Cam suggestion
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 587
Likes: 49
From: Belgium
Cam suggestion
Hi guys!
I'm currently tearing down the engine that came in my 71'.
I'm a bit stuck on the cam selection phase prior the rebuild.
The cam I would use is a XE262H, sounds like the perfect mild cam for my build. BUT, I HATE ( really HATE) the 'rump rump rump' sound they seem to make.
My old lunati barebones cam did exactly the same thing, great performance, but an awefull idle sound imho.
Are there any comparable cams out there that sound more 'mellow'?
My - for now- engine spec would be a 355CU with 71 LT1 spec heads ( got 1.94 valves in it atm, going to get those hogged out and install 2.02 in and 1.6 ex valves).
My compression calc ends up at 9.5-9.75:1, depending on how deep the pistons will sit in the hole.
Rear end is still a 3.08, though I'm using a 200R4, so first gear would be the same as a TH350 with a 3.4 rear end.
If you have cam examples with sound clips you get bonus points and a nice cold belgian beer if you ever fly across the pond.
Tia!
I'm currently tearing down the engine that came in my 71'.
I'm a bit stuck on the cam selection phase prior the rebuild.
The cam I would use is a XE262H, sounds like the perfect mild cam for my build. BUT, I HATE ( really HATE) the 'rump rump rump' sound they seem to make.
My old lunati barebones cam did exactly the same thing, great performance, but an awefull idle sound imho.
Are there any comparable cams out there that sound more 'mellow'?
My - for now- engine spec would be a 355CU with 71 LT1 spec heads ( got 1.94 valves in it atm, going to get those hogged out and install 2.02 in and 1.6 ex valves).
My compression calc ends up at 9.5-9.75:1, depending on how deep the pistons will sit in the hole.
Rear end is still a 3.08, though I'm using a 200R4, so first gear would be the same as a TH350 with a 3.4 rear end.
If you have cam examples with sound clips you get bonus points and a nice cold belgian beer if you ever fly across the pond.
Tia!
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 15,013
Likes: 79
From: central FL, near the beach.
i have the xe262 in my 355 72 TH400 3.08 and it idles almost smooth at 500 in D - not as smooth as a weenie cam, however.
for a few years i had 1.6 rockers on the exhaust, and it was a bit loud so i went back to 1.5.
I think the trick to tire spinning torque and good idle is to fully separate the 2 planes in a dual plane. i use epoxy in the carb base to fill in the passages.
for a few years i had 1.6 rockers on the exhaust, and it was a bit loud so i went back to 1.5.
I think the trick to tire spinning torque and good idle is to fully separate the 2 planes in a dual plane. i use epoxy in the carb base to fill in the passages.
Last edited by Matt Gruber; Sep 1, 2021 at 06:29 AM.
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
The 262 does not have a serious lope to it. it is noticeable but not overwhelming or choppy. It is the cam I would use.
Do not waste your money on having the heads "hogged out" to 2.02/1.60 unless you have a very knowledgeable cylinder head guy with a Serdi 5 angle cutter to properly open up the bowl transition for the 2.02 or it will do nothing. In fact, do not waste your time and money on a stock head period. The return for dollar is terrible compared to just about any aftermarket head currently made.
I have a pair of Trick Flow 175 DH "double hump" heads on the bench right now and I can tell you that anything with a GM part number on it short of L31 Vortec heads is a complete waste.
The 66' in the avatar had $2000 of 2008 money and 80 hours in the stock 461 "camel back" heads to flow exactly as well as an out of the box Edelbrock head. They had a lot of tricks done to them.....but not a good value at all......it was in the interest of keeping the L-79 327 original looking but hindsight 20/20 it should have gotten a pair of Dart 180's.
Jebby
Do not waste your money on having the heads "hogged out" to 2.02/1.60 unless you have a very knowledgeable cylinder head guy with a Serdi 5 angle cutter to properly open up the bowl transition for the 2.02 or it will do nothing. In fact, do not waste your time and money on a stock head period. The return for dollar is terrible compared to just about any aftermarket head currently made.
I have a pair of Trick Flow 175 DH "double hump" heads on the bench right now and I can tell you that anything with a GM part number on it short of L31 Vortec heads is a complete waste.
The 66' in the avatar had $2000 of 2008 money and 80 hours in the stock 461 "camel back" heads to flow exactly as well as an out of the box Edelbrock head. They had a lot of tricks done to them.....but not a good value at all......it was in the interest of keeping the L-79 327 original looking but hindsight 20/20 it should have gotten a pair of Dart 180's.
Jebby
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 587
Likes: 49
From: Belgium
I would consider the dart heads if I'd live in the US. But 1200$ + Shipping across the ocean + 27% tax isn't isn't it for what I want to achieve.
Was going to use some standard engine tech flat top +30 pistons. Summit own brand looks like a safe bet too. iirc they needed to be 1.56 compression height. Should look on my notes.
Was going to use some standard engine tech flat top +30 pistons. Summit own brand looks like a safe bet too. iirc they needed to be 1.56 compression height. Should look on my notes.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,538
Likes: 5,127
From: Chester VA
Sorry, can't help you out with your cam selection, but I just wanted to say that in 2018 I took vacation in Belgium, and of all the beers I tried, there wasn't a loser in the bunch!
You're making a very generous offer!
