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Old Nov 12, 2007 | 08:38 PM
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Default What Cam!

I'm in the process of rebuilding my 74 350 l82 and I have no idea of what cam I should run. The guy that did the block and heads told me I should put a 480 lift cam in. I didn't ask him what cam he had in mind I just got my block and heads back and figured I could decide on a cam myself. But the more I read about it the more undecided I get.

The block was decked .010 and the heads were shaved .019. The heads are 882's with new springs. He said he had to change the springs because the stock springs wouldn't handle the lift.

So can someone tell me what my cr would be? I know that has alot to do with the cam selection.

Thanks for any help, Chip
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Old Nov 12, 2007 | 09:27 PM
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From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
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Your builder should know the final CR, post milling. Don't be afraid to ask him questions.

And yes, CR has a lot to do with cam selection. Here's a link to a site that will help explain the relationship...

http://www.empirenet.com/pkelley2/DynamicCR.html

It's far from the only consideration, but before making your selection if you'll download the DCR calculator and play around with it some you'll have a better idea of whats going on.
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Old Nov 12, 2007 | 11:23 PM
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If you're putting old OE L82 pistons back in (forged flattop w/ single trough) ... they should sit about 0.025" down in hole of stock block (down 0.015" in yours) and have about -3.4cc dome volume. If 882 heads were 76cc ... then cut 0.019" ... they're probably about 72.5-73cc now. So ... stock L82 pistons, deck cut 0.010", heads milled 0.019" using thin shim felpro 1094 gasket (3.2cc) ... should yield about 9.7:1 scr. Lotsa ifs ... who knows what gaskets & pistons you have ... we can only guess.

handy accurate scr calculator from TRW/Federal Mogul
http://www.21cgt.com/FMWebCatalog/frmConversion4.aspx

compression, transmission, rear gear & how/where you drive are required when figuring what cam to use.
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Old Nov 12, 2007 | 11:41 PM
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From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
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Originally Posted by jackson
...Lotsa ifs ... who knows what gaskets & pistons you have ... we can only guess.

...compression, transmission, rear gear & how/where you drive are required when figuring what cam to use.

I was afraid to even suppose a guess.
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Old Nov 13, 2007 | 05:31 AM
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The minumum piston to head clearance recomended is .035,
with .010 cut off your block find out how far the pistons are
down for sure before you buy a gasket.

Last edited by Little Mouse; Nov 13, 2007 at 06:09 AM.
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Old Nov 14, 2007 | 11:47 PM
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Thanks for the replies. It will have KB flat top pistons and it is bored 30 over. I haven't bought a head gasket yet because I know I need to keep the quench between .035 & .045. I plan on just driving the car locally. I might occasionally drive it to work about 25 miles. I just want it to be snappy, if you know what I mean. It should make a little over 300hp. That should be enough to get me in trouble! I think I'm going to run a performer intake. I've been looking at the permastar. Will the air gap fit under my hood? That's the intake I would like to run.

Thanks again for the help. This is a great site!!
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Old Nov 15, 2007 | 01:03 AM
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Originally Posted by chivic
It will have KB flat top pistons and it is bored 30 over. I haven't bought a head gasket yet because I know I need to keep the quench between .035 & .045. I plan on just driving the car locally. I might occasionally drive it to work about 25 miles. I just want it to be snappy, if you know what I mean. It should make a little over 300hp. That should be enough to get me in trouble! I think I'm going to run a performer intake. I've been looking at the permastar. Will the air gap fit under my hood?
I don't like typical KB ... IMHO, SpeedPro aka SealedPower are more robust w/better design & manufacture ... SP often cheaper than KB too. Look at SP p/n H631CP30 it's a -5cc dome volume flattop. You don't need an air gap intake for a <375hp motor ... won't do much if anything to help a low-perf motor and it might not fit under your hood without changing some other stuff ... your stock intake is plenty. If you require shiny ... just go w/ performer ... not rpm, not air gap. So ... SP H631CP30 flattops w/ -5cc dv @ thirty over & 0.015" down in hole ... heads cut to about 72.8 cc ... shim ( 0.020") gasket Mr Gasket p/n 1130 ... will yield right at 9.5:1 scr w/ great 0.035" quench. Cheap summit cam&lifter kit p/n K1103 ... should make about 310-320hp at crank. Please replace +30 year old valve springs.
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Old Nov 15, 2007 | 02:25 AM
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I thought the question was "what cam" not pistons?
A Comp Cams Magnum grind with 470 lift/270 duration, 110 lobe separation is about as big as you want to go with a stock torque converter.
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Old Nov 15, 2007 | 03:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Tim H
I thought the question was "what cam" not pistons?
A Comp Cams Magnum grind with 470 lift/270 duration, 110 lobe separation is about as big as you want to go with a stock torque converter.
His static compression ratio is/was not known ... nor was his piston. Many folks won't a recommend cam without first knowing static compression ratio. I did suggest a cam, but only after I'd speced out an scr. K1103 will work w/ even a stock converter & high rear gear.
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Old Nov 15, 2007 | 01:43 PM
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From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
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Originally Posted by jackson
His static compression ratio is/was not known ... nor was his piston. Many folks won't a recommend cam without first knowing static compression ratio...
What he said...
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Old Nov 16, 2007 | 10:05 AM
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Thanks guys. I guess I should have said what pistons I was going to use. I didn't think they would make that much difference. Also I have a 4 speed with 370 gears.

skunkworks I was only going to run KB pistons because they were the only aftermarket pistons I knew of. It's been about 35 years since I built an engine. I actually knew about Sealed Power but wasn't sure of the quality.

I have the block with the cam bearings and softplugs installed and that's it. I'm going to need all the bearing, oil pump, cam, timing set, and of course pistons and rings. I guess someone would make a kit for this.
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