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Old 04-20-2011, 11:43 PM   #1
'87shorty
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whats a good cam?

whats a good cam for a 92 burban 350 block converted to carb. im looking for a cam that i can run the stock drivetrain on it. also how do you go from stock rockers to roller rockers? and whats the difference between roller rockers
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Old 04-21-2011, 02:09 AM   #2
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Re: whats a good cam?

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whats a good cam for a 92 burban 350 block converted to carb. im looking for a cam that i can run the stock drivetrain on it. also how do you go from stock rockers to roller rockers? and whats the difference between roller rockers
im guessing it would be hard to just name a good cam for your engine,seeing as there millions of different sopecs in every cam out there.

what you should get is considered an RV cam.mild,able to run on stock springs etc.
i cant say a lift and duration etc.

brand depends on $ ya wanna spend.

if you wanna spend 300-400$ get a comp cam

if ya want cheap go to PAW automotive or ebay.
all i could say to help.i tried:
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Old 04-21-2011, 02:25 AM   #3
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Re: whats a good cam?

lol thanks for the advice...
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Old 04-21-2011, 06:32 AM   #4
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Re: whats a good cam?

I recently put a Comp Cam "high energy" cam (260 dur.), I actualy gain'd more than 3mpg on the highway. smooth idle, compatable with stock drive train, even on my TBI. decent price. check with Jeg's or Summit.
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Old 04-21-2011, 07:40 AM   #5
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Re: whats a good cam?

Roller rockers aren't going to pick up any performance, particuarly in a stock-ish engine. Spend that money on headers instead. A 214/221 or 221/228 cam will work nicely, just make sure you have the correct valve springs to handle it.
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Old 04-21-2011, 01:39 PM   #6
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Re: whats a good cam?

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I recently put a Comp Cam "high energy" cam (260 dur.), I actualy gain'd more than 3mpg on the highway. smooth idle, compatable with stock drive train, even on my TBI. decent price. check with Jeg's or Summit.
Which cam is it? do you have the item number cause summitracing has several posted...
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Old 04-21-2011, 01:40 PM   #7
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Re: whats a good cam?

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Roller rockers aren't going to pick up any performance, particuarly in a stock-ish engine. Spend that money on headers instead. A 214/221 or 221/228 cam will work nicely, just make sure you have the correct valve springs to handle it.
how do i make sure i have the correct valve springs???
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Old 04-21-2011, 01:56 PM   #8
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Re: whats a good cam?

I'm swapping from an Edelbrock Performer cam to a Comp Cams XE-268. I'm also going to roller rockers. You don't need to do anything special to go to roller rockers. I have screw in studs, guide plates, and girdle. But honestly you can just put roller rockers on your stock press-in studs. You will likely need tall valve covers. As cams go, they say the cam I am installing is about as lopey as you want to go and still use the stock torque converter. I've had some really big cams in street cars. They might sound awesome, but they don't go worth a flip. No lower end power. No manifold vacuum for minor accessories like power brakes...Really not a smart choice for a street machine. I think the duration should stay at 280 or less, and the advertised lift should be .480 or less for decent street manners.
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Old 04-21-2011, 05:27 PM   #9
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Re: whats a good cam?

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I'm swapping from an Edelbrock Performer cam to a Comp Cams XE-268. I'm also going to roller rockers. You don't need to do anything special to go to roller rockers. I have screw in studs, guide plates, and girdle. But honestly you can just put roller rockers on your stock press-in studs. You will likely need tall valve covers. As cams go, they say the cam I am installing is about as lopey as you want to go and still use the stock torque converter. I've had some really big cams in street cars. They might sound awesome, but they don't go worth a flip. No lower end power. No manifold vacuum for minor accessories like power brakes...Really not a smart choice for a street machine. I think the duration should stay at 280 or less, and the advertised lift should be .480 or less for decent street manners.
Have you already purchased the XE268 cam, lifters,springs?
Frank
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Last edited by f.monroe; 04-21-2011 at 05:27 PM.
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Old 04-21-2011, 05:34 PM   #10
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Re: whats a good cam?

I have had the cam new in the box for a few months. Kinda came as part of a package deal with a 350 4 bolt main motor. I just ordered the lifeters and roller rockers a few days ago. I was expecting them to show up today. I paid 45 extra bucks so they would. The day aint over yet...
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Old 04-21-2011, 07:00 PM   #11
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Re: whats a good cam?

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I have had the cam new in the box for a few months. Kinda came as part of a package deal with a 350 4 bolt main motor. I just ordered the lifeters and roller rockers a few days ago. I was expecting them to show up today. I paid 45 extra bucks so they would. The day aint over yet...
Be sure to post a video clip of it once it is installed. I have had one for sale here on the board for a while but would really like to hear what one sounds like . I have a Isky 280Mega in the engine right now and bought the XE268 to replace it but have decided to stick with the old Isky unless yours sounds really good.
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Old 04-21-2011, 07:11 PM   #12
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Re: whats a good cam?