Larry
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,415
Likes: 291
From: dayton oh
The XE262 is ground on 110 lobe separation and hence the "lopier" idle. Sounds like you prefer something more in the 112-114 range.
Since you like Lunati performance, look over their VooDoo 256-262 cam (112)
Since you like Lunati performance, look over their VooDoo 256-262 cam (112)
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
Pro
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 719
Likes: 156
tight budget choices that meet requirements
tight budget choices that meet requirements
$154 cam & lifter kit: ramps are slower & more gentle than XE262 also wider LSA (112*) than 110*
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...make/chevrolet
$140 flattop 1.560" piston set
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...make/chevrolet
$154 cam & lifter kit: ramps are slower & more gentle than XE262 also wider LSA (112*) than 110*
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...make/chevrolet
$140 flattop 1.560" piston set
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...make/chevrolet
Pro
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 505
Likes: 230
tight budget choices that meet requirements
$154 cam & lifter kit: ramps are slower & more gentle than XE262 also wider LSA (112*) than 110*
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...make/chevrolet
$140 flattop 1.560" piston set
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...make/chevrolet
$154 cam & lifter kit: ramps are slower & more gentle than XE262 also wider LSA (112*) than 110*
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...make/chevrolet
$140 flattop 1.560" piston set
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...make/chevrolet
I would agree with this, but source some delphi lifters with the black ring around the base. With all the cam failures, I’d spend a little more for non China made lifters.
I would leave the heads stock and just rebuild them unless you spend a lot of time above 5k rpm. I spent about $1k on my brodix ik 180 heads, that was not much more than a pair of rebuilt vortec heads.
Old Pro Solo Guy
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 8,043
Likes: 4,397
From: Marlton NJ
I agree 100% on the 112 LC cam. Both of those are just slightly smaller than the L46 350-350 cam at 224/224 dur. But that had a really wide 114 LC that most people have gotten away from, but narrower does make it idle worse.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 1,149
Likes: 265
From: The frozen wastes...
If you're talking pistons already (ie: full can-o-worms rebuild)... then you're already working with a decent budget. For that kind ov money, i'd suggest just find a Vortec 350 and dropping it in. Even in Europe... it cant be THAT hard to find a trashed old Chevy truck, or even just the engine. hell, you only really need the heads. But... if you hate lumpy cams, then a roller is a great option... as they can make wicked power, without the usual 'old cam' issues, like lope. Vortecs come with rollers. A very mild hyd roller could make comparable power to a lopey flat tappet. There are many other bonuses to a full Vortec swap too, but you can search that.
And... i have to say... aside from the very rare sleeper-obsessed racers i know that like to 'hide' their power... i dont think i have ever once met a guy that didn't like that choppy cam idle...
And... i have to say... aside from the very rare sleeper-obsessed racers i know that like to 'hide' their power... i dont think i have ever once met a guy that didn't like that choppy cam idle...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 1,149
Likes: 265
From: The frozen wastes...
Oh, and my friend here brews his own beer... its a beautiful obsession. His forte' is Belgian saisons... doubles, trippels, even quads. He has ruined all other beers for me. My god...
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 587
Likes: 49
From: Belgium
ATM I'm at 900 euro's in parts, 400 for the rebore and 130 for the valvejob. I've been tempted by a vortec too, problem is anything you'll find here is atleast 80-100k miles in, so they'd need a refurbish too.
I'm only looking to make an honest 330-350 Hp, basically a more modern LT1. Roller cams do tempt me, they seem like a wise investment but I'd need to do some more research in what cam I'd need.
I'm only looking to make an honest 330-350 Hp, basically a more modern LT1. Roller cams do tempt me, they seem like a wise investment but I'd need to do some more research in what cam I'd need.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 1,149
Likes: 265
From: The frozen wastes...
ATM I'm at 900 euro's in parts, 400 for the rebore and 130 for the valvejob. I've been tempted by a vortec too, problem is anything you'll find here is atleast 80-100k miles in, so they'd need a refurbish too.
I'm only looking to make an honest 330-350 Hp, basically a more modern LT1. Roller cams do tempt me, they seem like a wise investment but I'd need to do some more research in what cam I'd need.
I'm only looking to make an honest 330-350 Hp, basically a more modern LT1. Roller cams do tempt me, they seem like a wise investment but I'd need to do some more research in what cam I'd need.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 15,013
Likes: 79
From: central FL, near the beach.
and what does gas cost? here $2.98 gal.
i would NOT use any of the high HP cams in Europe- that's me only. i'm cheap and would not like 10-11 mpg around town at your prices.
i would NOT use any of the high HP cams in Europe- that's me only. i'm cheap and would not like 10-11 mpg around town at your prices.
Last edited by Matt Gruber; Sep 2, 2021 at 07:53 AM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 587
Likes: 49
From: Belgium
Hehe. My problem is indeed living in Europe, but unless someone here want to adopt me I'm not going to be able to change that any time soon... 😁😁
Gas is 1.6 euro/liter, quite a bit but worth it. I'm lucky to be a sales rep so I never spend a penny on diesel for my day to day car.
Gas is 1.6 euro/liter, quite a bit but worth it. I'm lucky to be a sales rep so I never spend a penny on diesel for my day to day car.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Too many used vortec heads are cracked I wouldnt waste money on them unless you bought new. Theres aftermarket irons that are decent, better than stock and super cheap