I posted a few weeks ago asking "where to buy/build a 350" in 2025. Had some good discussion, but I settled on having a machine shop build one for me. At first I was gonna assemble, but after lots of talking with this guy, really feeling like he knew his stuff and was a straight shooter, I'm just gonna have him build the whole long block. He's gonna supply the generic parts, but I'm gonna buy the cam, and 3rd gen specific pan. Having had good experiences with the hotcam, I wasn't against using it again. New, it's close to $600! Most of Comp's cams are over $500. Howards in the $400's. Summit has some that SEEM to be well regarded in the $200's. Just figured I'd ask where some of you guys are getting your cams. It's funny, but I feel like half the guys out there are very specific about the cams they run, others will throw any old stick in there and call it a day.

....just figured I'd open it up for discussion.

....also, I don't think I've posted a picture of the new ride. 86 Z, 305/auto with 140k on the clock. This is what the motor will be going in.

 

I got my roller for my 383 from Crower. Three years in and its doing good... I think i paid around 300 for mine IIRC. I can look at my build receipts later.

Lead time was excellent too despite being during the COVID dark ages...

 

I had mine custom cut from Comp. I emailed them and gave them the engine specs, vehicle specs, and what I wanted and was going to do. They send me their recommendation, and it was only a $30 upcharge over a stocked cam. I think all in I was just under $300. This was for a solid roller.

 

I'd be cautious going to anyone other than the main players. Cam Motion, Comp, Crower, Crane, Lunati, Edelbrock, get my vote. I wouldn't be surprised if the other main players have their sticks cut at one of these shops as a supplier.

 

We have used cams from DOUG HERBERTS. Great stuff there to choose from.

 

I've always gone with Comp or Crane, but Crane is no more

 

Appreciate the info guys. I'll probably reach out to a few places and see what they recommend, and what kinda pricing we're looking at.
Thanks,
Chris

 

That's what she said.....

I mean....that set up... How could I resist!!?

 

Without a doubt, I'd go with Jones Cams.
You'll get a 100% guarantee as to its country of origin (USA) and in addition to the quality, you'll get a specification that is customized to your needs.
They're also competitively priced compared to Comp or Crower through Summit. Great customer service too.

http://jonescams.com/custom-camshafts/

I filled out two or three cam recommendation forms and then followed up with a phone call. He also spec'd the valve springs needed.
​​​​​

 

With comp being 500+ id never buy them . They arent even billet. Damn near double in cost than what they used to be.

id run one of the summit stage 2-4 cams for 279 and if you wanted something different, spec a custom thru comp on a billet core or go through someone else like Jones maybe.
Tpis has a few decent shelf grinds i think are still 375 or so

 

Regarding Comp. What's up with that anyway?
Seeing their prices is what prompted me to go with Jones. (That and his solid reputation as well).
I'd never really considered the billet thing being a simple tame hydraulic roller spec is what I was after but getting billet for the same as the upper end of Summit's price listings (Comp and Crower as mentioned) was a bonus.
It did however cost an additional 100 bucks (US) for a distributor gear.

As for Summit, they've really opened up their offerings list. I do ask who makes their cams though? Where are the cores sourced and who grinds them?

 

COMP was bought out by a big corporation, the same that owns Holley, Edelbrock, MSD, and a bunch of others. They ain't what they used to be...

 

Yeah. It's been that way for a while now (2020). Plenty of equity firm buy ups going around.
I guess big business says to RAISE the prices. And while you're at it, skip the R&D. Just sell.

 

Yeah even billy godbold left comp

 

Agreed. This is what I went with for my new build also. Engine is still coming together so no hands on experience yet, but nothing but positive things to say about Mike. Good service, responsive, knows his stuff, and with the prices of the big manufacturers these days, the price is competitive.

That said, Comp does have occasional sales on theirs, and you can pick them up for $100+ off at Summit. If you can find a profile that fits your build and are ok with non-billet, maybe that would be an option. For the record, I think the size of those discounts shows you how much the markup has really increased.

 

I've used Summit cams, Herbert cam, Comp Cams, Lunati Cams, and Howard Cams they all worked and held up just fine. It's an antique SBC platform, no cutting edge technology coming down the pike for these engines. It's all pretty much been said and done. The big wildcard is lifters, that's where the failures people are having seem to come from.

 

While the platform is old, the technology does keep advancing. New lobe profiles are being developed and adapted. Sure, some grinds have been around forever. Witness Comps Magnum lobes. Other are new(er) such as their "Low Shock Technology" lobes released a few years ago.

https://www.enginelabs.com/engine-te...l-block-chevy/

Admittedly, the technology itself isn't new as stated in the link below.

https://www.speed-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=66278

However having brought it forward to the old school SBC architecture emphasizes the relevance that the old engine still has. It's not dead yet.

As for lifters, I'll agree that there's a lot going there. Very much a consumer needs to educated kind of thing.