Roller cam on stock TBI 350 with no other mods?

[gearheads78]

So I am rebuilding a bone stock TBI motor to go back in a 91 Burb. Cam was flat and the block is already a roller block so for longevity I would like to make it a roller. Is there a stock or really close to stock cam I can use with no ECM mods? Its is a budget deal so not looking to break the bank on this one.

[geezer#99]

So you flattened the cam, eh!
Did you tear it down and hot tank it and check the bearings.
All that fine metal is everywhere now.

[Dayton601]

call these guys @ comp cams, when I did my TBI 350 i converted it to roller, and they recommended a cam and push rods for what i was doing, I later went to roller rockers also,

http://www.compcams.com/

[gearheads78]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

So you flattened the cam, eh!
Did you tear it down and hot tank it and check the bearings.
All that fine metal is everywhere now.

Cliff notes is I bought truck with bad motor bought "rebuilt" motor from a guy and installed. Main seal was puking and running like ****. Turned out rebuilt means clean up and re-gasket and repaint an old motor. After tearing down found out how how bad I got screwed. Since "I" will be rebuilding it this time it will be right. I bought a done motor to save time and ended up costing me much more time. Some of the money shots from this fresh build The paint filter is crud at the bottom of the oil filter after about only 20 mine run time with new oil.

[sweetk30]

this is why i trust no ones word when it comes to used engines or trans or axles.

sorry you got burnt bad .

lots of guys get a good used lt1 roller cam and swap them in . does need a basic chip burn tho .

also if you have not done rebuild yet look in to a 96-03 vortec 350 long block ( NOT 4.8 or 5.3 or 6.0 ls ). its factory roller cam and better heads . but will need chip and intake to work . otherwise bolt in and go .

[gearheads78]

Originally Posted by sweetk30

this is why i trust no ones word when it comes to used engines or trans or axles.

sorry you got burnt bad .

lots of guys get a good used lt1 roller cam and swap them in . does need a basic chip burn tho .

also if you have not done rebuild yet look in to a 96-03 vortec 350 long block ( NOT 4.8 or 5.3 or 6.0 ls ). its factory roller cam and better heads . but will need chip and intake to work . otherwise bolt in and go .

Been dealing with stuff for over 20 years and never got burned before. Guess I have been lucky. Vortec motor would be nice but I need to work with what I have. The truck will be for sale and I'm going to be lucky to break even and loose all my labor now.

[Wwes]

Going through same thing with my 350 now, bought as a "good runner" but has low compression in 1 cylinder and no oil pressure. And a leaky rear main seal, and ....

Going to be pulling it out shortly for a new block.

[Jake Wade]

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/n...make/chevrolet

This one works well. Been there and done it.

[Tom]

A stock vortec cam is as small as you can get. It will run fine.

[manimal]

I just did this to my 93 c3500 350 TBI. You need the roller cam, cam retainer plate and screws, roller lifters, dog bones amd spider with bolts. You also need a distributor gear for the shaft dia. of your distributor. Use your tbi heads...you also need the pushrods. I got ALL of this stuff from a wrecking yard out of a "Vortec" 96-2000 Suburban. You will also need a timing set for the same. Was a BIG difference for me. I had less than 200 invested in all that.

[manimal]

Or just get a "Vortec" shortblock 96-2000 and put your heads and intake on it with pushrods for the vortec and the distributor gear for the shaft dia. Done

[7 Devils]

Originally Posted by manimal

Or just get a "Vortec" shortblock 96-2000 and put your heads and intake on it with pushrods for the vortec and the distributor gear for the shaft dia. Done

If you put the TBI heads on the Vortec motor you no longer have a Vortex since that's what really makes them what they are.
Better idea that's cheaper. Get a ZZ4 hyd/cam, swap a set of Vortec heads on your motor with a decent dual plane carb and you'll make tons of torqueup to 5500 RPM in that burban.
TBI unit has very little flow

Dan

[manimal]

Sorry man, but you are WAY OFF. How is it cheaper to get a ZZ4 cam and lifters, and a set of Vortec heads and an intake to keep his TBI? I JUST DID WHAT HE IS ASKING. Read the title to his thread.

