350 Chevy cam choice

[David67]

What is the difference in cams available...such as a Summit Racing branded one vs. Comp Cams branded, if the cam specs themselves are essentially the same? Is the name brand worth the extra money?

Looking for a rough-sounding idle with good drivability.

350 (was a 1993 TBI truck engine) with stock bottom end, vortec heads, edelbrock performer intake, headers, 3.73 rear end, 4 speed manual, 600 CFM 4BBL

Would these cams work with the stock vortec heads and upgraded springs? Can I go bigger?

Summit #K1103, 272/282, 0.442/0.465

Comp Cams XE262 or XE268

Any other ideas?

Trying to order today.

Thanks in advance.

[409impala1]

Comp cams---bad experiences in the hardness of the lobes, not due to break in.

For a cam just what you want call REED cams. they will make the came to what you want to match the engine in the tech department. i am not a rep for them or a salesman, just a satisfied customer that has used a lot of their cams for racing, offraod, and street. Same price or less than the other guys.

[67Dad]

Does anyone have experience with Summit K00052 or K00172 cams? How do they perform? Finish? Sound? Thanks! (application: 1993 350 SBC w/ 1996 Vortec heads).

[Also, trying to decide on Manifold...Edlebrock Performer or Performer RPM...not serious racing, just hobby rebuilding/show/sound/drivability. Thanks.]

[barryvanhook]

Originally Posted by 67Dad

[Also, trying to decide on Manifold...Edlebrock Performer or Performer RPM...not serious racing, just hobby rebuilding/show/sound/drivability. Thanks.]

Given what you have said, the Performer may fit the bill since it benefits performance at lower engine speeds. The air gap version might provide a marginal increase provided you can get it at the same price as the regular Performer.

Barry

[RIA69]

Personally I would stay away from he airgap unless you want less gas mileage, the one I was runnning a few weeks ago ate gas like no other then replaced it the a basic eddlebrock it increased alot. as far as cam i would go with the comp xe268 thats what I am going to be running in my engine I am rebuilding.

[67Dad]

We've got the Summit cam and recommended springs, and are putting Vortec heads on the block, but are a little concerned about clearances. We had read and been told numerous places that the Vortec's could handle around .470-.500 lift. Measuring from under the spring retainer to the top of the new blue valve seal, there was only about an extra .010 or .020 over the cam lift of .454.

Is this enough? Any suggestions? Is the valve seal needed--at all--or could we use the old ones (shorter). Could the spring retainers (which are much longer than stock) be ground shorter? Could the old spring retainers (much less beefy than the new ones) be used with the newer beefier springs?

Thanks.

Mark

[68Stepbed]

I have the COMP XE262 cam in my engine. Love it!

[Hlindeen]

In my 350 i have a edelbrock performer cam it will give you power through idleling speeds up to around 5500 rpms, where i can tell i have alot of power is aroun 50-55 mph just but i also have a 4.56 gear ratio in my 72 4x4. for m setup i have a 350 bored.30 over edelbrock performer cam, performer carb 650cfm, and aluminum intake performer series it runs very healthy! hope fully this helps with your decission Hunter!

[Lee H]

[Looking for a rough-sounding idle with good drivability.

350 (was a 1993 TBI truck engine) with stock bottom end, vortec heads, edelbrock performer intake, headers, 3.73 rear end, 4 speed manual, 600 CFM 4BBL

Would these cams work with the stock vortec heads and upgraded springs? Can I go bigger?]

Call one or two of the major cam manufacturers and let them recommend the right cam for your application. Be prepared to give them an honest assessment of what you will be doing with your truck. Other info they will need aside from the above includes type of 4 speed, tire size, power brakes?, type of driving the truck will mainly see. They will recommend a cam and the specs including the springs you need to run. You can then get a cam with those specs from who ever you want. For drivability bigger is not always better. You will end up losing low RPM torque and power and will not be a happy camper.