350 4 bolt, 1979 pick up truck engine
194 valve 642 heads. headers, edelbrock 600cfm no egr
stock intake. what cam would u recomend?

I am guessing that you have from 8 to 9:1 compression. Because of that, and because it is in a truck, I would go with a short duration cam. A 205 to 215 duration @ .050" at the most. Lift somewhere in the .450" to .488" range. A 112o lobe sep would be good too.

If you want to sacrifice a lot of driveability, mileage, etc. you could raise the duration or narrow the lobe sep. Doing that would give a choppy idle. I wouldn't recommend it though.

no. its in my 80 camaro. it was from a truck

He's right about that.The compression I mean.It's probably closer to 8:1, at the most 8.5:1.Which means to retain a decient amount of torque you need a short duration cam.
I'd look for a cam with an advertised intake duration figure of no more than 260 and the intake duration at .050 should probably be no bigger than about 207.

I'd look for a cam with an advertised intake duration figure of no more than 260 and the intake duration at .050 should probably be no bigger than about 207.
Like the top of the page High Energy Street by Comp? :)

CompCams 252HE Part#CCA-12-205-2

252 206 425 110

It ain't much, but there isn't much compression to work with.

I tend to go by this...

8 to 1 = 250;

9 to 1 = 260;

10 to 1 = 270;

10.5 to 1 = 280; and

11 to 1 = 290..

So go from there AND this does vary up and down depending on cubic inch engine size, (i.e., BB vs SB and little SB vs a bigger SB sorta deal)....

As always, jmho..

pdq67

so i cant get much hp outta my engine >=*(?

What I'm running is probably a good stick for you. Edelbrock Performer plus with 1.6 rockers. Good lift, low duration, with valve timing to raise cylinder pressures. Good torque, strong mid range, falls off quick above 5000 rpm. Good gas mileage too.

keep the block crank & rods
add flat tops or +.100 dome pistons (10 & 11:1) respectively)
vortecs, RHS or an aluminum head (165-200 cc ports, 65cc chambers)
pick a duration range from there (see pdq67 past above)
better head, more cam, more comp = more power,add more gear, more converter etc

tom3,

Please post that cam's spec's for me..

Thanks

pdq67

me to, and total cost im sorta short on $ atm so whatever u guys reconmend me do first

Guys, is the cam Tom's taking about just the good old "Performer"???

The 204/214 jobber??

pdq67

Guys, is the cam Tom's taking about just the good old "Performer"???

The 204/214 jobber??

pdq67

That was my original thought - I dunno what exactly he meant by Edelbrock performer plus.

I think the Performer and the Performer+ cam is the same thing.
The old Performer cams duration at .050 is 204In 214Ex.
If I remember right the advertised duration is way up there.I believe they listed it as 280In/290Ex with a 112 LSA. I'd say a bit big for that compression.

They also offered a slightly bigger one for 400's that was 214 on both lobes.

I think the Performer and the Performer+ cam is the same thing.
The old Performer cams duration at .050 is 204In 214Ex.
If I remember right the advertised duration is way up there.I believe they listed it as 280In/290Ex with a 112 LSA. I'd say a bit big for that compression.


The Edelbrock Performer has advertised duration of 278In/288Ex.

I've got a Crane #113901 in my Goodwrench. Adv. duration 260In/272Ex.... duration @.050 is 204In/216Ex....lift @.050 is .427In/.454Ex.....112 LSA

I've got a Crane #113901 in my Goodwrench. Adv. duration 260In/272Ex.... duration @.050 is 204In/216Ex....lift @.050 is .427In/.454Ex.....112 LSA

I'd rather have that than the old performer.

I agree thrasher!!

As well as CC's

246PE at 246/203/263/212, 110/106, .429"/.438"

and their

255DEH at 255/203/261/212, 110/106, .421"/.451"..

Just b/c of the 110/106 timimg..

pdq67

255DEH at 255/203/261/212, 110/106, .421"/.451"..

Just b/c of the 110/106 timimg..

pdq67

I like the looks of that one.I've given the spec's of it to a couple people.Everyone is so cought up in the advertising and "Advanced Tec" of the Voodoo/XE lines that they don't really want anything else :screwup:

I have a feeling that an older cam in a max'd out combination will run as good if not better than an XE or a VooDoo in a not so max'd out combination!!

I'm saying this only b/c of seat/.050" timing is all.

AN XE or VooDoo just may get into detonation b/c they are so aggressive vs the milder older cams is why, imho..

Sure, if you want max. power, then fine tune a combination and use the newest designed cam you can find that will fit your use..

But don't be supprised if your cam goes in the toilet before a stock, say 100,000 miles is over...

As always, jmho and I figure UDHarold has a better handle on aggressive cam longevity than some of the others too.............

pdq67

Hey PDQ here's one for cheap ($65.00) from speedwaymotors
204 214 262 272 420 442 112
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/ProductLargeViewAlt.aspx?path=Gif+ChartsIllust&img=915-110414-CHART_L.GIF&deptId=390&displayId=3179

I figure they are all the same cam after it is all said and done.

And years ago, I bought one down at the great big no longer Swap Meet at the Lake of the Ozarks for $30 new, in the box and it was a Perfect Circle one! The guy had them stacked up on his table like cordwood!!

pdq67