[7 Devils]

Those head ARE what makes it a Vortec. That's what I was pointing out. Secondly, I was suggesting the use of a carb since the stock TBI is trash for anything about 325 hp. ZZ4 cam used in great shape on eBay with roller lifters under $200. Decent Edelbrock or Holley $150. Vortec intake $350. How is it I'm way in light of the massive power gains and much braoder and flatter torque curve?

Dan

[Tom]

Originally Posted by 7 Devils

Those head ARE what makes it a Vortec. That's what I was pointing out. Secondly, I was suggesting the use of a carb since the stock TBI is trash for anything about 325 hp. ZZ4 cam used in great shape on eBay with roller lifters under $200. Decent Edelbrock or Holley $150. Vortec intake $350. How is it I'm way in light of the massive power gains and much braoder and flatter torque curve?

Dan

Nobody is asking to make a vortec engine, or how to make lots of power. The guy simply wants a roller cam, and the vortecs are the only GenI's that came with them stock. Getting a vortec shortblock and putting the TBI heads andintake on is no different then just stabbing a vortec cam into a TBI block- the end is exactly the same which is a roller cam just as the OP wanted. And, nobody wants to deal with a bullsh*t carb. They suck for everything besides power, which the OP isn't asking for.

[69heavychevy]

I see you're in Dallas. Did you happen to buy the engine from a guy in the Duncanville area?

[gearheads78]

Originally Posted by 69heavychevy

I see you're in Dallas. Did you happen to buy the engine from a guy in the Duncanville area?

No this guy is up in Dennison.

Ive put it on hold and pushed it outside for now. Just a bad taste in on mouth over it. Working on a 88 Formula project right now. In the next few weeks when its done I will decide what I want to do with the Burb.

[gearheads78]

Originally Posted by manimal

I just did this to my 93 c3500 350 TBI. You need the roller cam, cam retainer plate and screws, roller lifters, dog bones amd spider with bolts. You also need a distributor gear for the shaft dia. of your distributor. Use your tbi heads...you also need the pushrods. I got ALL of this stuff from a wrecking yard out of a "Vortec" 96-2000 Suburban. You will also need a timing set for the same. Was a BIG difference for me. I had less than 200 invested in all that.

I had planned everything else but did not think about the distributor gear. Thanks for pointing that out.

[75C10]

Question on the camshaft. If a carb was to be used, does the roller camshaft have the fuel pump lobe?

[Tom]

No. You'll need an electric pump. I've run vortecs this way in 73-87's a couple times.

[7 Devils]

Originally Posted by 75C10

Question on the camshaft. If a carb was to be used, does the roller camshaft have the fuel pump lobe?

The ZZ4 cam that I mentioned earlier in the thread does have a lobe for a mechanical fuel pump. Not all rollers do. In the case of a carbureted setup in the OP 90's suburban it already has an electric fuel pump that can be used with an inexpensive regulator. The pumps in those make around 11 to 14 psi.

Some newer blocks have the boss for the mechanical fuel pump but are not drilled for the rod.

Hope that helps.

Dan

[Jake Wade]

Originally Posted by 75C10

Question on the camshaft. If a carb was to be used, does the roller camshaft have the fuel pump lobe?

The camshaft I suggested does have a lobe to operate a mechanical fuel pump if you choose to do so.

[Warrens69GMC]

The 1990-1993 TBI Caprices, Impalas and Roadmasters had roller swirl port heads.

a F-Body cam is larger (slightly) and should be able to keep up

[Crabass]

For what my 1 cent is worth I think the cam you are looking for is the GM "Ramjet" p/n 14097395 cam. Moderate lift and duration is supposed to wake up the stock 350 and still play nice with your oe heads and tune. Haven't used one myself yet, but everything I've read about it (and that is LOTS) makes me think it is something you ought to look in to, if you want good low to mid rpm grunt. Here's a good link to get you started:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=255659

I bought two of 'em a few years ago just because they were cheap (for hr cams) at $140 for the pair shipped, off of ebay back when guys were replacing them in Ramjet and HT383 crate motors with stupid thumpy cams. My brother needed one and I'm planning to use the other in a 336 (3.75 stroked .040 over 305 block) with L98 aluminum heads. Going in a '97 Jimmy.

My guess is that the ZZ4, while a really good cam (used a couple of 'em) for appropriate use, just might be a bit more (208/221@.050 & .474/.510) than your heads and tune will handle.