Help with cam selection
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
From: Remlap AL
Help with cam selection
Hi guys,
I have a 386 CI engine that I will be soon putting in my 4 speed vette. It has iron heads with big valves, 11.5 compression, 850 double pumper, headers, victor air gap intake and 1.52 hydraulic rocker arm. I am looking for a high cam with good overall powerband. I will not be taking the car to the strip but I would prefer high RPM over low RPM. Also I will soon replace the heads with aluminum heads (AFR or Brodix). Which cam should I go with?
I have a 386 CI engine that I will be soon putting in my 4 speed vette. It has iron heads with big valves, 11.5 compression, 850 double pumper, headers, victor air gap intake and 1.52 hydraulic rocker arm. I am looking for a high cam with good overall powerband. I will not be taking the car to the strip but I would prefer high RPM over low RPM. Also I will soon replace the heads with aluminum heads (AFR or Brodix). Which cam should I go with?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 10
From: Austin TX
11.5 compression ratio with iron heads? We're off to a bad start if you want "good overall power". To get the dynamic CR where you'll need it for a pump gas engine, you'll need to run a cam with a duration of 240-250 @ .050, which won't provide any low-end, and may not have the vacuum needed for brakes, etc.
Hopefully you have at least 3.73's out back and it would help if your 4-speed was a wide ratio.
As Jackson stated above, get us a few more details
Hopefully you have at least 3.73's out back and it would help if your 4-speed was a wide ratio.
As Jackson stated above, get us a few more details
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,317
Likes: 111
From: St Louis MO
If we rule out roller cams, then I'd go with a 112 degrees lobe separation angle for a bit better vacuum and use with solid lifters...
COMP Cams 12-673-4 Nostalgia Plus, N+30-30S Solid Camshaft;
it's also available as a hydraulic lifter version, the N+30-30H.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
From: Remlap AL
Gear ratio is around 3.38.
I am just learning about roller lifter, sounds like these will be on a priority list along with either Edelbrock E-Street heads (70cc) or AFR heads with 75cc cambers. It all depends on the budget around end of this year :-).
For now I will fresh up the 386 with new gasket, put a new water pump, rebuilt the carb and drive it as is. The engine revs awesome and much faster than any other car I have driven in the past.
I am just learning about roller lifter, sounds like these will be on a priority list along with either Edelbrock E-Street heads (70cc) or AFR heads with 75cc cambers. It all depends on the budget around end of this year :-).
For now I will fresh up the 386 with new gasket, put a new water pump, rebuilt the carb and drive it as is. The engine revs awesome and much faster than any other car I have driven in the past.
