Someone gave me a running 305 and I want to put a good low end torque cam in it. What would be your suggestion? It has headers, edlebrock rpm intake, and stock quadrajet. Engine is pretty much stock as far as everything else goes.

The Edelbrock Performer, part #2102 would be perfect.

Buy it from Summit for like $90/with lifters.

It's the 204/214 cam in their house cam list.

pdq67

Will either of these give it the low end torque that I'm looking for? This will be a driver, so I'm not looking for much performance out of it.

I used a cam very similar to this one and it gave me very good throttle response and great idle, along with a good kick in the pants when you mashed it from a stand still.
Yes this cam will give you real good torque.

Your best cam for low end torque is the factory 305 cam, anything listed here is going to shift the powerband up higher and remove low end torque. I would pull the rocker covers off and crank the engine over while watching the tops of the spring retainers. If the rockers all open about the same visually, bolt the engine in the car and forget about it. Well, maybe do a performance recurve on your distributor and rejet your carb as required. A small set of headers will help as well.

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Custom Auto, your source for quality machine work, cores and new parts at competetive pricing right here in British Columbia 1-888-563-4050
A Canadian, EH? (with a 10 second street car)

Yes, rust is right

The great stock, -929 cam is one-step smaller then the Performer cam we mentioned!

It is 195/202, 112/108, .390"/.410" lift

vs the Performer at;

204/214, 112/107, .420"/.442" lift.

Put a new stock one back in it if you don't want the extra pep the performer will give you..

pdq67

PS., at least I think the 305 still used the -929 cam?????

rust, or was it a smaller, 183/195 cam or something like that???

From my recollection in the early 80's, the 929 cam was the "HO" cam and the factory 305 cam was much smaller, in the area of 184/194 @ .050. IMHO, stock is perfect for his application, any larger will need more converter stall.

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Custom Auto, your source for quality machine work, cores and new parts at competetive pricing right here in British Columbia 1-888-563-4050
A Canadian, EH? (with a 10 second street car)

OK I need to post my experience with a 305.

I had a 85 Chevy PU with a doggie 305, found out cam had a few bad lobes. Did all the research and went to store to buy the cam. Guy at the counter told me to use this:

Part Number: 100052 Grind Number: 272 H10
Engine Identification:
Start Yr. End Yr. Make Cyl Description
1957 1987 CHEVROLET 8 GOOD IDLE, DAILY USAGE, OFF ROAD, HIGHWAY TOWING, FUEL EFFICIENCY PLUS PERFORMANCE, 2600-3000 CRUISE RPM, 8.75 TO 10.0 COMPRESSION RATIO ADVISED. (50 STATE LEGAL, PRE-COMPUTER, C.A.R.B. E.O. D-225-21) BASIC RPM 2000-5000
Engine Size Configuration
262-400 C.I. V

Valve Setting: Intake .000 Exhaust .000 HOT

Lift: Intake @Cam 3027 @Valve 454 All Lifts are based
on zero lash and theoretical rocker arm ratios.
Exhaust @ Cam 3027 @Valve 454
Rocker Arm Ratio 1.5

Cam Timing: TAPPET @.004
Lift: Opens Closes ADV Duration
Intake 27 BTDC 65 ABDC 272 °
Exhaust 67 BBDC 25 ATDC 272 °

Spring Requirements: Triple Dual Outer Inner
Part Number 99848
Loads Closed 114 LBS @ 1.700 or 1 45/64
Open 303 LBS @ 1.270
Recommended RPM range with matching components
Minimum RPM 1600
Maximum RPM 5400
Valve Float 5600

Cam Timing: TAPPET @.050
Lift: Opens Closes Max Lift Duration
Intake 3 BTDC 33 ABDC 105 216 °
Exhaust 43 BBDC (7) BTDC 115 216 °

Remarks:




I said that thing seems too big for a 305 that I plan on towing with! The guy say's trust me.
So with a lot of hesitation I bought this cam and put it in my 305 along with a eddy intake and a re curved dist, truck already had headers and dual exhaust.

