I have a basically stock 1985 L98. Im trying to decide on a cam. Any suggestions?
Already have chip,airfoil,k&n,MAF,4+3 tranny, will be adding a 125hp NOS soon.
Car is pretty quick already but I think there is room for improvement in the camshaft area, plus I would like a little of a rumpty rump sounding Idle. any suggestions would be appreciated as I have been out of the hot rod seen for about 20 yrs.

 

Can you budget stand the cost of a hydraulic roller cam setup?

A hydraulic roller would be the best choice in camshafts.

Depending on whether you can move to a hydraulic roller or a flat tappet roller, I can give you a specific camshaft recommendation.

I'm not a big fan of off-the-shelf grinds, like GM's HotCam or the LPE 219, but plenty of engines are running them and their owners are happy with the results. Both of these are hydraulic rollers.

In a hydraulic roller, I'd choose one of CompCams XE, CRC grinds; intake lobe #3313 and exhaust lobe 3314. It'll give you 218/224 durtation @.050, .495/.503 valve lift with 1.5 rockers. Have it ground on 114 LSA with 4 degrees of advance ground in.

If you keep the duration @.050 under 220, the engine will still pull nice vacuum so the power brakes continue to work, idle will be nicer (but noticeable), throttle response will be crisp with excellent low end and mid-range torque.

If a flat tappet grind is your choice, the CompCams XE262H (Extreme Energy)would be a excellent choice. It's 218/224@.050, .462/.469 w/1.5 rockers but I'd have it ground on 114 LSA rather than 110. A wider LSA is much more computer friendly.

Jake




[Modified by JAKE, 11:39 AM 6/25/2004]

 

^can you recommend any flat tappet cam that DOESN'T need to be ground?

 

I was looking at a couple of the Comp Cams Hydraulic Flat Tappet Nitrous cams.
Cam1: .462/.480, 218-230@.050 113 LSA
Cam2: .477/.490, 224-236 @.050 113LSA
I really dont want to spend the money on a roller right now. Eventually I will be building a 406 and then I will get serious money wise.Trying to get high 12's out of what i have. I got beat by 2 car lengths by a WRX STI(car runs 13.20's stock) about 6 weeks ago and thats what got me started messing with this motor.


[Modified by q2blaster, 8:17 PM 6/25/2004]

 

LPE 211 makes a good cam choice for a 350 ci vette thats close to stock

 

Also do you think its possible to get into the 12's with a cam change and a bottle.

 

I run 12.30 with a 211/219 Lingenfelter cam. Modified engine. If you run a 150 shot of nos (and drag radials) you will run 12's.Don't know how many runs you'll get before you break the ring lands on your pistons tho.....

 

The LPE 211 is a hyd roller, but I might look into their 212 cam.
214/224@050 112 LSA.

I dont think that will get you the idle you want though

 

I will be installing the LPE 214/224 flat tappet in my 86, but that won't be for a few months. I have the cam but I still need to get more parts to do the job. I am also putting in the larger valves and head work. I will let you know in the furture how it turns out.

 

The 224/236 you listed is too long in duration for a relatively stock 350 engine.

Both of them have a lot of intake/exhaust duration split. Great for the times you're on the bottle, but all other times you'll be getting an early exhaust valve opening and more overlap. Idle vacuum will be lower and idle quality will suffer some, but it will give you the "noticeable" idle you're looking for.

There is a Marine version of the cam I listed in my previous post: It's XM262H, 218/224@.050; .462/.477 on 112 LSA.

There's also a 4X4 version; X4262H; 218/224@.050; .462/.480 ground on 111 LSA.

Both of those are off the shelf cams.

Jake

 

What cam would produce a good power gain for and l98 and still be 50 state smog legal ad not lose that much lower end?

would a LPE 211 or zz4 or I was reading the the super profile l98 would meet these requirements?

 

Check Crane Cams web site. I bought one of their 2032 Compucams (Its called something else now, but its still the same grind and its 50 state legal) I can't give you any HP numbers because I have not installed it yet, but do a search on the forum for this cam, there are some who are running the same cam.

 

I've had CompCams in my last three cars and have been really happy with them. For a non-roller cam, if your car were mine, I'd put the 268H CompCam in it. That's my fav cam of them all but I couldn't get the same specs in the roller for my '87.

FWIW,
BIG JIM