79 L48 Cam suggestion
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 799
Likes: 26
From: Lexington Park Maryland
79 L48 Cam suggestion
I know I am going to get a lot heat for this question. Just be gentle: I have the top end off this 79 L48, I removed the cylinder head to extract broken exhaust mount bolts, instead of trying to mess with them in the engine bay.
I was going to replace the intake anyway with one I can use a square bore carb. so now the heads are done, port and polish and lap the valves. Oh yeah, I got a dual roller timing gear and chain. so the front end is expose. I am getting full 1.5 roller rockers, I am replacing the push rods. Now I am thinking of replacing the lifters and a better cam.
I am looking for some suggestion on which cam and lifter combo I can get (short block is stock). Is it even worth the money upgrading, the car has 47K on it.
I was going to replace the intake anyway with one I can use a square bore carb. so now the heads are done, port and polish and lap the valves. Oh yeah, I got a dual roller timing gear and chain. so the front end is expose. I am getting full 1.5 roller rockers, I am replacing the push rods. Now I am thinking of replacing the lifters and a better cam.
I am looking for some suggestion on which cam and lifter combo I can get (short block is stock). Is it even worth the money upgrading, the car has 47K on it.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Heck yes worth it
Do you have to pass smog?
What rear end gear?
Auto or stick?
Plan on headers?
There are modern cams out even flat tappet which are "smaller" but will really pick up the torque than what you have but need more info. Dont forget new valvesprings
With that said for something stock geared/converter etc
Been impressed with the Isky 264 mega cam and the Lunati 256 voodoo. They read small but the torque increase is more than youd think. Stick Id go right to the Isky 270 awesome cam for an old school "daily driver/performance" grind and wont kill your valvetrain;curve your distributor.
Personally not a believer in "fast ramp extreme" ramps (every single one I used went flat less than 1000 mi)on a flat tappet at that point just go roller.
With some overlap may not need the EGR so much
Use a quality lifter dont know if you can get GM ones anymore!?
Do you have to pass smog?
What rear end gear?
Auto or stick?
Plan on headers?
There are modern cams out even flat tappet which are "smaller" but will really pick up the torque than what you have but need more info. Dont forget new valvesprings
With that said for something stock geared/converter etc
Been impressed with the Isky 264 mega cam and the Lunati 256 voodoo. They read small but the torque increase is more than youd think. Stick Id go right to the Isky 270 awesome cam for an old school "daily driver/performance" grind and wont kill your valvetrain;curve your distributor.
Personally not a believer in "fast ramp extreme" ramps (every single one I used went flat less than 1000 mi)on a flat tappet at that point just go roller.
With some overlap may not need the EGR so much
Use a quality lifter dont know if you can get GM ones anymore!?
Last edited by cv67; Mar 6, 2016 at 02:12 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 799
Likes: 26
From: Lexington Park Maryland
Heck yes worth it
Do you have to pass smog?
What rear end gear?
Auto or stick?
Plan on headers?
There are modern cams out even flat tappet which are "smaller" but will really pick up the torque than what you have but need more info. Dont forget new valvesprings
With that said for something stock geared/converter etc
Been impressed with the Iskly 264 mega cam and the Lunati 265 voodoo. They read small but the torque increase is more than youd think. Stick Id go right to the Isky 270 awesome cam for an old school "daily driver/performance" grind and wont kill your valvetrain;curve your distributor
Use a quality lifter dont know if you can get GM ones anymore!?
Do you have to pass smog?
What rear end gear?
Auto or stick?
Plan on headers?
There are modern cams out even flat tappet which are "smaller" but will really pick up the torque than what you have but need more info. Dont forget new valvesprings
With that said for something stock geared/converter etc
Been impressed with the Iskly 264 mega cam and the Lunati 265 voodoo. They read small but the torque increase is more than youd think. Stick Id go right to the Isky 270 awesome cam for an old school "daily driver/performance" grind and wont kill your valvetrain;curve your distributor
Use a quality lifter dont know if you can get GM ones anymore!?
What rear end gear? No sure on the rear end gear.
Auto or stick? Auto
Plan on headers? No, I got a dual exhaust set up to go with the stock manifold.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,263
Likes: 188
From: Wabasha Mn
x2 on the Isky 214-214 .450 lift 108 lsa mega cam. Had one in my 76 l82 with auto trans and it had better low end than the L82. Isky still makes the 270HL 218-218 .450 lift 108 lsa cam similar to the old comp 268HE except on the tighter 108 lsa. Either one of these old school cams would give you a nice little boost in power.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 799
Likes: 26
From: Lexington Park Maryland
x2 on the Isky 214-214 .450 lift 108 lsa mega cam. Had one in my 76 l82 with auto trans and it had better low end than the L82. Isky still makes the 270HL 218-218 .450 lift 108 lsa cam similar to the old comp 268HE except on the tighter 108 lsa. Either one of these old school cams would give you a nice little boost in power.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 799
Likes: 26
From: Lexington Park Maryland
I actually got the carb and intake before I even conceived on going with a new cam I have the 2101 intake and 1405 Edelbrock. this is suppose to be a daily driver weekend cruiser for a friend. sounds like she is going to get something with more than she bargain for.
Last edited by newbie2vette; Mar 6, 2016 at 03:30 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
x2 on the Isky 214-214 .450 lift 108 lsa mega cam. Had one in my 76 l82 with auto trans and it had better low end than the L82. Isky still makes the 270HL 218-218 .450 lift 108 lsa cam similar to the old comp 268HE except on the tighter 108 lsa. Either one of these old school cams would give you a nice little boost in power.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,098
Likes: 378
From: Las Vegas - Just stop perpetuating myths please.
