qwank

I just bought a set of ZZ4 heads off of a forum member for my L-81. I'm thinking I might as well change the cam while I'm in there. So figuring I have the stock bottom end with dished pistons, 58cc chambers and a .028 head gasket, what would be a good cam. I need good vacuum since I'm still using the e4me carb.

A roller cam isn't in the budget just because I don't want to spend that much on this engine.

I'm using the stock aluminum intake, 1 5/8" long tube headers and side exhaust.

What I want: Torque

I'm thinking the comp 262HE or summit 1103 would work.

Any suggestions?

qwank

Almost forgot, Richmond 5 speed with 3.28 first and 2.87 rear gears

marz

I would go the Comp. How much lift does this cam have? Duration? I want a Thumpr cam in mine. I like the lumpity lump sound...old school.

SIXFOOTER

I would have to dig but I think that 262HE is the cam I put in my 81. How did you deal with the o2 sensor?

qwank

I'll post some cam specs tomorrow when I'm back on my computer (on my phone now)

I have a heated o2 sensor in the left collector. How do you like the cam? What heads are you using

augiedoggy

I vote for lunati voodoo 262 cam....when I compared the comp cam to it the lunati had a slight performance advantage and Harold (the guy who designed both this and supposedly the comp 262 ) stated it was a newer and improved design even over the comp 262xe which was much better than the old he.
I would not go thumpr, bad vacuum and terrible gas mileage for lower performance compared to almost all the other comparable grinds.... it does sound good though and works OK... just not great.

qwank

Thumper will not work with the CCC for sure, so that's out.
I read in a few places the xe cams had trouble with the lobes wiping out becuase of how aggressive are, it would be nice to go with a newer grind like that or the lunati though

augiedoggy

Many don't use the ideal springs or oil as well....I really think that's the main cause. In any case the lunati lobes are improved for that issue I believe... Its worth researching.

bluedawg

I ran the xe 262 h in my l48 with edelbrock aluminum heads and a wieand action plus worked pretty good, made 260 rwhp and didn't wipe a lobe. As others have stated the lunatic might be a better grind. Three things though:
1) have you ran a compression test?
2) what rear gear are you running?
3) if you do go forward with your project, do the math and get your compression up around 9.5 / 10 to 1.
Good luck on your project. Blue

augiedoggy

If the zz4 heads are iron then you have to walk a fine line with dcr and scr to prevent detonation. I know I had to watch it with my iron eagle dart heads. Some cams build and some bleed off compression.

bluedawg

My bad I thought the zz4 heads were aluminum. In that case keep the compression around 9 to 1. Don't count on gms 9 to 1.

qwank

They are aluminum

augiedoggy

I wasn't sure... that's why I said "if"....

marz

I had a Thumpr in my 75 and had plenty of vacuum. But, they are bad on gas. I was running over 400 hp and had plenty of torque. But, I did need better rear gears. I miss that car.

I tried a Lunati Voodoo cam...twice. Flattened the lobes at break in. My mechanic, who has built over 10,000 motors, said he had never seen anything like it. Unless Lunati has really improved their cams I would go elsewhere. He was a big advocate of the Crane Saturday Night Special. Good luck. Don't forget to read the threads on what to do and what not to do when installing a flat tappet cam ( if that is what you end up installing). They are extremely helpful.

qwank

that voodoo looks good except for marz saying he wiped out two of them on break in.
summit has it for a great price with lifters also.

i'll do a compression test soon , but I dont expect to see anything bad when I do. My car runs great right now, no issues, fires right up, never misfires, idles at 500 rpm without stalling. this is actually the best running carbed engine I've ever owned. I hate to tear it apart but I won't be happy until I get better heads and a cam in there.

If i used the compression calculator correctly, I should be at 9.5:1 with the heads and a 0.028 head gasket

wilcar

If you are at 9.o c.r. or so an Isky 264 mega cam would build good low speed cylinder pressure with its 108 lsa and still idle smoothly enough for your ccc qjet. I had a 76 l82 and used the 264 mega cam and the idle was pretty mild but throaty. I had a 85 trans am with a 5 speed and replaced the 305 with a 350 9.0 crate motor that had the 350 hp cam and I used the stock ccc qjet with no problems. I ran a 305 firebird with the stock ccc qjet and a comp 252 206-206 110 lsa cam and it had a smooth idle. I think the ccc carbs are much more forgiving with bigger cams compared to tbi or tpi engines. Some of the older design cams are easier on the valve train too.

qwank

all the stories online about wiped cam lobes have me scared and now I'm looking at something like this:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hrs-cl113215-10

although I think this might work better with my CCC

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hrs-cl110235-12

has anyone use this timing cover?

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/clo-9-221/overview/

scottyp99

You can probably get away with using a .015" gasket for better quench.

Scott

qwank

I was thinking about it but wasn't sure if it was a good idea with aluminum heads and an old block.

using a .015 would bump compression to 9.8:1

marz

Howard's makes a great roller. I used the Cloyes on my 95 Trans Am. Never any issues. I went with a roller on the ZZ383 I put in my Chevelle. No worries about wiping out cam lobes. But, flat tappet are way cheaper. If it is in your budget I would lean toward the roller.