cheapstreetduster

need a hydraulic flat tappit cam for a 66 327 with slightly ported factory iron heads . the stock 2x4 intake, with 2.5" ram horn manifolds. 4spd with 3.31 gear and 27" tire.
looking for the best torque i can get in low and midrandge. Something that optimizes this combo. sound would be nice but i basically want to avoid all the issues that big cams create.
something to avoid the lugging or chugging when pulling in parking lots. or low speed in higher gears... in a 61 vette

cheapstreetduster

i want something better than stock. something that takes advantage of the newest technology and been dialed in.
a very close to stock vette.. but want as much performance and torque as i can get with in the limitations of this combination. basically optimize this combination..

tbarb

From your description of use and gearing I would use the stock 300hp camshaft, it's got great torque and nice street manners. If you want the latest technology look at the roller camshaft but to install in a older motor requires some retrofit so be careful.

Nowhere Man

You can’t go wrong with the factory 65-67 L79 cam or the 69-72 L46 350/350 cam. Both made by Sealed Power

Drothgeb

In addition to the cams above, look into the Lunati Voodoo 256/262, Voodoo 262/268 or Comp XE-256, XE-262. I was leaning toward the Voodoo 262 (10120702) until I decided to go roller. It has good low torque and just a touch of lope.

Keep an eye on your DCR too. The L79 and similar cams require higher compression pistons than some of the other choices. If you have flat top pistons, something like the Voodoo 262 would be a good choice.

Jackfit

Hi,

Comp cam 256 is a great cam.....in my l-79 it allows great idle at 750-800 and produces great torque at 3,600 rpms.....

I have traveled all over the world with my car....and had no problems keeping up on highways under 105 mph and with my M-20 , could accelerate very well....and this is on an original engine with over 300,000 miles.....put this cam in 73,000 miles ago...(6 years) ago

I was able to run any kind of gas from 85 to 93 ,,,,

Jack

Mike C#2

I’m not a fan of the XE series cams as I think they are much harder on lifters and springs. They seem to have a higher failure rate than the less aggressive ramp profiles of the older designs.

I like the Comp 270 Magnum cam or the just smaller Comp 268 High Energy cam. Especially if you have done exhaust port work on the heads as SBC don’t need split pattern cams IME.

The Comp 270 is similar to the L79 cam with a little tighter lobe center so either one of those would be ideal in my mind.

SWCDuke

Either the OE "300 HP" camshaft (Sealed Power CS-74) or the McCagh Special if your heads meet the required flow characteristics, particularly the E/I flow ratio.

Search for threads started by me and download and read the "Tale of Two Camshafts" pdf. It has all the details.

Either cam will have a smooth idle, 500 @ 18" and stump pulling low end torque, but the McCagh Special will make more top end power and revs if the head flow is in the required ballpark.

Duke

MikeM

The factory L 79 cam will satisfy all this. Not optimum for lugging but it will still pull way down low in the rpm range. No problems with lengevity or tearing up the valve train. Sounds good. Relatively cheap.

I suggest this because the rest of your build isn't exactly consistent with your specified target here.

Besides, a Corvette should sound like a Corvette and not like a farm tractor.

R66

What 4 spd? M20? M21? or BW.

What are your normal driving habits? Mostly cruise around town or cruise on the highway?
Street racing? Drag racing? etc. Cruising RPM? Is gas mileage a concern?

Most good cam manufacturers have a formula to put in your data and to calculate which cam you would be happy with. I would use their sites to get close to what I want and then come back to the forum to hear the reviews for other owners of the cams you select.

I'm thinking your dual quads may be a little more than you need, but they may be perfect for cruising at Daytona.

cheapstreetduster

its a stock appearing 61 vette.. i mention'd the combo because thats what it is .. I dont want to build/change the whole car.. just get a sound modern cam that will out perform the stock cam.. Its a street car , parade car my father is 70 yrs old his max speed days are past him.. It has 4"wide white walls.. i just need it to run with the best torque i can make. dont want to machine the short block for rollers so unless there is a drop in H/roller then its not for me. He has buddies with similar vettes.. he will want to keep up during some of their shenanigans.. i am sure.. so i dont want him disappointed with this redo

i was really looking for some guys with experience.. meaning ive owned similar vettes or similar combos..and "i swear by this cam".".try it youll love it " and here is why sort of thing.
Motor is out and being torn down , just to clean up a valve job. and reseal/gasket it so it no longer leeks then clean it up cosmetically.
I might as well put in the best cam i can.. based on experience.
I have lots of experience with mopars..to the degree if someone asked me about a cam for one i could give them opinions on all of my experience with the multiple combo's i have used over the yrs..
looking for some info like this for this chevy cam choice.

cheapstreetduster

3831704 on case where does it identify m20 or m21

cheapstreetduster

frankly the old man just said to me...."No,, just put a solid cam in it!! .. i aint gonna drive too much that adjusting them will be a big deal"
so now throw in solid flat tappet into this mix. lol
he said " see if the old 098 duntov solid flat tappit is still a hot ticket ? "

MikeM

You've been given advice by people that have done this. Now, you bring up the different can.

I have the Duntov cam in my '63. 3.36 rear, wide ratio, FI. You can pull it down to 10 mph in high gear and mat the gas pedal and it will pull away seemlessly without downshifting. Similar characteristics to the L 79 cam mentioned above.

65tripleblack

What the hell is your static compression ratio? Stick a bore scope in a cylinder and report back whether you have domed or flat pistons. Stick a feeler gauge between the engine pad and the head and measure the gasket installed thickness.

People are recommending cams without knowing the SCR. If you have domed pistons and stick a 929 (327/300) cam in there your engine will detonate itself to death and will sound like a diesel.

cheapstreetduster

hang on,,.. i just got the motor into my garage....
have barely cleaned up my tools and the garage floor.
..ill get the heads off and report back on compression ratio...
right now this is just a thought process.. some conversation......kicking tires...no need to assume i am an amateur or need to be taught a lesson. as far as i know it should be a stock 66 vette engine?.. so i am expecting some compression.
been building my Mopar engines for yrs. I havent had to plan a smallblock chevy my way..since the 1980s.
have to consider my fathers wishes. i figured id come on a vette sight and see what vette people have done and were happy with.
Putting/building a sbc in/for any other car,, with any other features is not relevant to this situation. I came here to chat.. you know create a dialogue.
my low post count just means i am new to this site...not new to wrenching... cheers..

and thanks for all the suggestions i am looking into all of them.. but just like mention'd above i need to see what is in this motor before i can reach for the cam.. i remain open to suggestions and thoughts

Nowhere Man

every orphan engine came from a Corvette. but to really know what it started at as you need to tell us whats on the front stamp pad.

cheapstreetduster

3892657
L 21 6 (12 -21-66)
V1223 HD stamp on deck surface

Nowhere Man

Well that is a L79 327/350 engine from a Corvette that has a smog, AC and a 4 speed. So it should have that cam I recommend already installed. That is if it’s never been apart

MikeM

That is a 1966 California smog calibration. Simply rebuild with OEM parts and recurve the distributor to 49 states (or better) and possibly richen the fuel curve and your old man should be happy.

The timing curve in the distributor will kill off more low end than any cam can put back in.

Grasshopper, eh? I like that.