What cam should i use?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 373
Likes: 1
From: Bayonne NJ
What cam should i use?
Hey guys,
Im new to the world of vette's, and last season I bought a 79 l-82 4spd, off a friend of the family. All interior, suspension, brakes, and chasis work is done. The only things left for me to do is the engine and paint.
I figured I would start on the engine first, so i pulled it out to clean everything up last weekend. Im goin to send the heads out to be rebuilt to stock specs, and put new bearings and rings in the bottom to freshen it up. I also want to install a new intake manifold and cam while I have eveything out. I tried reading all of the summit and jegs mags, and all the numbers for their cams confuse the **** out of me. I understand that they are telling you the specs as far as lift, intake, exhaust ect, but i dont kno what to run as far as intake and cam combo. Any help would be greatly appreciated, and much needed. I want to a wild cam so i get a mean idle out of her.
Thank you in advance.
Im new to the world of vette's, and last season I bought a 79 l-82 4spd, off a friend of the family. All interior, suspension, brakes, and chasis work is done. The only things left for me to do is the engine and paint.
I figured I would start on the engine first, so i pulled it out to clean everything up last weekend. Im goin to send the heads out to be rebuilt to stock specs, and put new bearings and rings in the bottom to freshen it up. I also want to install a new intake manifold and cam while I have eveything out. I tried reading all of the summit and jegs mags, and all the numbers for their cams confuse the **** out of me. I understand that they are telling you the specs as far as lift, intake, exhaust ect, but i dont kno what to run as far as intake and cam combo. Any help would be greatly appreciated, and much needed. I want to a wild cam so i get a mean idle out of her.
Thank you in advance.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
With your stock compression of roughly 9.2:1 (L82) a cam that is "too big" will only hurt.... I could sell you my Edelbrock Performer RPM (234/244 degrees .488/.510 lift) that I removed from my '79 last year - I guarantee your idle will sound great and the engine will run like sh..
If your engine is basically stock I'd get the Edelbrock Performer cam (NOT the RPM)... $140 at AdvancedAuto, includes the lifters, is emission legal, runs great....
If your engine is basically stock I'd get the Edelbrock Performer cam (NOT the RPM)... $140 at AdvancedAuto, includes the lifters, is emission legal, runs great....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 2
From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
The L82 cam is a good one (222/222 .450/.460) -- it's the same as the cam used in the 350HP engine in the late '60s. Going to the Edelbrock Performer cam would actually be a step backwards! Keep the stock cam, intake, and carb for now.
Do these two things instead... (1) Take the stock heads and set them aside...they make great doorstops. Use the money you saved on the cam and get a good set of heads (ask me how I know...)
(2) Replace the exhaust system if it's still stock. If you don't have smog testing where you live, go with true duals. If you're stuck with smog testing, you can get a high-flow cat.
Do these two things instead... (1) Take the stock heads and set them aside...they make great doorstops. Use the money you saved on the cam and get a good set of heads (ask me how I know...)
(2) Replace the exhaust system if it's still stock. If you don't have smog testing where you live, go with true duals. If you're stuck with smog testing, you can get a high-flow cat.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 642
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Texas
Ahh... the ever present "what cam" thread.
I have a '79 L82 and also went with the Comp Cam 270H. Only started it a couple times so far, but it's got a pretty good lope to it.... probably as much as you'd want. Now, like commander, I also swapped out the carb, intake, put on headers and true dual exhaust is coming next... Even with that setup, a 270H is about as radical as you'd want to get.
I have a '79 L82 and also went with the Comp Cam 270H. Only started it a couple times so far, but it's got a pretty good lope to it.... probably as much as you'd want. Now, like commander, I also swapped out the carb, intake, put on headers and true dual exhaust is coming next... Even with that setup, a 270H is about as radical as you'd want to get.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
changing the cam in a 79 l-82 doesn't really help much. the lack of head flow and compression is what holds it back. Don't put a dime in those heads. Your better off giving them away for a pickup truck project.
The only thing you need to do is buy 64 cc heads, iron or aluminum in the 180-195 cc range and install 1 5/8th headers and true dual exhausts. Your cam, carb, intake manifold are good to go.
