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85 Corvette C4 Camshaft Help

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Old Jan 4, 2014 | 04:41 PM
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Default 85 Corvette C4 Camshaft Help

Hi,

I am currently rebuilding a stock Chevy 350 and will be using Tune Port Injection. I was wondering what types of cams work really well in these as it will be my daily driver when finished. I would like to be decent on fuel mileage and have a quick response on throttle from a complete stop. Also I would like to use a flat tappet cam. Let me know what you guys suggest, it will be greatly appreciated. I was looking at this cam, how is it? Opinions?

http://www.compperformancegroupstore...ory_Code=HFTCC
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Old Jan 4, 2014 | 06:28 PM
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If your going to put a cam in it I would suggest changing heads. The stock cast iron heads suck. I used the Lingenfelter 74211 roller cam If you can find someone to grind on for you, that could be a solution. BUT before you go that route, you had better start looking for someone that can burn a new chip for your proposed changes. There are not too many out there that can burn a chip for the 85. Just a heads up before you get too far.
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Old Jan 4, 2014 | 06:30 PM
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I am by no means an expert, but i also have an '85, and have done a lot of research on motor options. apparently, the biggest issue with this year is the heads and exhaust, and without upgrades here, any cam bigger than stock is pointless. there is a lot of info here and on thirdgen.org. look around.
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Old Jan 4, 2014 | 06:33 PM
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yeh, the computer is another issue. the '85 in general was kind of a one-off. A lot of guys use a newer ecm and re-pin it. i think i'm going to get a megasquirt.
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Old Jan 4, 2014 | 06:39 PM
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What kind of flat tappet cams are popular with TPI?
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Old Jan 4, 2014 | 06:44 PM
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well, that's the thing. they only made flat-tappet tpi motors in '85. '86 and up are roller blocks. i had a hard time finding cam info myself. hopefully someone with more experience will chime in.
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Old Jan 4, 2014 | 06:47 PM
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I'm running a Comp Cam 262 in my stock headed 86e.
Although it requires a retune, overall the cam is very easy to drive.
Sounds excellent & sacrifices a few mpg's

@Repete: FYI 86e iron heads are flat tappet cammed
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Old Jan 4, 2014 | 06:54 PM
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The cam you link is 206/212 on a 112 LSA and would work great in a stock 85 as an upgrade and NOT require reprogramming. It will get good mileage and compliment the tpi intake design well.
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Old Jan 4, 2014 | 07:05 PM
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@Repete: FYI 86e iron heads are flat tappet cammed
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Old Jan 4, 2014 | 07:37 PM
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The ZZ4 that I build with the 74211, AFR 180 heads, SuperRam...see signature...kicked out about 350 HP at the engine and 430 pounds of torque. Special tune by TJ Wong up in Vancouver Washington. I burned regular 87 gas with this build and got 30 mpg on the HIGHWAY. Many trips from the SF Bay area to Seattle and back. And a couple of trips to LA and back....all 30 MPG.

I did have Tom burn a second chip just for drag racing that I could switch out and then run premium fuel. Like clock work....13.2 thru the quarter at 107 MPH.
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Old Jan 4, 2014 | 07:55 PM
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Originally Posted by John A. Marker
The ZZ4 that I build with the 74211, AFR 180 heads, SuperRam...see signature...kicked out about 350 HP at the engine and 430 pounds of torque. Special tune by TJ Wong up in Vancouver Washington. I burned regular 87 gas with this build and got 30 mpg on the HIGHWAY. Many trips from the SF Bay area to Seattle and back. And a couple of trips to LA and back....all 30 MPG.

I did have Tom burn a second chip just for drag racing that I could switch out and then run premium fuel. Like clock work....13.2 thru the quarter at 107 MPH.
This cam will require $450 lifters, and should have new heads. Also would need a Edelbrock base and oversize runners, or use the Superram and lose a little below 4000.$4 or 5 thousand later and you'd be set. This cam would run on the 89 ARAP, but could benefit from some spark work.
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Old Jan 4, 2014 | 08:01 PM
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Most of the 256/260/262 type cams work well
Used a Lunati 256 in a TPI and was really happy with it. Good idle noticeable torque increase smog no problem;did not need to cut down guides although Edelbrock heads were used (Flat tappet)
To feel any difference wtih a cam seems you need to add at least 10+degrees duration opinions will vary

Last edited by cv67; Jan 4, 2014 at 08:03 PM.
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Old Jan 4, 2014 | 09:11 PM
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If you don't plan on doing anything other than a cam, don't waste your time. Any of these cams that people suggest for you using stock intake, heads, and exhaust may be counter productive and actually cause you to lose power. I have a 1985 with a miniram, 1 5/8 Longtube headers, Flat tappet version of zz409 cam, 58MM throttle body, all free mods and a few other small things and it is only slightly faster than stock, and that is with a 3.75:1 rear end. I am still using the cast iron heads and for all the money I put into it you'd think it'd be a lot faster. I'm saving up for AFR 195s right now, and I just can't express to you how terrible these cast iron heads are. Just keep the stock camshaft.
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Old Jan 4, 2014 | 09:14 PM
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F.W.I.W., I changed out my 85's L98 long block years ago and put in a 350 sbc w/882 heads and slipped in a CompCam 268h (218@.050, .454" lift single pattern, 110lsa) along with a chip burned by a member here on the forum (was about 12 years ago....) and it ran fine with the T.P.I.
I did siamese the intake base runners but not sure if that did much to help. It had real strong low end, but the top end was being held back by the tpi.
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Old Jan 5, 2014 | 06:18 AM
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Originally Posted by cuisinartvette
Most of the 256/260/262 type cams work well
Used a Lunati 256 in a TPI and was really happy with it. Good idle noticeable torque increase smog no problem;did not need to cut down guides although Edelbrock heads were used (Flat tappet)
To feel any difference wtih a cam seems you need to add at least 10+degrees duration opinions will vary

I used a Lunati 262 duration flat tappet in my old '85 350 engine,
ran great with the original chip in it
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