need help picking cam and manifold - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

zenchal26 · 06-18-2012, 10:00 PM

Got a 57 chevy truck 350, .30 over, fuelie heads, 9.5-1 compression, edelbrock 1406 cab, hugger headers, super 40 flowmasters, 700r4 trans. Need help picking intake and cam. Truck is going to be a driver. I have performer rpm intake now but is there a better choice?

quigman · 06-19-2012, 12:23 AM

The manifold you have will work just fine. It is intended for a higher rpm range though. The air gap manifolds are considered the best all around manifold but you would see little differnce if you changed. I would save my money and leave it alone. I have used a Comp 268 cam in a couple small blocks and I love them. I don't remember the specs off hand but it is their best selling cam for chevy small blocks. Great idle sound, good vaccuum and very driveable. It is the biggest cam they make that works with a stock convertor. I have one in my 406 with a 700r4. Works great.

low67chevy · 06-19-2012, 12:24 AM

RPM airgap intake allows for a cooler fuel/air charge by allowing air cross flow under the runners, and as for a cam depends on what kind of performance you really want?

zenchal26 · 06-19-2012, 05:43 AM

I want good fuel milage over hp never going to race truck. Going to be a daily driver I can have some fun in. Would the performer intake work better than the rpm for thiss app.

B_Hix · 06-19-2012, 07:17 AM

Comp Cams has a great tool to help you pick a cam - the result depending of course on honest input - we all want to be on the 'optimistic side' when inputting data

You can also call them and they will hook you up.

I agree, the air gap is an exceptional intake for street use, but the difference between a air gap and the performer RPM that you now have will not justify the additional expense. The air gaps have a range of 1500-6500 rpm - how likley are you to run 6500 rpm for street driving?

Just to complicate the cam choice a bit more Edelbrok has invested a fortune into dyno matching their parts - it's hard to go wrong if you use one of their packages.

Good luck with it and try to avoid the biggest and most common cam mistake people make - 'bigger is always better'.... Match the 'power band' of your cam to your intended use. With your goals most of your driving will be under 5500 rpm so look for a cam that is going to perform well in that range. Available dyno tests (through comp and edel) will show you the HP/torque curves through the range.

Comp Cams Selection tool: http://www.camquest.com/

Have fun with the hardest part of engine building - deciding on parts, lol

zenchal26 · 06-19-2012, 10:01 AM

So should I go with a eddy performer cam 95% of my driving is going to be under 5500rpm. will this cam work with the rpm intake or should I get the matching intake.

B_Hix · 06-19-2012, 11:38 AM

Cam selection is a very personal thing, and for everyone that swears by and loves a certain cam/grind there is one that will say they hate it, so I am woe to make any specific recommendations. For some IT IS rocket science, for others it's just about matching the cam to the 'mission' and enjoying it

That said, with most of your driving under 5500, the Performer RPM intake is for up to 6500 rpm whereas the Performer is up to 5500, that being what sounds like your sweet spot.

Using the bigger intake (the RPM) would probably result in zero difference on the butt dyno for you, but on the track or a chassis dyno you would likley see less early torque. The street machine (for me) is all about snappy throttle response and low end (early) torque, suited well for light to light style performance.

It sounds like an ideal package for you would to match parts in the 1500-5500rpm range for the driving your intend to do. A cam in that range would work fine with a stock converter and you could always swap gears to get a pretty drastic effect for street driving...

(Legal notice) Street racing is a highly illegal and dangerous activity and in no way shape or form do I advocate it

**mr48chev** · 06-19-2012, 12:31 PM

I've run a performer for years and love it but I don't think I'd change from the Performer Rpm unless you plan to do a lot of towing where the lower end torque might be an issue.

The big issue on the Performer RPM might be if you plan to drive the truck in real cold weather a lot. Set up the way it is to keep the air/fuel charge a bit cooler it works against you on a cold engine in real cold weather.

I've run a 268 Comp cam before and still have it stashed away for future use after I pulled out of the engine I had it in. It's a good street cam.

06-18-2012, 10:00 PM	#1
zenchal26 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: maine Posts: 152	need help picking cam and manifold Got a 57 chevy truck 350, .30 over, fuelie heads, 9.5-1 compression, edelbrock 1406 cab, hugger headers, super 40 flowmasters, 700r4 trans. Need help picking intake and cam. Truck is going to be a driver. I have performer rpm intake now but is there a better choice?