The only thing you need to do is buy 64 cc heads, iron or aluminum in the 180-195 cc range and install 1 5/8th headers and true dual exhausts. Your cam, carb, intake manifold are good to go.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 686
Likes: 0
From: Southeast
I love the way a big cam makes a motor sound. Like everyone has said, it will cause stuff not to work as well. Anything that runs off of vacuum will not run as well-brakes, headlights, etc. I rebuilt my motor last summer which I had a good bit done-bored .020, new crank, new pistons, aluminum high rise intake, edelbrock carb, hooker headers, new cam, etc. I put the one of the biggest cams in mine that you could without swapping over to a stall speed torque converter. Mine was a competition cams camshaft with .462 .482 lift on it. I can't remember the duration and other specs right off the top of my head, but I have been satisfied with it. It hasn't caused too many problems, but I'd trade anything for that lope that makes the ground rumble...
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
Likes: 1
From: Living in the Hartland
with the new head posts, you can get a good set of iron heads for the same price as a new cam and the head work you are going to have done and be way ahead in hp with room to grow.BTW Get some 1.6 rockers to get a little more lift if you go with aftermarket heads since they tend to flow well up to .500 lift or higher.
Last edited by Fevre; Mar 15, 2005 at 11:20 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 34,454
Likes: 665
From: Republic of Texas
Originally Posted by Matt Gruber
so u want a mean idle? one that stalls on cold starts?
one that barely works the brakes?
sounds exciting?
one that barely works the brakes?
sounds exciting?
I guess I'm th oddball here but idle idles DO sound exciting to me.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 2
From: Dayton Oh
Originally Posted by gkull
changing the cam in a 79 l-82 doesn't really help much. the lack of head flow and compression is what holds it back. Don't put a dime in those heads. Your better off giving them away for a pickup truck project.
The only thing you need to do is buy 64 cc heads, iron or aluminum in the 180-195 cc range and install 1 5/8th headers and true dual exhausts. Your cam, carb, intake manifold are good to go.
The only thing you need to do is buy 64 cc heads, iron or aluminum in the 180-195 cc range and install 1 5/8th headers and true dual exhausts. Your cam, carb, intake manifold are good to go.
take a look at the Dart Iron Eagle 180's and keep you stock cam, carb and intake.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 373
Likes: 1
From: Bayonne NJ
Originally Posted by page62
The L82 cam is a good one (222/222 .450/.460) -- it's the same as the cam used in the 350HP engine in the late '60s. Going to the Edelbrock Performer cam would actually be a step backwards! Keep the stock cam, intake, and carb for now.
Do these two things instead... (1) Take the stock heads and set them aside...they make great doorstops. Use the money you saved on the cam and get a good set of heads (ask me how I know...)
(2) Replace the exhaust system if it's still stock. If you don't have smog testing where you live, go with true duals. If you're stuck with smog testing, you can get a high-flow cat.
Do these two things instead... (1) Take the stock heads and set them aside...they make great doorstops. Use the money you saved on the cam and get a good set of heads (ask me how I know...)
(2) Replace the exhaust system if it's still stock. If you don't have smog testing where you live, go with true duals. If you're stuck with smog testing, you can get a high-flow cat.
I have no emissions on the vette, everything was taken off before i bought it. I also have 2.5" true duals, and im going to order hooker compition headers next week. So, that being said, what hp numbers should i be expecting with a new set of heads, and can i still use my stock valve covers? Thanx a lot for your help guys.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Matt - Vortec heads just suck when it comes to sealing ability. It's a **** poor design. GM Cars and trucks with vortec heads will have visit to a repair shop during their short life time and if it only ends up with vacuum or water leaks your lucky! 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 2
From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
I went with the Summit/Dart Iron Eagle S/S heads. 67cc chambers, 165cc intake runners, 2.02/1.60 valves. Similar specs to the classic "fuelie" heads. High swirl (Vortec) combustion chambers. Uses standard intake.
Excellent bang for the buck at $650 a pair...
Excellent bang for the buck at $650 a pair...
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 15,055
Likes: 79
From: central FL, near the beach.
nobody agrees on this topic.
i'm thinking 56cc heads to get the CR way up.
that limits u to AFR and very few others
OTOH, Canfield's are top notch for $979
i'm thinking 56cc heads to get the CR way up.
that limits u to AFR and very few others
OTOH, Canfield's are top notch for $979
Last edited by Matt Gruber; Mar 16, 2005 at 04:09 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,198
Likes: 2
From: Eastern Connecticut
Originally Posted by BanGnGearS
There are too many choices for me to decide. I have been reading reviews and i see a lot about the iron eagle 180's. What do you guys think when it comes to a quality choice in heads.