Well let me tell you that thing would fly! This little 305 felt more like a 350, I have never yet seen a 305 feel like the one I put that cam into. It had great bottom end all the way up to 5500. It idled very nice, you could only hear the cam when it was cold but after it warmed up it sounded pretty much like stock.

I don't think I would go with stock but that is just me especially after my experience. If you want go with the next one smaller than this. It will work just fine.

One smaller:

Part Number: 100042 Grind Number: 266 H10
Engine Identification:
Start Yr. End Yr. Make Cyl Description
1957 1987 CHEVROLET 8 SMOOTH IDLE, DAILY USAGE, FUEL ECONOMY, LIGHT TOWING, OFF ROAD, 2200-2700 CRUISE RPM, 8.5 TO 10.0 COMPRESSION RATIO ADV. (50 STATE LEGAL, PRE-COMPUTER, C.A.R.B. E.O. D-225-21) BASIC RPM 1600-4600
Engine Size Configuration
262-400 C.I. V

Valve Setting: Intake .000 Exhaust .000 HOT

Lift: Intake @Cam 2934 @Valve 440 All Lifts are based
on zero lash and theoretical rocker arm ratios.
Exhaust @ Cam 2934 @Valve 440
Rocker Arm Ratio 1.5

Cam Timing: TAPPET @.004
Lift: Opens Closes ADV Duration
Intake 24 BTDC 62 ABDC 266 °
Exhaust 64 BBDC 22 ATDC 266 °

Spring Requirements: Triple Dual Outer Inner
Part Number 99848
Loads Closed 114 LBS @ 1.700 or 1 45/64
Open 297 LBS @ 1.280
Recommended RPM range with matching components
Minimum RPM 1400
Maximum RPM 5000
Valve Float 5600

Cam Timing: TAPPET @.050
Lift: Opens Closes Max Lift Duration
Intake 0 BTDC 30 ABDC 105 210 °
Exhaust 40 BBDC (10) BTDC 115 210 °

Remarks:

I like Bad's suggestion on that smaller 266 cam. That's one I've used in quite a few engines and it's got some serious balls from idle to ~5000 depending on how good your heads are. Mileage is even pretty good. If you're going aftermarket that's one I can vouch for personally. I think it's the tight 110* LSA and the 5* of advance they grind into the cam right from the factory that really gives that cam a nice fat torque curve.

A stock 305 "HO" cam like came in the L69s they put in Camaros and Monte SSs specs out like this:

Duration @ 050: 202 intake, 206 exhaust
Lift: .403" intake, .415" exhaust
Lobe separation: 115*
Intake centerline: 115*

It's not a bad cam but the wide LSA and no advance ground into the cam kinda hurts the torque through the midrange. And that's something you probably don't want to be giving away on a little 305. Same cam ground on a 110-112* LSA and a few degrees of advance would have more kick. Remember the factory has to juggle a lot of factors besides just power and mileage so they aren't often optimum choices for performance. Especially a cam from back in the days of carburetors and crude emissions controls.

The Edlebrock Performer cam (which is the same as the Summit #K1102 cam) checks in at 204/214* on a 112* LSA and a 107* intake centerline (5* advanced) . It's not much more duration than the stock "HO" cam as you can see but it's got more punch from the tighter LSA and the amount of advance ground into it. It's still got a smooth idle and good mileage. You can't tell it from stock just by listening to it.

I love it, a Crane 272 Energizer in a 305!

The only reason it works is b/c of the 305's long stroke. Great cam..

I like the 266 Energizer better tho..

pdq67

My 74 Z28 original cam had .450 lift. The 74 Z28 actually used the old 350HP cam. And that would work in a 305???. HMMMM. Something to think about since the 305 will be going in the 74 until I can find my lifter/cam problem.

I might check out some cam catalogs to see what they reccomend.

With the low compression of the 305 it might be a natural for some sort of forced induction, like a turbo. HMMMMM

I had a 79RS with stock 305, and just the addition of true dual exhaust and a stock 350 cam over the 305 peanut cam made a huge difference. Now I think I would get the 305HO cam some1 else mentioned or Ersons "the Commuter"cam thats .410/.420 on lift.