CAM Swap
Joined: Sep 2005
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Re: CAM Swap
Same as any other small block Chevy.
Subject to, that it IS NOT the "first" thing you should do, yes. However there are other things that should be done BEFORE that, without which it will give you no benefit and might even slow the car down.
Absolute first thing, is exhaust. Every piece from the heads to the asphalt. Replace it with parts specific to the 3rd gen chassis (NOT "universal" or "custom"), BUT NOT for L03. Getting ANY PIECE that fits L03 will preserve the inherent bottleneck in that system, namely, the small Y-pipe size. Instead, get headers for something like a 88 350 TPI, and a good quality cat and cat-back of your choice. The headers ideally should be stainless and ceramic-coated, NOT the cheeeeeeeeepest thing you can find that it isn't illegal to print "headers" on the box.
Second thing, is heads. 305 TPI/carb heads are all you need. NOT 350 heads, not necessarily aftermarket. 081 casting is ideal, an absolute direct bolt-up. 416 or 601 is the next choice; they are a direct bolt-in except for they use the old-style valve covers and different rocker arms.
Once those things are taken care of as described, THEN AND ONLY THEN should a cam be considered.
Subject to, that it IS NOT the "first" thing you should do, yes. However there are other things that should be done BEFORE that, without which it will give you no benefit and might even slow the car down.
Absolute first thing, is exhaust. Every piece from the heads to the asphalt. Replace it with parts specific to the 3rd gen chassis (NOT "universal" or "custom"), BUT NOT for L03. Getting ANY PIECE that fits L03 will preserve the inherent bottleneck in that system, namely, the small Y-pipe size. Instead, get headers for something like a 88 350 TPI, and a good quality cat and cat-back of your choice. The headers ideally should be stainless and ceramic-coated, NOT the cheeeeeeeeepest thing you can find that it isn't illegal to print "headers" on the box.
Second thing, is heads. 305 TPI/carb heads are all you need. NOT 350 heads, not necessarily aftermarket. 081 casting is ideal, an absolute direct bolt-up. 416 or 601 is the next choice; they are a direct bolt-in except for they use the old-style valve covers and different rocker arms.
Once those things are taken care of as described, THEN AND ONLY THEN should a cam be considered.
Re: CAM Swap
Wow.. thank you for the great information! I guess I now have a good gameplan of where to start. I already planned on purchasing hedman headers and y pipe with a flowmaster muffler.
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