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help me pick out a cam

kyle.rj133

kyle.rj133

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i have a 76 k10 pick up with a 350. the engine spun a bearing so i picked up a rebuilt engine out of a 69 camero with the same casting numbers and 4bolt main. the engine specs are completely stock im going to port and polish the heads.

i need help picking out a new cam for it. its a daily driver to get to school also weekend fun truck camping etc. i would like something thats good all around but a little better from a stock cam. the truck has 4inch lift with 35's
 
Im running a summit k1103 in my k5, seems to run good so far, granted ive only fired it in 30 seconds at a time because i still need to put the radiator and belts on. A k1102 is just a little bit smaller, and 90 for a complete cam/lifter kit is pretty good in my book.
 
Summit and Lunati both have standard cam lines that progressively go up in lift and duration. For lack of better words I would take a look at a "stage 2 or 3" cam from the summit or voodoo lines.
 
kylerj133 said:
i have a 76 k10 pick up with a 350. the engine spun a bearing so i picked up a rebuilt engine out of a 69 camero with the same casting numbers and 4bolt main. the engine specs are completely stock im going to port and polish the heads.

i need help picking out a new cam for it. its a daily driver to get to school also weekend fun truck camping etc. i would like something thats good all around but a little better from a stock cam. the truck has 4inch lift with 35's
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Have you verified this work? do you have reciepts of work done?
Is it from a reputable shop?
Do you have experience with porting?
I wouldn't polish the intakes, its a waste of time.
Do you know what the spring pressure is closed and open?
Depending on what cam you want to go with, the springs may need an upgrade to handle a higher lift cam.
I would try to shoot for a 260-268 duration, and 450-460 lift.
Do you have a cam dyno program for your computer?
I believe Comp Cams has one you can test cams specs on, and see how much your power profile moves in the RPM range.
 
kylerj133 said:
i picked up a rebuilt engine out of a 69 camero with the same casting numbers and 4bolt main. the engine specs are completely stock im going to port and polish the heads.
Click to expand...

If you have a bone stock engine from a 69 camaro, the valve seats will need to be replaced (machined for hardened seats) if they haven't been already or you will destroy them and suck a valve with unleaded fuel. Heads weren't made for unleaded fuel until mid way through 1971. Lead additive won't cut the mustard.

A for the cam, I agree with Zimmer, and I would get this one...

http://www.compcams.com/Company/CC/cam-specs/Details.aspx?csid=96&sb=2

with the correct valve springs and correct installed height and check clearances (coil bind, retainer clearance, piston-valve clearance, etc) while you have the heads off.
 
i should of gave more detail :doah: the 69 camaro engine is rebuilt, i went through it and put new gaskets. i think the bore is .020 over? need to check once the heads are off. the heads that are on it looks like they had a hole and someone tried welding it. i dont trust it.

the heads that im going to put on it are from the engine that spun a bearing (1976). they were rebuilt but probably 10-13 yrs ago. i was thinking about the valve seats and what they would run me to get them done?? for the porting and polishing never done it. reading alot about it. just thought it would be a good idea to get some better flow

the reason for the cam swap is because im putting it in the truck, i dont want to go way over board just something reasonable. i was also reading that i will need to get new lifters along with the cam?

is there a place were i can buy a good book about this kind of stuff?
 
anymore if you wana run sbc find a 87-95 block and swap a carb intake on it. then at the same time swap in the roller cam parts. its a basic bolt in.

free hp with roller cam and roller timing chain and rockers.

big advantage to roller cam now is the oil with no zinc will be fine with roller cam.

you can get stock lt1 350 roller cams cheep off chat forums . i scored a lt1 cam/roller lifters/spider and link bars for 100 shipped. and its bigger than tbi stock cam by .100 more lift if i recall but still super nice cam and comp friendly as it come from computer controled car.

.................................................................................

as to your orignal question pick a good bottom end cam that makes tourqe.

heavy vehicle needs tourqe and tourqe gets you rollin. hp keeps it rollin.

comp has some good 4x4 cams for just strong bottom end but work good to 5k or so.
 
sweetk30 said:
comp has some good 4x4 cams for just strong bottom end but work good to 5k or so.
Click to expand...

I've got one of Comp's 4x4 cams (12-235-2) in the 350 in my '73. Scott (4x4High) knows of some better grinds out there, but I've been real happy with this one.
 
whatever you decide, make sure you match your cam to the rpm range the motor will be operating at. that's the main problem with "bad" engine builds, that goes for the intake/carb setup as well. pay particular attention to the compression ratio, that's very important to the recipe. your gearing will play a big roll in how the whole "package" works for you too.
 
Right Bill....the combo has to be an engineered package to work the best....
Try to get a book called how to rebuild a SBC engine...



http://www.amazon.com/How-Rebuild-Your-Small-Block-Chevy/dp/1557880298

This would be a good first timers manual to rebuilding your engine.
THere is a sh!tton of knowledge out there when you start modifying things, and experience comes into play then.
Get your end goal nailed down, then keep asking here for advice, and we can help you get things figured out.
Heads will be one of the biggest contributors to power output, so money spent here is a great asset.
 
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