE

Springs..
http://www.compperformancegroupstore...Category_Code=

I would need to get my heads machined... correct?

So do I need new rocker vavles? Or just replace the springs?

In all honesty money really isn't an issue. I want this project to probably stay under $1000 though.

 

OR what if I were to just ditch the vortec heads and go with something like the Edlebrock Performer RPM heads? That would allow for a maximum .575 lift

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-60899/?rtype=7