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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: RTP, NC
Posts: 518
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Camshaft
This winter I'm going to work on the engine a little. I have headers and an intake manifold that I'm going to clean up and install. Need to find a good 4-barrel; but the question is about a new cam. I know nothing about cams. What do I look for? The truck is just a cruiser so nothing extreme. Its a 71 C-10 w/ a 307 stock 2B Rochester. Any input would be great. Thanks.
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#2 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: North Texas
Posts: 3,491
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Re: Camshaft
A good step up from stock is the very popular 204/214 cam. Edelbrock sells a cam and lifter kit as their P/N 2102. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-2102/
Summit Racing's version is SUM-K1102. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-K1102/ My guess is the Edelbrock lifters are better. You can use stock valve springs with these cams, assuming they are in good shape, and you don't have to worry about valve-to-piston clearance. I would definitely install a new timing chain set. A good 4bbl carb would be a 500 CFM Edelbrock Performer. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-1403/ The 1404 is the manual choke version. A Holley 390 will also work well on your 307. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HLY-0-8007/ as will a Barry Grant 525 CFM Road Demon Jr. http://www.jegs.com/i/Barry%20Grant/...0002/-1?CT=999 Have fun! And remember, when it comes to a mild 307 with stock heads, bigger is most definitely NOT better.
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Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 35 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 24 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then! Last edited by MikeB; 11-06-2010 at 09:28 PM. |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Elgin Mn
Posts: 112
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Re: Camshaft
Follow the advise given and you will be fine. I will add my 2 cents however. The 307 is a fine motor, just remember it will never be a "powerhouse". So don't try to make it so. I would certainly give some thought to pulling the heads and replacing the guides and Valve job. I know it will increase the costs and such but these motors are notorious for loose valve guides. Just a thought....Another consideration you may consider is the stock cam you have and add 1.6 rockers. Save you some money... Or a near stock aftermarket cam with 1.6's .....I personally like the Q Jet carb...for mileage and performance. Cheap and plentiful....Just watch for bolt patterns on manifolds. The performer is a nice manifold ...accepts the QJ carb...and are plentiful used....Try to get the newest used one possible if you went that route as there are running changes to the design. You can't give them away so the cost again is nice. Hmmm looks like pulling those heads might be doable after all....These are not necessarily recommendations just different ideas to look at. I would personally rather have a fresh valve job/guides with a stock cam and 1.6 rockers that aftermarket goodies and worn heads. The most important thing is to keep it small and balanced...by balanced I mean parts compatibility.
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In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, brave hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds however, the timid join him , for then it costs nothing to be a patriot. I am a revolutionary...so my son can be a farmer...so his son can be a poet. If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, so my child may have peace... 72 short step w/ 388 /4l80e/ and 3.08 gears. Last edited by llowlife; 11-07-2010 at 09:22 AM. |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: RTP, NC
Posts: 518
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Re: Camshaft
Thanks for the input; I am planning on having a valve job done, been burning oil this summer. I found a cast iron intake off an 80's Chevy and will be having that machined also, probably will forgo the cam right now. Any ideas on a carb for that intake? Also, anyone know of a good book out there to learn about building a Chevy 307?
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Elgin Mn
Posts: 112
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Re: Camshaft
There are some things you can do that will increase performance to an extent that require nothing but elbow grease.
How to rebuild your small block chevy- David Vizard Older book but its still relevant. He takes you through everything you need to know. Again I like the Quadrajet carb. Some do some don't. It is extremely adjustable if you want to learn how or just rebuild it and go. Top notch mileage and performance when needed. Also the best sounding carb when those secondaries wake up. Look into some 1.6:1 rockers they should wake it up a little without putting too much strain on the valvetrain. Ask 100 different people and you will get 100 different answers with only a handful of the m being wrong. Look at the drag strip. 100 different motor combination's all going the same time. If possible don't overlook any detail on putting it together. The difference between winning and losing can be in the details. As said earlier there are some things that can be done to help performance without costing anything but time. Good luck
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In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, brave hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds however, the timid join him , for then it costs nothing to be a patriot. I am a revolutionary...so my son can be a farmer...so his son can be a poet. If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, so my child may have peace... 72 short step w/ 388 /4l80e/ and 3.08 gears. |
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#6 |
I dun gradjiated collij!!!