Should be pretty mild, no? Might not even really be able to tell it's there. That's the way this Edelbrock I had in it was.
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Old 04-21-2011, 08:53 PM   #13
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Re: whats a good cam?

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I have had the cam new in the box for a few months. Kinda came as part of a package deal with a 350 4 bolt main motor. I just ordered the lifeters and roller rockers a few days ago. I was expecting them to show up today. I paid 45 extra bucks so they would. The day aint over yet...
The parts arrived as agreed. Guess I get to have some fun building a motor before the week is out. It'll be done before the truck is ready for it. Not a bad thing.
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Old 04-21-2011, 10:05 PM   #14
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Re: whats a good cam?

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Originally Posted by PRattenbury View Post
I'm swapping from an Edelbrock Performer cam to a Comp Cams XE-268. I'm also going to roller rockers. You don't need to do anything special to go to roller rockers. I have screw in studs, guide plates, and girdle. But honestly you can just put roller rockers on your stock press-in studs. You will likely need tall valve covers. As cams go, they say the cam I am installing is about as lopey as you want to go and still use the stock torque converter. I've had some really big cams in street cars. They might sound awesome, but they don't go worth a flip. No lower end power. No manifold vacuum for minor accessories like power brakes...Really not a smart choice for a street machine. I think the duration should stay at 280 or less, and the advertised lift should be .480 or less for decent street manners.
how much did you end up spending on everything???
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Old 04-21-2011, 10:10 PM   #15
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Re: whats a good cam?

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...Really not a smart choice for a street machine. I think the duration should stay at 280 or less, and the advertised lift should be .480 or less for decent street manners.
Rhoads Lifters will help fix that....

I think the Voodoo 256 or 262 would be a better choice than the XE268 for a "stock" engine. I'm running the XE268 in a Chrysler 383 with a 2500 stall and 3.23 gears, I couldn't imagine a stock 350 with a stock converter and stock gears running this cam effectively.
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Old 04-21-2011, 10:17 PM   #16
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Re: whats a good cam?

My dad had a xe268 in his mild BBC when he got it. I don't know how the sound would differ in a small block but it had a nice sound. Just enough lope so that you new it was cammed but nothing big. I thought it had really good street manners.
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Old 04-21-2011, 11:17 PM   #17
'87shorty
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Re: whats a good cam?

what are the power gains, fuel gain/loss, with the xe268 cam
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Old 04-21-2011, 11:50 PM   #18
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Re: whats a good cam?

You're going to need alot more than a 268 cam to move that Suburban. The 268 cam with stock everything will make it a dog. You want low end torque. A BBC and a SBC react totally different to that cam, especially a BBC with a 4" stroke...
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Old 04-22-2011, 12:44 AM   #19
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Re: whats a good cam?

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Which cam is it? do you have the item number cause summitracing has several posted...
Jeg's # is 249-12-206-2.
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Old 04-22-2011, 12:59 AM   #20
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Re: whats a good cam?

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You're going to need alot more than a 268 cam to move that Suburban. The 268 cam with stock everything will make it a dog.
Explain...
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Old 04-22-2011, 08:39 AM   #21
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Re: whats a good cam?

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how much did you end up spending on everything???
For the valve train stuff (push rods, roller rockers, studs, guide plates and girdles) it was 550 bucks. Adding the lifters makes it 640.
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Old 04-22-2011, 08:48 AM   #22
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Re: whats a good cam?

I think he is agreeing with what I said about too much duration and lift taking away from low-RPM power. The 'bigger' the cam, the higher your power band moves up the RPM scale. And the less manifold vacuum you will have at idle. If you have to have a big rumpity cam for some odd reason (drag racing comes to mind), you would be well advised to add a stall torque converter to your shopping list that will let your transmission effectively slip until the RPMs get higher. Not to mention, other ingredients in your engine would also likely change. Like your intake manifold you would likely want a single plane versus dual. It depends what your intended use of your vehicle is for how you build your engine and drivetrain. I hope the XE-268 cam isn't too nasty because my intended use does not include drag racing. More like occasional commuting.
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Old 04-22-2011, 11:13 AM   #23
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Re: whats a good cam?

An EX268 Cam is Pretty Mild actually, I had an XE284 in a 383 with Stock 882 Heads, edelbrock performer and an edelbrock 600 CFM, and a 2400 RPM Converter... and 3.08 Gears....the thing had really good torque and mid-range, then dropped off quickly after 5200 RPM due to the Heads.... granted it only had 10 " of vacuum.
IMHO, I think you will be really happy with that cam, especially if you add an Edel Performer RPM intake and you will probably get about 15 " of vacuum... Plenty for Brakes
Single planes really aren't very effective until you get into the upper RPM's such as above 6000 RPM.... an Air-gap will beat the tar out of a Single plane until about 5500 RPM's

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Old 04-22-2011, 05:13 PM   #24
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Re: whats a good cam?

what is the lift & duration on a xe 268 cam ? Think thats what I have > mild lope , more choppy just enough to know its not stock . Real pleased with the performance of it . Ithink I would need better flowing heads if I got a larger cam .
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