Crate Motor Cam needed
Old Pro Solo Guy
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 8,043
Likes: 4,396
From: Marlton NJ
My LT-1 loved cruising at 3000+ @ 70 w/ 355s and got 15 mpg on the interstate doing it, with it's oem Holley 780 vac sec.
It's just buzzy, but that's part of it's old school feel.( And I had a 239* cam in that. It liked 2500+, not under)
New cars that cruise at 2000 just have a more relaxed feel. It's a personal preference thing. There might be a few mpg involved.
OCB is spot on about the 1500 rpm. Pay close attention to what the cam mfgrs say as far as the power range, especially the lower #.
Either of those cams look doable.
My engine builder / best friend built 5000 engines. His #1 cam recommendation was: "when you are trying to decide between 2 cams, you should pick the smaller of the two, for the street or the track, and you will almost always be happier, and faster, even on the track". It is far too easy to get caught up in the numbers, and that "bigger is better" mentality. That does not work so well with cams.
But now that you are getting close to what you want, you have a "zone", call a couple cam mfgr techs and get their recommendations. True some of them are very young, compared to us, but they do exactly this, a lot. A few degrees duration one way or the other does not make that much of a difference, in feel, unless you are crossing the 230* "tipping point" for a nice performance street cam, into a rather "nasty" one.
I am glad your crate engine builder is admitting their goof, and willing to help out.
It's just buzzy, but that's part of it's old school feel.( And I had a 239* cam in that. It liked 2500+, not under)
New cars that cruise at 2000 just have a more relaxed feel. It's a personal preference thing. There might be a few mpg involved.
OCB is spot on about the 1500 rpm. Pay close attention to what the cam mfgrs say as far as the power range, especially the lower #.
Either of those cams look doable.
My engine builder / best friend built 5000 engines. His #1 cam recommendation was: "when you are trying to decide between 2 cams, you should pick the smaller of the two, for the street or the track, and you will almost always be happier, and faster, even on the track". It is far too easy to get caught up in the numbers, and that "bigger is better" mentality. That does not work so well with cams.
But now that you are getting close to what you want, you have a "zone", call a couple cam mfgr techs and get their recommendations. True some of them are very young, compared to us, but they do exactly this, a lot. A few degrees duration one way or the other does not make that much of a difference, in feel, unless you are crossing the 230* "tipping point" for a nice performance street cam, into a rather "nasty" one.
I am glad your crate engine builder is admitting their goof, and willing to help out.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 75
Likes: 10
From: Daytona Beach
You won’t see much difference between the 3.36 and the 3.55, if you feel anything it will be the change you’ll feel by swapping from the 2.87’s.
Your cam choose 1900-5600 would probably work better with the 3.55 but if you go with the 3.36 you might look at cams that come on at 1500.
I know a lot of people worry about wanting a cam that creates choppy idle.
You should worry less about a choppy idle and more about how the cam performs and where it produces power.
My 496 has very little or no chop at idle, but everyone instantly knows it is a monster as soon as I push the go peddle, even a little.
Your cam choose 1900-5600 would probably work better with the 3.55 but if you go with the 3.36 you might look at cams that come on at 1500.
I know a lot of people worry about wanting a cam that creates choppy idle.
You should worry less about a choppy idle and more about how the cam performs and where it produces power.
My 496 has very little or no chop at idle, but everyone instantly knows it is a monster as soon as I push the go peddle, even a little.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 75
Likes: 10
From: Daytona Beach
My LT-1 loved cruising at 3000+ @ 70 w/ 355s and got 15 mpg on the interstate doing it, with it's oem Holley 780 vac sec.
It's just buzzy, but that's part of it's old school feel.( And I had a 239* cam in that. It liked 2500+, not under)
New cars that cruise at 2000 just have a more relaxed feel. It's a personal preference thing. There might be a few mpg involved.
OCB is spot on about the 1500 rpm. Pay close attention to what the cam mfgrs say as far as the power range, especially the lower #.
