I'm flirting with the idea of changing the cam in my 72. I have to take the car in to have a bad valve fixed and that means the heads/etc are coming off. Since the car is going to be in the shop and a lot of it will be torn down I'm having one of those "while I'm at it" ideas

I'm not terribly happy with my current setup. I bought the car about 6 months ago and the previous owner had it set up more hi-performance/drag orientated than what I really need. My current cam specs are 256/270 at .050 and .500/.515 lift if that gives you any idea of how the car is setup. Sounds great at idle, pulls strong to redline, but not really suited for the type of driving I do. Also it's a solid lifter set up and if I'm making the big changes now I would want to go to a hydraulic cam for ease of maintence reasons.

Here's what I would be looking for. A good hydraulic cam setup that is more orientated for cruising than racing. More low end torque than what I have now. Something that would make over 300hp at the wheels would be nice. I do like some bump at idle but would want enough vac that running accesories isn't affected. Other info about my car.

355ci
WP sportman II heads
1.6 roller tip rockers
10.3 compression
Holley 670 street avenger carb
HEI ingnition
Dynomax headers/2.5" exhaust
manual tranny with 3.36 gears
intake is currently the torker 1 (TM-1). I would probalby be chaning this to better match a new cam.

Also, I've read a lot of bad on the xe series so I'm not really thinking about these. My initial thoughts are something like the comp cams 270H with a performer manifold. I'm going to call some of the major cam manufacturers to see what they recommend but I always like to hear ideas from the forum. So, fire away.

 

Let's just trade cars. You can have my stock '72 L48. Might be easier that way!

 

That is a lot of duration and lift (the .500" lift is with the stock 1.5 ratio rockers)

There are many cams to choose from, I think a cam with 220-230 duration at .050" and a 112 degrees LS is a very good choice. Your intake should be fine with a milder cam.

 

270H should be a decent choice ...w/ 1.6 rockers it'll end up about 226*/226* .501"/.501".

Perhaps a better choice would be Summit cam & lifter kit P/N SUM-K1103 ... specs about 216*/226* .471"/.496" w/1.6 RAR ... price is right too ... about $70 for cam WITH lifters. Keep your intake. Motor should still make 350-360 fwhp with a nice flat & fat tq curve. If machine shop is providing cam ... same cam&lifter kit in sealedpower/speedpro is P/N KC1013R ... same profile as summit's 1103 ... but probably more$.

*edit* if your lunati is P/N 00013 ... it specs about 259*/273* .533"/.549" w/ your 1.6 RAR ... that's a ton of solid flat cam for a 355" street car ... and (just a guess) makes too much lift for your springs-retainers-seals.

 

Not a 300hp at wheels cam but either Comp High Energy 268H or Crane Energizer 272H (both are single-pattern hyd cams) will give your car the manners you want.

 

Yes it is p/n 00013. I called and emailed the tech department at speedwaymotors where the heads came from and gave them all my motor specs/cam specs/etc and asked if the heads/springs were okay for my set up. Both times they told me it's okay. Not really sure I believe them since my car is sitting with a broken exhaust spring and bent valve. Anyway, it's probably a moot point anyway I will be changing my current set-up.

 

Why not just install a L82 cam, it should work nice with your set up and compression as it has a fairly late closing inlet valve and will provide you with a nice DCR to run premium gas.

 

Below are the specs for comp cams 280h, with your 1.6 rocker it will give you .51 lift. I ran this cam with sportsmanII head and a rpm intake. It pulls strong to 5500rpm. The throttle response was great. The flow on the sportsman II heads goes flat at .5 lift, so unless you have done major port work any more lift is not needed. Also there was no problem with vacuum, my power brakes, lights, heater and ac controls all worked.

Camshaft Specification Table
Part Number 12-212-2
Engine 1955-1998 Chevrolet
262ci-400ci
8cyl.
Grind Number CS 280H-10
Description

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Intake Exhaust
Valve Adjustment 0 0
Gross Valve Lift 0.48 0.48
Duration At 0.006 Tappet Lift 280 280

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Valve Timing At 0.006
Open Close
Intake 34 66
Exhaust 74 26

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

These Specs Are For The Cam Installed At 106 Intake CL
Intake Exhaust
Duration At 0.05 230 230
Lobe Lift 0.32 0.32
Lobe Separation 110

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Recommended Valve Springs 981-16

 

Not sure what your deal is with the XE, but I just installed an XE268 in my dad's 355". I believe the specs are 224/230@.050 and .474/.490 lift on a 110LSA. Thats with a 1.5 rocker. We are using it on the stock/original 70 SS heads with matching springs, guide plates and screw in studs. It will also be using a performer manifold painted to look like stock. I think it would be a good cam for what you are wanting, especially since you have better heads. You will have to change springs no matter what cam you go with though. I bet your car is a dog below 4k with that cam with only Sportsman heads, I bet it will be faster/quicker with the right matching cam.

I would stay away from the 268H and 270H cams, thats OLD SCHOOL technology, all the new ones make much more power. You might do well with the XE274 also.

Good luck on your car!

 

Why not consider a Hyd roller cam. .5 lift with a smooooth idle and less duration. More vacuum too.

Only down side is the additional cost of lifters, cam button, etc.. but it sounds like you're going to have the checkbook open anyway.

 

I guess I really don't have a problem with them. My buddy has the xe268 in his 73 and he's happy with it. I just got a little hesitant about using them since I found some threads about wiped lobes and the xe series. Maybe it's just being a little overblown on the forum.

You can say that again!

On a different note, any other thoughts on my intake? Would it work well with a cam like the xe268 or would I be better off with a dual plane style intake?

 

Stick with dual plane for the street, your not running a high rpm engine. Look into those hyd roller cams...

 

Personally if you were going to get a new XE cam I would at least have it ground on a 112-114 LSA to reduce the overlap and give you a better bottom end. Make sure you use a good 15W-40 oil like Rotella too for the added zinc protection.