06-19-2012, 12:23 AM	#2
quigman Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Tucson Arizona Posts: 30	Re: need help picking cam and manifold The manifold you have will work just fine. It is intended for a higher rpm range though. The air gap manifolds are considered the best all around manifold but you would see little differnce if you changed. I would save my money and leave it alone. I have used a Comp 268 cam in a couple small blocks and I love them. I don't remember the specs off hand but it is their best selling cam for chevy small blocks. Great idle sound, good vaccuum and very driveable. It is the biggest cam they make that works with a stock convertor. I have one in my 406 with a 700r4. Works great.

06-19-2012, 12:24 AM	#3
low67chevy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Kelowna BC Canada Posts: 91	Re: need help picking cam and manifold RPM airgap intake allows for a cooler fuel/air charge by allowing air cross flow under the runners, and as for a cam depends on what kind of performance you really want?

06-19-2012, 05:43 AM	#4
zenchal26 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: maine Posts: 152	Re: need help picking cam and manifold I want good fuel milage over hp never going to race truck. Going to be a daily driver I can have some fun in. Would the performer intake work better than the rpm for thiss app.

06-19-2012, 07:17 AM	#5
B_Hix Registered User Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Central Missouri Posts: 155	Re: need help picking cam and manifold Comp Cams has a great tool to help you pick a cam - the result depending of course on honest input - we all want to be on the 'optimistic side' when inputting data You can also call them and they will hook you up. I agree, the air gap is an exceptional intake for street use, but the difference between a air gap and the performer RPM that you now have will not justify the additional expense. The air gaps have a range of 1500-6500 rpm - how likley are you to run 6500 rpm for street driving? Just to complicate the cam choice a bit more Edelbrok has invested a fortune into dyno matching their parts - it's hard to go wrong if you use one of their packages. Good luck with it and try to avoid the biggest and most common cam mistake people make - 'bigger is always better'.... Match the 'power band' of your cam to your intended use. With your goals most of your driving will be under 5500 rpm so look for a cam that is going to perform well in that range. Available dyno tests (through comp and edel) will show you the HP/torque curves through the range. Comp Cams Selection tool: http://www.camquest.com/ Have fun with the hardest part of engine building - deciding on parts, lol Last edited by B_Hix; 06-19-2012 at 07:26 AM.

06-19-2012, 10:01 AM	#6
zenchal26 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: maine Posts: 152	Re: need help picking cam and manifold So should I go with a eddy performer cam 95% of my driving is going to be under 5500rpm. will this cam work with the rpm intake or should I get the matching intake.

06-19-2012, 11:38 AM	#7
B_Hix Registered User Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Central Missouri Posts: 155	Re: need help picking cam and manifold Cam selection is a very personal thing, and for everyone that swears by and loves a certain cam/grind there is one that will say they hate it, so I am woe to make any specific recommendations. For some IT IS rocket science, for others it's just about matching the cam to the 'mission' and enjoying it That said, with most of your driving under 5500, the Performer RPM intake is for up to 6500 rpm whereas the Performer is up to 5500, that being what sounds like your sweet spot. Using the bigger intake (the RPM) would probably result in zero difference on the butt dyno for you, but on the track or a chassis dyno you would likley see less early torque. The street machine (for me) is all about snappy throttle response and low end (early) torque, suited well for light to light style performance. It sounds like an ideal package for you would to match parts in the 1500-5500rpm range for the driving your intend to do. A cam in that range would work fine with a stock converter and you could always swap gears to get a pretty drastic effect for street driving... (Legal notice) Street racing is a highly illegal and dangerous activity and in no way shape or form do I advocate it

06-19-2012, 12:31 PM	#8
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,705	Re: need help picking cam and manifold I've run a performer for years and love it but I don't think I'd change from the Performer Rpm unless you plan to do a lot of towing where the lower end torque might be an issue. The big issue on the Performer RPM might be if you plan to drive the truck in real cold weather a lot. Set up the way it is to keep the air/fuel charge a bit cooler it works against you on a cold engine in real cold weather. I've run a 268 Comp cam before and still have it stashed away for future use after I pulled out of the engine I had it in. It's a good street cam.



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