Looking for a new cam...

[Jamie McDavid]

GM has discontinued the L79 cam!!! Comp cams makes a Nastalgia L79 cam, do any of you guys have any experience with these. I know the specs on the comp L79 cam is a little diferent from the origional GM but I figured this was a possitive change knowing competition products.

[Jamie McDavid]

What I'm looking for is a good street cam. I know the L79 cams were a good performance cam for a car and I'd like something good for my truck. I've got a 4 bolt high nickle steel crank truck block that I'm building for my C10.

[gofastbobby]

What are the specifics of your engine?

[Jamie McDavid]

I'm going for a street engine between 9.5 and 10.1 on compression. Good sound but not over kill and good gains. Something I can drive to the weekend cruze in with a litltle beef. Ive looked at a few of the Thumper cams but idk... I'm afraid there all sound and no go.

[gofastbobby]

your cam should be the item you get after you have all your other engine parts all figured out and found. it sounds like you are at the beginning stages of your engine build.

If i were in your shoes i would; hit up craigslist and some swap meets for a good set of used heads (vortecs or dart iron eagle would be my choice), dual plane intake, headers, 600-670cfm carb and maybe some roller rockers. i would buy new flat top pistons which will give you all the compression ratio you need and probably prep the bottom end with arp bolts.

THEN, call a good cam manufacturer, tell them what you have and what you are looking for. They will be able to make the decision for you, because they know their product. make sure you are talking to the cam manufacturer and not a counter guy at your local parts store, there is a HUGE difference.

FWIW, cam technology has come a long ways since 1965, there are better cams to be had then the L79.

[78maliburat]

I have a goodwrench crate with a 280 comp ......long tube headers runs great pulls nice

[Jamie McDavid]

No I already have everything but my cam. Factory GM double hump power pack heads, air gap performer intake, rebuilt 750 quad, factory corvette manifolds, stock bore.. I would have already had a new GM L79 cam kit but the true GM performance brand has already been discontinued due to better cam technology I supose.. I'm kinda old skool when it comes to this stuff and I know what use to work and now everything is changing so much its hard to keep up with it all. Thats why I was wondering about the Comp Nostalgia L79 cam but was unaware of whether or not it would perform well in a heavier body like a truck.

[68c10owner]

I was told a while back that the cam that comes in the 330hp vortec crate motor is the new version of the l79 cam. That said, there are plenty of better cams out there.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

the thumpr cam is a nice street cam actually and unless your racing alot you dont notice the lack of top end power like 4000 and above and its really alot of lowend which is nice because to have an engine with that nasty of an idle you kill your lowend. its a bit tricky to tune timing and carb but vacuum is alright but you have to have a adjustable vacuum canister peroid. i recomend it for people that want the sound drivability and some nice street performance. but if you want a 460hp and above engine find another cam

i still love my cam but i do race and wish i had a bigger cam and heads but i still daily drive so this cam is fine for now

[baclay9]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

the thumpr cam is a nice street cam actually and unless your racing alot you dont notice the lack of top end power like 4000 and above and its really alot of lowend which is nice because to have an engine with that nasty of an idle you kill your lowend. its a bit tricky to tune timing and carb but vacuum is alright but you have to have a adjustable vacuum canister peroid. i recomend it for people that want the sound drivability and some nice street performance. but if you want a 460hp and above engine find another cam

i still love my cam but i do race and wish i had a bigger cam and heads but i still daily drive so this cam is fine for now

I would love to hear a sound clip of your exhaust and a pic of how they did your X-Pipe if you ever get a chance.