Earlier today I was surfing through the local Craigslist and found 2 complete cam/lifter sets for sale for a good price. I'm not sure how well they will work with my engine though, so I was hoping to get some quick advice on whether or not I should grab one or both. Right now, the engine is a basic 350 SBC with 9:1 compression, 416 heads that have a mild port job, and a Holley 650 vac secondary carb mated to a T5 with 3.73 gears. I have no idea what the brand/model of my current cam is, but its nothing special. I will eventually switch to TPI, but that's 2-3 years down the road at this point.

Current cam specs:
Lift
Int 405
Exh 416
Duration
Int 254
Exh 256
LSA 110

Here are the specs from the ad of the 2 cams I found for sale:

Cam 1
Comp Cams CL12-210-2 Cam and Lifter Kit - CS 268H
RPM range: 2,200 to 5,500 rpm
Duration at .050" lift: 218/218 (int/exh)
Valve lift with 1.5 rockers: .454"/.454" (int/exh)
Less than 500 miles on it

Cam 2
Competition Cams 280 Magnum
Duration at 050 inch Lift: 230 int./230 exh.
Advertised Duration: 280 int./280 exh.
Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.480 int./0.480 exh.
Lobe Separation (degrees): 110
Grind Number: CS 280H-10
Less than 2000 miles on it


I think either one will be an improvement over my current cam, but I'd like to get some advice from people who understand cams better than I do. I do plan on taking my digital calipers with me if I do get one of them so I can check the lobes for wear.

Thanks in advance for the input.

 

Never buy a used flat tappet cam without Cam Doctor card. Even then high risk.

 

Neither of those cams is really right for the application you describe. Wouldn't be even if they were new.

Since they're used, they're DOUBLE not right. Only an idiot would actually pay money for a used cam and hallucinate that it's going to actually work right in their own motor. Sure, it might; but the odds are .... not in your favor.

Whatever your hallucinations tell you you're going to "save" by buying a used cam, the REALITY is, if it isn't successful, it'll cost you the equivalent of about 12 NEW cams. How smart is that?Look on some other site. Summit & Jeg's might be good ones to start, but don't limit yourself.

CL is good for some things. Clearly this isn't one of them.

 

While I agree used flat tappet cams aren't the best choice, at $60 apiece(including the matched set of lifters) I was willing to take a chance on it.

The cam I'm currently using was purchased used on EBay, and has lasted 7k miles with no problems.

 

The only useful cam swap is to a roller conversion.Used flat cams surely leads you to the question why they are being sold?.

 

no way i'd consider using a used hyd flat tappet cam, unless it was something i didnt care much about. even if i did, i'd buy new lifters,...so wheres the savings? cam & lifter sets arent that much more new.

 

some people,sheesh!!! just because its cheeeep DOES NOT mean its GOOD enough !!

 

And some people can't afford to drop $200+ on a new cam & lifter set.

 

Really?? Care to post a link to a cam and lifter set that's "not much more" than $60? I haven't been able to find one.

 

I'd love to do a roller conversion, if it wouldn't cost me over $300 just for the lifters.

 

I would hold off on a cam swap. Save for new

 

bottom line. these cars cost money. after all it isn't a camry. you either are serious about it or .....go buy a civic

 

http://elgincams.com/campaper.html

http://www.pbm-erson.com/store.php?catId=327


OK.The secret is out now.PMB will grind you a custom cam to your combo cheap if you feel you need that.They are very workable company who really knows what they are doing.Their shelve stock cams are very reasonable too.

Read the first link and look at the on line catalog.Now you got the ammo in info to do what you want.Use it!!.

 

Bottom line is:ALL cars cost money. My point was "why should I pay $300 for a roller conversion when I can buy a good roller block for less than half that?" As for buying a civic, if I wanted to do that I wouldn't be on here. My brother is into the import stuff, and for what he spends on parts I could have bought an LSx/T56 combo and still had money left over. Imports are not cheaper, and don't handle as well. I'm not in this for drag racing, I just want a fun driver that can fly down twisty back roads. And I won't spend money on a part that doesn't need to be replaced. I am always on the lookout for cheap upgrades though, which is why I posted this question.

 

Thanks for posting something useful, instead of just repeating the "throw money at it" mantra of some people.

 

jegs has a new cam and lifter set for $110., in different grinds.
http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performan...00106/10002/-1

competition products sells a cam kit with cam, lifters, valvesprings, locks, seals, & lube for $150 and up in various grinds.
http://www.competitionproducts.com/E.../products/293/

i'm sure there's other deals out there. the choice is yours.

 

If you wanna go for it, cam 1 is what i'd go with

 

You can purchase the 268 cam new from Lunati for $31.24 plus shipping. They are blowing out their overstock and discontinued cams. http://www.lunatipower.com/News.aspx?id=109