Would i fare better swapping out the peanut cam for a 350TPI cam or LT1 cam?

The engine is a 91 305TPI with 80,000 miles on it..... and the car is automatic.

 

Do yourself a favor. Check the lift first and see if its really a peanut cam or not. All you need to do that is pull a valve cover, and turn the engine over by hand. Careful measurement with a good ruler will be close enough. I'd loosen up one of the rockers just to be sure the lifter isnt getting forced shut by the valvespring.

I have a 91 engine thats supposed to be a peanut cammed engine according to all reliable sources, and its not, its the bigger one. I have a sneaking suspicion that they didnt use the peanut cam after 90 or 91.

 

That's probably true. I've heard from numerous sources that GM quit using the peanut cam when they changed from MAF to speed density. Originally, that is prior to '90, the only 305s that got the L98 cams were the ones in stick cars with dual cats.

 

Whats a "peanut cam"? I've heard the term before, but I don't know what you guys mean.

 

some good ideas. Pull the drivers' side valve cover. it's the easiest.

 

the peanut cam is a profile of cam that GM put into most of the 305s that were made between I think 86 and 89 or so.
the bad thing about it is that the lift numbers are around .380 inches of lift while a healthy aftermarket cam is over .500
the duration is also very small and if you want serious performance out of your 305 (260+ HP at over 5000RPM) you will need to get rid of the "PEANUT"!

 

My friend Ryan gave me the best description I've ever heard of the peanut cam, he called it a warped rod, LOL. I was almost rolling on the floor.