What Camshaft to buy?

[Mike_82_Shortbox]

I guys!

So I solved my oil pressure/choke light problem; it turns out that the transmission shop did pinch a wire between the transmission case and the block.

Now on to my next project, I have a new carburetor on the way for this thing, just a rebuilt stock carburetor, but I'm putting an upgraded cam and a set of headers with a three-inch single exhaust on it.

This is a stovebolt stock 305, but it runs really well, so I'm just going to improve the performance a bit, and if it ever blows up, I'll put a 350 long block in it, and then just swap the cam and lifters.

I'm thinking about this camshaft, the Comp Cams Nostalgia Plus 211/218 Hydraulic Flat Cam and Lifter Kit https://www.compcams.com/nostalgia-p...all-block.html
I'm going to replace the timing gears and chain at the same time.

Are you guys familiar with this camshaft? Do you think it will do what I want, which isn't really to make a whole lot more power, just to make the truck "sound cammed?" lol

[THI]

My opinion for what it is worth (we all have one) - looks to be a really good cam for a 350, would work on a 305 with a little loss of low end. The 305 HO used the same cam as the CrossFire Corvettes and early TPI 350 and had a 202* intake/207* exhaust - not a big performer in a 350 but woke up a 305!

[83GMCK2500]

I recently came across these two videos and thought they covered the topic quite well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPAeepqrY-0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBGkWGuwXLU

[LT7A]

I have an LE9 305 and I like seeing it that somebody else is getting the most out of their 305, rather than just disparaging it. Since you can put more cam in a 350, I would not compromise that by buying one that will work for your 305. I would buy an inexpensive one for the 305 and buy one that is well matched to your 350 when it comes time for that. An aggressive cam for a 350 stands a chance of driving the valves in a 305 into the cylinder walls because of the bore is so narrow. I think the summit 1101 and 1102 cams are worth considering I like the 1101 because it will keep all of the low end torque which is the whole theory behind a 305 with a long stroke and narrow bore. The 1102 should give you a little bit of a lumpy idle quality. Personally I would be happy to forgo that to maintain all of the bottom end torque and add a little torque elsewhere. Just some thoughts to add to your collection. If you google Summit 1101 or 1102 you will see info from people who have installed them. And they are very inexpensive.

[Mike_82_Shortbox]

HI, guys, thanks for all the replies!

As is turns out, and after talking to the Comp Cams guy, Bill, I got that Nostalgia 211/218 cam. The price from Comp Cams was better than Amazon, if you can believe it.

The specs on the Comp Cams camshaft are comparable to the Summit Racing cam.

Comp Cams Nostalgia Plus:
Advertised Intake Duration: 258
Advertised Exhaust Duration: 265
Intake Duration at .050 Inch Lift: 211
Exhaust Duration at .050 Inch Lift: 218

Summit Racing SUM-1101:
Advertised Intake Duration: 270
Advertised Exhaust Duration: 278
Intake Duration at 050 inch Lift: 194
Exhaust Duration at 050 inch Lift: 204

So, pretty close. The cam and lifters cost me about $250 with free shipping.

So now I have a totally stock, rebuilt and tested replacement Rochester 4 barrel, this camshaft, new timing gears and chain set, headers that I'm going to plumb into a brand-new single 3 inch exhaust with a new cat and Flow Master muffler, and some chrome valve covers...lol.

I'll post the pics when I have the motor all back together.

[LT7A]

It would be great to hear back from you how your engine runs as you put all those pieces together. I have the parts for very similar arrangement. The description for the summit cam seems so much milder and yet it has more duration. Is maximum lift for both of them 0.5 in? The one you got is open longer at maximum lift, if so. I think it's only about 100 bucks for the cam and lifters at summit, but if you got the cam you really want for both this motor and an eventual 350, then you're doing great.

[Mike_82_Shortbox]

lol...Well, I don't know if I got the cam I really wanted, but I did get the one I stumbled onto, knowing nothing about camshafts, even though I've been working on engines for 45 years and I'm a former ASE Certified Master Auto Technician... Fat lot of good that did me...lol.

So the Summit SUM-1101 cam has:
Valve lift with factory rocker arm ratio: 0.398 int./0.421 exh.

The Comp Cams CL12-670-4 has:
Valve lift with factory rocker arm ratio: 0.426 int./0.420 exh.

They both have 112° lobe separation.

With the shorter effective duration of the Summit camshaft, it will probably idle a little smoother, a guess supported by its RPM range of idle to 5000 RPM, while the Nostalgia cam is more likely to give me that "cammed" sound I want at idle, with an effective RPM range of 1000-5500.

Anyway, let's hope it doesn't all just go to hell and the motor won't run at all...lol

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by Mike_82_Shortbox

lol...Well, I don't know if I got the cam I really wanted, but I did get the one I stumbled onto, knowing nothing about camshafts, even though I've been working on engines for 45 years and I'm a former ASE Certified Master Auto Technician... Fat lot of good that did me...lol.

I got a good chuckle out of this. I hope it goes together well and it would be cool to hear how it runs for you.

[Mike_82_Shortbox]

I'll make a YouTube video of the build and post the link. Always wanted to do that, now I got a valid reason!

Still a couple weeks off, though, I'm looking for 2 solid weeks of nice weather before I start...and the damn camshaft, the first part I started looking for, is the only one that hasn't got here yet! Bought it straight from CompCams, but I guess I should have paid the extra $30 and got it from Amazon! LOL

[83GMCK2500]

Originally Posted by Mike_82_Shortbox

I'll make a YouTube video of the build and post the link. Always wanted to do that, now I got a valid reason!

Still a couple weeks off, though, I'm looking for 2 solid weeks of nice weather before I start...and the damn camshaft, the first part I started looking for, is the only one that hasn't got here yet! Bought it straight from CompCams, but I guess I should have paid the extra $30 and got it from Amazon! LOL

2 solid weeks of nice weather...here? Lol, so maybe May.

[Mike_82_Shortbox]

LOL...Well...yeah!

So I don't know if you saw the pictures of my truck that I posted on the picture thread, but I got that dent in the right side of the bed going on six years ago, and my intent is to get that fixed this summer and also paint the truck. But I just found out from another guy that you can just unbolt the entire side body panel is both a brand-new one back on. So I won't have to do any body work at all. Anyway I'm researching where to get one of those. A quick search on my phone found a GMC version for $390. I couldn't believe that. I was totally unaware that that body panel is just bolted onto the bed...