Vortec 350 cam choice

[smallblock kid]

I just picked up a 97 Vortec 350 engine for $250. I was told that the crank was junk but after further inspection it is not as bad ad the PO thought and I am going to build this engine for my 86 4x4 project that's going on right now. I plan to put an edelbrock performer intake and run a 650 edelbrock carb. The bigger question is what cam should I use? I know the limiting factor is that the heads will only take .480 lift. I was looking at sticking with a hydraulic roller cam like the factory one but the majority of them I can find are pushing .500 lift and are close to the $300 range and my goal is to do this on a budget. So Im really looking a throwing a hydraulic flat tappet. So what is everybody's on cams to make some good torque and horsepower?

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

You can use a Factory LT1 cam for cheap power or a Caprice LT1 cam for a touch more torque. You can get them cheap at the pick n pulls.

Combine them with a 1.5 roller rocker, and you set.

[DirtyLarry]

I don’t have your answer but I have a nice picture for you to update your Avatar. Looks like something is definitely wrong with the one you have now

[smallblock kid]

Lol ya I know it doesn't go so well but I signed up for this forum when I was way younger then kinda got interested in diesels and that avatar has kinda been left alone

[smallblock kid]

dirty Larry I just so happened to read your nv4500 swap you did the other day and I have been contemplating it myself I really enjoyed reading yours!

[smallblock kid]

Ziegal I looked at the lt1 specs they are 205 intake 207 exhaust duration 447 and 456 lift I feel like I am leaving a lot left to be gained when I could go to something a little more duration and lift from a flat tappet but maybe I won't gain enough to justify going away from the roller setup

[whitedog76]

Valve lift is the limiting factor with the vortecs. The .480 lift is only a guidline. Personally, I would go on the side of caution when selecting a cam. Most cam manufacturers build a little advance into the cam. So, the .480 lift might actually be .450, depending on the cam. It's better to be safe than sorry. An extra 5 horsepower isn't worth poking a hole in a piston later down the road.

Here's a good article on building a vortec engine.

http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te.../photo_05.html

[smallblock kid]

And I'm ok with nt going over the .480 lift for the time being I am not going to machine the heads and just want to hear some opinions about what to run I've has awesome luck with the lunati voodoo cams also was looking at the 262h and 268h comp cams but have heard that with vortec heads they like to have more duration on the exhaust side to help with scavenging

[68post]

I wouldn't be too sure that .480 is safe. The Voodoo 701 with 256/262, .454/.468 would work great and all the lift I'd try for without at least alittle grinding and may need it then.


Aren't the LS6 springs and retainers the fix for alittle extra lift, ( I have this info somewhere) ?

The same cam with extra clearance would be better with 1.6 rockers , giving you .485/.500 lifts , and would likely pull harder to 4,400+ rpm than a larger cam, should with the stock rockers too.

The same man designed both of those cams,( both brands ), and the 262HE works great, but I'd use the Voodoo with vortecs unported and the High Energy with ported heads on a mild 350. Both are great and have their place.

edit..I didn't mean it would top-out at 4,400+ just have more torque to that point , it will top out about 5,200/5,500 probably.
There are several great small cams out there, Crane works great too. On a budget there are some Elgin cams for very little cash, ( old school good) !

[smallblock kid]

O Ya of course I understand that .480 is a suggested Max lift I was actually looking at a cam about the same as that one in fact I have ran that same cam in a previous truck and lived it as well as a camaro I built with the next size up I've been very impressed with the voodoo cams

[smallblock kid]

m.summitracing.com/parts/cca-cl12-238-2
This was what I was looking at going with or that 262he I was wanted to try something other than a voodoo I really liked it just wanted to maybe try something else

[chevyrestoguy]

If I can make a suggestion, don't go to a flat tappet cam. Your Vortec engine has a good, reliable hydraulic roller system already, why change it to an inferior design?

Here's why I'm saying to stick with the hydraulic roller:
The oils today have literally little or no zinc, which was the key ingredient in cushioning the cam lobes of flat tappet cams and keeping them from going flat. If you don't break your engine in with the correct oil or add a bunch of ZDDP additive, the cam might not survive the break-in period. If it does, you need to ensure that you run a proper oil, and for extra insurance, some ZDDP additive at every oil change, or the cam will eventually fail. In today's world, the odds are stacked against the flat tappet cam, and you can thank the oil companies for that.

Your hydraulic roller will work just fine with today's oils, and the factory cams can easily go 200,000 miles due to wear characteristics of the roller feature. They don't wear out nearly as quick as the older flat tappet design. You've already got everything you need in your '97 Vortec. All you need now is the right cam.

You've got one of the best performing factory heads that GM ever designed. Yes, they have a lift limitation, but it's easy to remedy. You can buy the tool that cuts the valve guide boss down and do it yourself or you can have your local machine shop do it. I borrowed the tool from a friend, and when I was done cutting the guides down, I can easily run a .525 lift cam. I went with .510 lift on my cam to play it safe.

Stay with your hydraulic roller set-up, have the guides milled down, and find a hydraulic roller cam that works for you. I got mine on Craigslist for $100, and it was a brand new take out cam from a ZZ383 crate motor. The guys on the 3rd Gen Camaro websites buy and sell lots of GM and aftermarket roller cams for cheap. Low mileage cams in excellent shape for low prices.

Don't downgrade your valvetrain and get those guides milled down on your Vortecs. A Vortec with the right roller cam, intake, and carb can get you close to 400 reliable horsepower.

[Zoomad75]

Stick with the roller. Lift is lift regardless of what lifter is doing the movement. You can't go any bigger with a flat tappet than you can the roller. Cut the valve guide bosses down and go with what you want.

[smallblock kid]

I agree I forgot to let you guys know I decided to just out the heads on a shortblock i had alreAdy done machine on after looking into the vortec block I have It will need a crank line honed and bored out so the roller cam will end up being used when the extra money comes together and I just happened to score a set of vortec heads on trade from a buddy that are rebuilt but are not clearanced I feel comfortable doing it my self as I was working in a machine shop for the last couple years but currently don't have the time to knock it out kinda pressed for time in the shop I'm using right now. Sorry for the grammer and punctuation trying to reply from the phone is a little tough