W/o headers u want a dual pattern cam. Maybe 8-10 degrees more duration. Tight LSA 108-110. Short cam <270* full duration.
Comp Cams XE262H: 12-238-2
Trick Flow has a nice cam & lifters if your compression is >9:1: TFS-K31401000
Measure and nail your compression ratio while the heads are off.
Comp Cams XE262H: 12-238-2
Trick Flow has a nice cam & lifters if your compression is >9:1: TFS-K31401000
Measure and nail your compression ratio while the heads are off.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 799
Likes: 26
From: Lexington Park Maryland
I don't think this corvette will see an track time or even hot rodding around. It basically a cruising car. The thought of giving it a little more since the cam is expose for a new gear and chain and the 1.5 roller rockers and dual exhaust.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cc...make/chevrolet
You likely have 3.55 gears. This cam will wake it up big time. I would cut the heads about .030 and use a Felpro 1094 head gasket. You will also need new springs and lifters.
You likely have 3.55 gears. This cam will wake it up big time. I would cut the heads about .030 and use a Felpro 1094 head gasket. You will also need new springs and lifters.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 799
Likes: 26
From: Lexington Park Maryland
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cc...make/chevrolet
You likely have 3.55 gears. This cam will wake it up big time. I would cut the heads about .030 and use a Felpro 1094 head gasket. You will also need new springs and lifters.
You likely have 3.55 gears. This cam will wake it up big time. I would cut the heads about .030 and use a Felpro 1094 head gasket. You will also need new springs and lifters.
It's going to be sunny and in the 70s in Southern Maryland. Rag Top day.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 112
From: Great Plains Iowa
I know I am going to get a lot heat for this question. Just be gentle: I have the top end off this 79 L48, I removed the cylinder head to extract broken exhaust mount bolts, instead of trying to mess with them in the engine bay.
I was going to replace the intake anyway with one I can use a square bore carb. so now the heads are done, port and polish and lap the valves. Oh yeah, I got a dual roller timing gear and chain. so the front end is expose. I am getting full 1.5 roller rockers, I am replacing the push rods. Now I am thinking of replacing the lifters and a better cam.
I am looking for some suggestion on which cam and lifter combo I can get (short block is stock). Is it even worth the money upgrading, the car has 47K on it.
I was going to replace the intake anyway with one I can use a square bore carb. so now the heads are done, port and polish and lap the valves. Oh yeah, I got a dual roller timing gear and chain. so the front end is expose. I am getting full 1.5 roller rockers, I am replacing the push rods. Now I am thinking of replacing the lifters and a better cam.
I am looking for some suggestion on which cam and lifter combo I can get (short block is stock). Is it even worth the money upgrading, the car has 47K on it.
Longer duration camshafts need higher compression and lower rear gears to be effective so unless you're intending on running it at the Bonneville salt flats I wouldn't exceed 214 to 218 degrees of duration.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Since you're changing the cam anyway, you might want to look into a set of Rhoads Hydraulic Lifters.
http://www.jegs.com/i/Rhoads-Lifters...oductId=753038
These lifters were quite popular back in the late 70's and early 80's. JEG's has a good write up about them at the link above, but you can also go to their site and read about them. http://www.rhoadslifters.com/
Essentially they are a variable duration lifter that allows you to run a more aggressive hydraulic cam without most of the penalties normally associated with them. It provides good low end torque and still have all the power at high rpm's. I ran them on a 302 Ford back in the 80's with a pretty radical Crane cam. It idled well and ran excellent at the top end.
Good luck... GUSTO
http://www.jegs.com/i/Rhoads-Lifters...oductId=753038
These lifters were quite popular back in the late 70's and early 80's. JEG's has a good write up about them at the link above, but you can also go to their site and read about them. http://www.rhoadslifters.com/
Essentially they are a variable duration lifter that allows you to run a more aggressive hydraulic cam without most of the penalties normally associated with them. It provides good low end torque and still have all the power at high rpm's. I ran them on a 302 Ford back in the 80's with a pretty radical Crane cam. It idled well and ran excellent at the top end.
Good luck... GUSTO
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 487
Likes: 160
From: Two Lane Black Top
I have the Isky 270 Mega Cam in my 72's original 350 L46. The car had Blackjack headers, TH400 with stock stall and 3.08 rear gears.
The carb, ignition system, distributor curve will need to be spot on otherwise the 270 Mega Cam can be a real pain with stock stall and a highway gear. Excellent midrange power. With my stock stall and 3.08 gear, a slightly smaller cam would have been a better choice and I have a higher tolerance level.
I would suggest a Roller cam if you doing a cam if possible.
The carb, ignition system, distributor curve will need to be spot on otherwise the 270 Mega Cam can be a real pain with stock stall and a highway gear. Excellent midrange power. With my stock stall and 3.08 gear, a slightly smaller cam would have been a better choice and I have a higher tolerance level.
I would suggest a Roller cam if you doing a cam if possible.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,462
Likes: 985
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
I had a comp cams 260H in a chevy 350 with smog heads and 8.5 compression and this cam really woke the motor up....I would imagine the XE262 would do the same..the 260H has an operating range of 1,200-5,200 RPM (excellent bottom end, LSA 110, Lift .44)...