C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

What cam do I have?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 14, 2016 | 11:27 AM
  #1  
ChrisMiami's Avatar
ChrisMiami
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 205
Likes: 1
From: Miami, FL
Default What cam do I have?

I have an unstarted motor that I'd like to crank over but the carb needs a rebuild before I do so (stuck throttle linkage). Turns out that in order to do it "properly" I need to know the application specs, which includes stuff like camshaft lift and duration.

Is there a way to get these numbers without pulling the cam out? Maybe a stamp on the outward-facing end of it or a measurement I can take?

OTOH, since it's a QJet maybe just setting to factory specs would be a decent starting point.

Thanks!
Chris
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2016 | 11:32 AM
  #2  
Easy Mike's Avatar
Easy Mike
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default

...What cam do I have?...
What engine do you have? Suffix code?

Model year?

As far as you know, has the cam ever been changed?

I'm not sure rebuilding a Q-Jet requires any cam specifications.

Last edited by Easy Mike; Jul 14, 2016 at 11:33 AM.
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2016 | 11:39 AM
  #3  
MelWff's Avatar
MelWff
Race Director
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,709
Likes: 2,574
Default

never heard of anyone ripping open the timing cover to see if perhaps there are ID numbers on the front of the cam just to have a carburetor rebuilt. The rebuilder based on the carburetor number should have no problem checking to see if it has the stock jets and metering rods, etc. and based on how emissions restrictive the carburetor is adjust the jets and rods to a more performance oriented tune. If you insist on knowing the specs you will need a degree wheel and dial indicator to measure the cam specs.

Last edited by MelWff; Jul 14, 2016 at 11:40 AM.
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2016 | 11:46 AM
  #4  
bluedawg's Avatar
bluedawg
Safety Car
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,736
Likes: 56
From: anchorage ak
Default

Originally Posted by ChrisMiami
I have an unstarted motor that I'd like to crank over but the carb needs a rebuild before I do so (stuck throttle linkage). Turns out that in order to do it "properly" I need to know the application specs, which includes stuff like camshaft lift and duration.

Is there a way to get these numbers without pulling the cam out? Maybe a stamp on the outward-facing end of it or a measurement I can take?

OTOH, since it's a QJet maybe just setting to factory specs would be a decent starting point.

Thanks!
Chris
You can rebuild it with out the specs, it might take a little more tuning to reach the end goal.
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2016 | 12:59 PM
  #5  
ChrisMiami's Avatar
ChrisMiami
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 205
Likes: 1
From: Miami, FL
Default

Originally Posted by Easy Mike
What engine do you have? Suffix code?

Model year?

As far as you know, has the cam ever been changed?

I'm not sure rebuilding a Q-Jet requires any cam specifications.
It's a Chevy crate "350 HO" motor with a 1980 QJet on top of an Edlebrock Performer intake. I don't know anything about the internals. Yet.

The reason I think this information is needed is because it's on the form that Cliff's site asks you to fill out when requesting a rebuild.

Chris
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2016 | 01:01 PM
  #6  
ChrisMiami's Avatar
ChrisMiami
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 205
Likes: 1
From: Miami, FL
Default

Originally Posted by MelWff
never heard of anyone ripping open the timing cover to see if perhaps there are ID numbers on the front of the cam just to have a carburetor rebuilt. The rebuilder based on the carburetor number should have no problem checking to see if it has the stock jets and metering rods, etc. and based on how emissions restrictive the carburetor is adjust the jets and rods to a more performance oriented tune. If you insist on knowing the specs you will need a degree wheel and dial indicator to measure the cam specs.
Yeah, I am thinking I'll start stock and tune later, but it's nice to know there's tools to measure the cam while installed. Any pointers to using the degree wheel and dial indicator to get these measurements?
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2016 | 01:05 PM
  #7  
ChrisMiami's Avatar
ChrisMiami
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 205
Likes: 1
From: Miami, FL
Default

Originally Posted by bluedawg
You can rebuild it with out the specs, it might take a little more tuning to reach the end goal.
Since the QJet is dynamically metered I think starting at stock will be fine for a while. I just wanted to know if there were tools to measure internals of the engine without having to tear it apart.
Reply
Old Jul 15, 2016 | 12:56 AM
  #8  
bluedawg's Avatar
bluedawg
Safety Car
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,736
Likes: 56
From: anchorage ak
Default

Originally Posted by ChrisMiami
Since the QJet is dynamically metered I think starting at stock will be fine for a while. I just wanted to know if there were tools to measure internals of the engine without having to tear it apart.
You could measure the lift with a dial indicator on the push rod tip and use a degree wheel and dial indicator to measure the duration, alot of work, the end of the camshaft might have a part number, but that's also a lot if work and unless it's a rowdy cam you'll be fine just going with stock I'm that spot on the order form. Once you talk to the carb builder, just tell him it has a cam that doesn't seem big but isn't quite stock.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To What cam do I have?

Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:05 PM.

story-0
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-2
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE