Seeking Camshaft Wisdom

[sumran]

I wanted to get the collective wisdom on a camshaft for the engine I will be using in my project truck.

The engine is a 305 (I know, I should add 45 cubic inches) with an Edelbrock Performer intake, full length headers, and a Flowmaster dual exhaust system. The goal is a cruiser with modest performance, good sound, and good off-idle to 4,500 rpm behavior. It will attached to a 700R4 tranny. I know the mileage will be lousy with this vehicle, but I want the best lousy mileage I can get. Don't want to spend money for nothing, but I will give away some parts dollars for improved performance. I don't want to give away mileage for speed.

I have looked at a few. All of them work great in the marketing materials. I am leaning toward the Edelbrock 2102 with a valve spring set and a new timing chain. Just wanted to get some real world experiences with my combination.

The heads will be going to in for freshening, so suggestions about head work that might be done as part of the project are also welcome.

Thanks.

[baclay9]

Your not going to get a lope and idle to 4,500 performance. The more duration you have (which causes the lope everyone loves) the higher up the rpm band your power is going to move and the larger stall converter you are going to need. That being said, if I were using the same engine I would probably go with a Comp Cams XE256H or XE262H at the most.

[spudz]

my advice is to call comp cams or someone like that, tell them what you have and what you are wanting. They will help.. Be prepaired to wait on the phone for atleast an hour lol.

[jrcaprai]

What Carb do you have

[spudz]

install a stock 350 cam TRW #274 cam or sealed power cs274. Ebay had this cam new for like 35 bux.. and then buy new lifters. dual plane intake, 1.6 rockers, headers, no bigger then 600cfm carb, etc. some fine tuning... yada yada. AND I promise..... it will beat up on any stock 350 square....... I had a setup like this with a 700r4 in a 76 elcamino. It ran great, got OVER 20mpg and you couldn't tell it was a 305. It wasn't a race car or anything but impressed me. Throttle response was awesome.

[sumran]

Carb is an Edelbrock 1402. I am not after a big lope at idle. Just looking improved performance in the low to mid RPM range.

[PRattenbury]

I think you are headed in the right direction. As stated before, your idle will be smooth. But your low end response will be good. It should be a good combo.

[sumran]

Spoke to the cam guru at comp cam, as suggested. Didn't even have to wait long. He suggested the 12-230-2, which is very similar to the Edelbrock 2102.

Also spoke with the tech at Edelbrock. He asked me whether I had rotator valves. Once again, I am dazzled by my own ignorance. Didn't know anything about those. I'll have to go home and investigate so I can buy the right springs.

Thanks for the other suggestions as well. I am also going to read up on the TRW cam. Seems like a similar cam with a bit less lift.

[thesickc10]

get an rv cam. exactly what you want idle to 4500

[rayfinseats]

I agree with SPUDZ. Don't waste your money on an aftermarket cam.

Sealed Power CS274. The specs are:
Duration @ .050": 194/203
Lift w/ 1.5 ratio: .390/.410
LSA: im guessing its like 112-114

"Cam specs on the 327/300hp cam are 195in 202ex duration @ .050" .390"in .410" ex lift @valve. 112LSA."

The heads on a 305 have VERY SMALL ports and they suck, I think a 350 head would flow much better, or vortec heads which flow great and best bang for buck.

Now see this...
http://www.compcams.com/technical/Dy...50H-10_001.asp

[sumran]

I am going to stick with the lowly 305 and the heads I have. They will provide more than enough for my needs. If I decide to build something more powerful later, I probably wouldn't put it in the truck. No disrespect intended to the many here that have very fast trucks, but if I want go fast I would chose a different platform. I just want to make the best of what I have.

I can buy a cam for few bucks and increase my power and mileage. It will help me get more benefit out of the headers and intake.

[mrhino]

Ill throw my .2 cents in. I built a bad ass 305 a few years ago 326Hp tuned port with lots of bottom end. I realize a tuned port is more efficient and makes more power, but the basic principles are the same. Ill give you 3 good pieces of advice. 1. what ever cam you choose do not exceed 205 degrees of duration. anything more and the engine cant use it and it will run awful, poor performance and even worse fuel efficiency. 305's have a small bore, small combustion chamber, and small valves treat the cam and the carb the same way. Which brings me #2. Do not put 350 heads on a 305 block. the valves will hit the block, unless you "eye brow" the block. and # 3 If you dont understand, how a camshaft truly works, aside from opening and closing valves, spend a little time here and learn it. Once you know and understand what Duration, lift, centerline, separation angle, overlap, and all the other good stuff is. youll know for yourself what cam is the right cam for your engine. Plus youll have a whole new understanding on how engines themselves live and breathe. Trust me that knowledge is priceless. just my opinion.

[sumran]

Originally Posted by mrhino

Ill throw my .2 cents in. I built a bad ass 305 a few years ago 326Hp tuned port with lots of bottom end. I realize a tuned port is more efficient and makes more power, but the basic principles are the same. Ill give you 3 good pieces of advice. 1. what ever cam you choose do not exceed 205 degrees of duration. anything more and the engine cant use it and it will run awful, poor performance and even worse fuel efficiency. 305's have a small bore, small combustion chamber, and small valves treat the cam and the carb the same way. Which brings me #2. Do not put 350 heads on a 305 block. the valves will hit the block, unless you "eye brow" the block. and # 3 If you dont understand, how a camshaft truly works, aside from opening and closing valves, spend a little time here and learn it. Once you know and understand what Duration, lift, centerline, separation angle, overlap, and all the other good stuff is. youll know for yourself what cam is the right cam for your engine. Plus youll have a whole new understanding on how engines themselves live and breathe. Trust me that knowledge is priceless. just my opinion.

Thanks for the input. I am staying with the heads I have. The duration of the cam I am planning to use (Edelbrock 2102) is 204 intake /214 exhaust. I have a good understanding of how cams work, but I can certainly learn more. Some of this stuff is trial and error. I am certainly glad to have the benefit of your experience as I go along,