Either of those cams look doable.
My engine builder / best friend built 5000 engines. His #1 cam recommendation was: "when you are trying to decide between 2 cams, you should pick the smaller of the two, for the street or the track, and you will almost always be happier, and faster, even on the track". It is far too easy to get caught up in the numbers, and that "bigger is better" mentality. That does not work so well with cams.
But now that you are getting close to what you want, you have a "zone", call a couple cam mfgr techs and get their recommendations. True some of them are very young, compared to us, but they do exactly this, a lot. A few degrees duration one way or the other does not make that much of a difference, in feel, unless you are crossing the 230* "tipping point" for a nice performance street cam, into a rather "nasty" one.
I am glad your crate engine builder is admitting their goof, and willing to help out.
It's just buzzy, but that's part of it's old school feel.( And I had a 239* cam in that. It liked 2500+, not under)
New cars that cruise at 2000 just have a more relaxed feel. It's a personal preference thing. There might be a few mpg involved.
OCB is spot on about the 1500 rpm. Pay close attention to what the cam mfgrs say as far as the power range, especially the lower #.
Either of those cams look doable.
My engine builder / best friend built 5000 engines. His #1 cam recommendation was: "when you are trying to decide between 2 cams, you should pick the smaller of the two, for the street or the track, and you will almost always be happier, and faster, even on the track". It is far too easy to get caught up in the numbers, and that "bigger is better" mentality. That does not work so well with cams.
But now that you are getting close to what you want, you have a "zone", call a couple cam mfgr techs and get their recommendations. True some of them are very young, compared to us, but they do exactly this, a lot. A few degrees duration one way or the other does not make that much of a difference, in feel, unless you are crossing the 230* "tipping point" for a nice performance street cam, into a rather "nasty" one.
I am glad your crate engine builder is admitting their goof, and willing to help out.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,343
Likes: 8,150
From: Napa Valley California
The Howard’s cam is probably a much better cam.
My engine builder has had problems getting Howard’s products for quite some time and it can take months to get a cam and lifters through Howard’s.
He is usually ordering custom grinds that can take even longer to get shipped.
If your builder told you they couldn’t get the Howard’s cam, he is probably telling you the truth.
If you’re not in a big rush, I would order a cam from Howard’s and wait it out before I would go with Comp Cams.
Don’t get me wrong, Comp Cams manufactures great products and is a good company, but you’ll probably get a little better quality and customer service from Howard’s.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 610
Likes: 168
From: Vancouver B.C.
You can email Chris Straub at Straub Technologies. Provide your engine specs, gears and tranny info. He will recommend a cam. He is kind of the cam go to guy on the Chevelle forums. I have his roller cam selections in my 70 454 Chevelle and my 72 350 Corvette. Very happy and sound great.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,020
Likes: 1,120
From: North tonawanda NY
Maybe or maybe not.
The Howard’s cam is probably a much better cam.
My engine builder has had problems getting Howard’s products for quite some time and it can take months to get a cam and lifters through Howard’s.
He is usually ordering custom grinds that can take even longer to get shipped.
If your builder told you they couldn’t get the Howard’s cam, he is probably telling you the truth.
If you’re not in a big rush, I would order a cam from Howard’s and wait it out before I would go with Comp Cams.
Don’t get me wrong, Comp Cams manufactures great products and is a good company, but you’ll probably get a little better quality and customer service from Howard’s.
The Howard’s cam is probably a much better cam.
My engine builder has had problems getting Howard’s products for quite some time and it can take months to get a cam and lifters through Howard’s.
He is usually ordering custom grinds that can take even longer to get shipped.
If your builder told you they couldn’t get the Howard’s cam, he is probably telling you the truth.
If you’re not in a big rush, I would order a cam from Howard’s and wait it out before I would go with Comp Cams.
Don’t get me wrong, Comp Cams manufactures great products and is a good company, but you’ll probably get a little better quality and customer service from Howard’s.