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: St. Helens Oregon
Posts: 1,751
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Re: Camshaft
What a coincidence, I am starting to warm over my little 307 as well.... Don't let the 350 fan boys scare you off...as far as the cam goes I agree that the Summit 1102 is a good step up from stock IF you are keeping the 307 heads. Remember the 307s sported huge 74CC combustion chambers and puny valves... I would ditch them for a set of 305 HOs or better yet a set of Vortecs...then step up to an 1103 214/224 cam
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Built NOT Bought. Viper Red 1971 LWB C10 355 Vortec W/700R4 4/5 drop AKA Screamin' You are missed!
2006 F150 XLT 5.4L Triton Rollin' on 22s the "F1" 67 C20 PS/AC/327/TH400 we call 'er "Bessie" 67 Malibu PS/ZR1-LS1 Brakes/350 Vortec/700R4 2/2 drop on 18" 338s - Tracy's "Boo" Boosted '67 Cougar EFI 5.0 HO roller motor/T5/8.8 Tracloc/ 4 wheel disks - "Project Panther" 79 Honda Z50 - stretched, cafe'd and hotrodded 125CC Lifan/5spd FEAR THE MONKEY! |
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#7 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: RTP, NC
Posts: 518
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Re: Camshaft
Quote:
And what do those cam numbers actually mean? |
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#8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 4,093
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Re: Camshaft
Im intersted in this post. I also have a 307 and is starting to burn oil and next spring thinking about taking the heads to a machine shop to get them fixed. Anybody know would it be cheaper getting new heads or just machining the old?
Thanks Last edited by treveiger; 11-08-2010 at 01:24 AM. |
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#9 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Buckeye Arizona
Posts: 470
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Re: Camshaft
Find a set of like 186 heads, they have 64CC chambers which will help ya out, usually 1.94/1.50 valve combo.
Or 305 heads, they have a nice small, 58CC chamber |
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#10 |
Big Red - Now its a SWB!
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Oroville, Ca
Posts: 1,624
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Re: Camshaft
He is suggesting changing heads. By swapping to a smaller combustion chamber you can up the compression, which helps make a more efficient combustion = more power. I am running about 10:1 compression and I can run 87 octane with no pinging (But I usually run 91 just to be safe).
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68 3/4 ton ![]() ![]() 41 3/4 ton ![]() 01 Tahoe LT 4WD (my daily driver)-Magnaflow Muffler, Rollin on 22's 02 Ford Mustang Convertable (Wife's Car)-Flowmaster 50, Clear corners, Intake, sittin on 18's |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Marianna Arkansas
Posts: 7,270
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Re: Camshaft
just don't get to big! the truck will be a lot more fun to drive if the cam is chosen wisely. Also remember when someone says I run bla bla bla that is probably in a 350 and those can take more cam than your 307. Like sated earlier a matched set for your intake is always a good chioce. Those guys at the big copanies spend lots of time in the dyno rooms to take the guess work out for you because it is such an importnt decesion. JIM
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#12 |
Big Red - Now its a SWB!
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Oroville, Ca
Posts: 1,624
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Re: Camshaft
X2, most cam recommendations you read on the cam manufactures websites are for 350 like stated above. The larger displacement makes a huge difference in how a cam acts. My Comp Cams xe268 has a duration @.050" of 224/230 and it doesn't like to cruise under 1400 RPM, so if you dropped that in a 307 it prolly wouldn't cruise under 2000 RPM which wouldn't make a very fun street motor. I would say stick with a cam that says something like Idle-5000 RPM, that way you know it is pretty tame.
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68 3/4 ton ![]() ![]() 41 3/4 ton ![]() 01 Tahoe LT 4WD (my daily driver)-Magnaflow Muffler, Rollin on 22's 02 Ford Mustang Convertable (Wife's Car)-Flowmaster 50, Clear corners, Intake, sittin on 18's |
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#13 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: North Texas
Posts: 3,491
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Re: Camshaft
Quote:
Nothing wrong with a 307 unless you plan to haul heavy loads up mountain roads. Certainly better than a 305, IMO. Well said!
__________________
Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 35 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 24 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then! Last edited by MikeB; 11-06-2010 at 10:01 PM. |
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