I have a fresh set of "performance alu heads", equipped with springs to handle 0.600" lift from a hydraulic roller cam
Seat pressure closed 145 lbs
Open @ .600 lift 325 lbs

But, I have no intention to change cam from the stock 1991 tpi 350 cam, which should be the 10111773 with .441/.457 lift with 1.6 rockers (which I will use). So, safe to say I have a good margin until coil bind. I have more-than-enough spring for my cam and the question is: what will go south first, if anything? Will I stretch the timing chain, grind cam lobes or what? In my head everything should be fine.....but my head is not to be trusted.
Will everything be ok?

 

Nothing will be stressed. It's fine.

 

Great to read @sofakingdom ! I tend to stick for the worst possible scenario as the truth in everything I do to the car and it takes the fun out of it. Now I'm longing to tear it down (again)

 

Should be fine. You changing lifters or reusing?

 

Reusing. The engine was rebuilt 3000 miles ago by the previous owner. I don't know what stuff was changed but he was extremely picky about everything being stock.

Edit: checking old pictures from the rebuild (sent by the guy I bought it from) I have at least a double roller chain and new bearings, including cam bearings. But....do I have the stock cam or some stock-type comp cams. I really don't know? Anyway, the car behaves like stock. Real strong 800-5000 rpm

 

Sounds like something was done to it. I thought a stock L98 choked out at 4500 rpm?

 

Well, when I got the car I put a SuperRam and Dyno Don headers on it. Better heads are the last piece of the puzzle, until that puzzle means a new cam. I really don't wanna mess with a new converter so if I'd change cam it'd be something close to stock anyways. Let's just say my quest is optimizing the stock camshaft

 

Is that why you are changing to 1.6 rockers, to get more out of the stock cam? Sounds like you are unsure which cam you have, you mentioned a comp cam?

 

Changing from stamped steel to full rollers was the first thing I did when I got the car three years ago, three moths later I bought a Super Ram and headers, following year I bought the heads but decided not to go with them until I had them checked - and now they are checked and ready to go.

Yes, I am unsure about the cam but it certainly feels like stock performance rpm-wise.
About the uncertainty - It just seems strange to spend thousands on a complete rebuild, change all the bearings, put new valves and springs in the original cast iron heads (new lifters and pushrods btw) and then put the old cam in. Not that the previous owner was interested in high rpm but I can not be sure it's an original GM cam since most of the other stuff was new. It would be much harder to find one of those original cams instead of going with a mild comp cams (or other), especially over here in Europe. It would be cool to know whats in there but not so cool that I wanna remove the waterpump, damper, cover and chain especially in my sorry excuse for a garage.

 

Ok, measured the lobe lift with a dial indicator and came up with .420/.430 (with 1,5 rockers). Will measure some more tomorrow. First time ever doing this so I need some practice.

Also reading old mails from the seller where he tells me the cam is new, which sounds logic since bearings, lifters, chain etc. are new. I looked at Rock Auto and suspect the Melling ccs40

 

Pulled the cam today. It was a stock CPC 773, possibly the original, which now is being replaced with a summit 8800. Will probably still feel about the same. Maybe a little bit stronger midrange.

Next headache will be reinstalling the timing chain cover. I have a one piece pan gasket (which I intend to re-use) and a pan brace. I see a lot of oh-$hit-I-give-up coming my way.

 

I was just going to suggest trying the Summit 8800 cam.