easy way to figure cam lift on sbc in truck? worried changing heads

[jrcaprai]

Not saying to go buy what I have... Just saying lumpy cams can be fine on the Street. Don't let anyone tell you it will be a Dog! I say get a Comp XE268 or XE274... I had a 383 with Stock heads and a Comp XE284 Cam and it was no slouch down low!

[joebuick]

Hey Knightowl73,, I feel for you having this prob with your truck and not being able to decide where to start. Here is where I would start. I'm not trying to be a smart a**, but can you tell if the engine is missing? If it is not missing then your camshaft is prolly OK, but here is how I would go about it. Go and buy you a dial indicator with a magnetic stand or go to a mechanic friend and borrow one. Harbor Freight has em for hardly no money, but will be cheaper than mistakenly replacing a good camshaft. Set it up on each intake rocker arm and roll the engine BY HAND one compleate revolution and log the intakes total travel. Do the same for the exhaust valves. This will either prove or disprove wheather you have a "flat" lobe on the cam. All the intakes should be within a gnats a** of each other, same for the exhausts. It will also tell you how much lift your cam has. I'm not sure what you mean by the lifters being "toast" Are these solid or hydraulic? If they are solid, they may just need adjusting. If solid lifters, Try setting them at .030 as this is a good place to start unless you know what the original Mfgr's recommendation was. If they are hydraulics, try this, If you do not have any "clips" to put on the rocker arms to kinda control the oil squirting all over,,, use some bunched up shop towels to cover the rocker arms. Remove one valve cover and start the engine ( be ready with the towels here) start at the front of engine and slowly loosen the first rocker arm till you hear it clicking, then tighten it 1/4 turn. Go down the row til you get em all. ( intakes and exhaust both) replace valve cover and go to the other side. You may have to stop and add more oil but if you lay your towels right you won't lose too much oil. What this dose is allow the hydraulic lifter to fill up to it's max potential and increase the lift of the lifter. ( old hot rod trick) Don't give up,man you'll get it.