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Old 12-27-2013, 12:26 PM   #1
Ardee83
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Heads and Cam For 350

I have a new 350 GM crate motor and am going to add some Vortec heads (will order them from JEGS or Summit) to it as well as a cam. I want a cam that will add horsepower, not really worried about the lope, I figure I get a good cam it will have a good lope. But what cam do I get? The truck is just used for crusin around town in the warmer months and sets in the garage during the winter months, but I love going fast so want to have some horse power available.

350 V8 5.7L
Edelbrock Performer Intake
Edelbrock 1406 Carb
Hooker Comp Ceramic Long Tube Headers
2.5" Dual Exhaust exits just before rear tires
700r4 Tranny

I do not know what the gears are

Any other info needed on helping pick out the best cam I can get.
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Old 12-27-2013, 03:31 PM   #2
bnoon
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Re: Heads and Cam For 350

Cam, gears, and torque converter stall speed should be matched to work with each other. Personally, I like higher stall speeds, so I can get away with a pretty radical cam. Some people hate hate hate high stalls and would never be able to live with what I deem acceptable and vice versa.

You're also in danger of limiting yourself with the Vortec heads for cam choices... if you're talking about stock Vortec heads. Stock Vortec heads don't flow very well at higher lift, so you'd want to stay with something in the .480-.500 area and something with a split pattern with more exhaust duration. Now if you're talking the GMPP large port Vortec castings, then that changes your cam again...
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Old 12-27-2013, 10:58 PM   #3
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Re: Heads and Cam For 350

Here is a nice little flat tappet camshaft for your Vortec headed 350.

Smooth idle and torquey.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/is...make/chevrolet
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Old 12-28-2013, 10:37 AM   #4
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Re: Heads and Cam For 350

get a cam that's close or matches tha one in tha 330 horse crate motor...that's a strong motor...
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Old 12-28-2013, 12:10 PM   #5
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Re: Heads and Cam For 350

Pick your favourite cam grinder and call them up. They are best suited for this kind of thing, and the most experience and knowledge on the subject (we hope - I have met ~some~ salesmen, however,....).

If you really want lumpy - I like Lunati; they want to get to the grocery store first.

I have a Howard's Cam 110961-08 in my '77 (video of it running) and I like it so far, but I have only driven it enough to break the engine in.
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Old 12-28-2013, 06:26 PM   #6
Ardee83
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Re: Heads and Cam For 350

Ok so the heads I would like to purchase are the bow tie large port http://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet-Perf...34446/10002/-1 Like I said I love horse power and going fast, so eventually I want to get as much out of the 350 as possible. I can't afford to do it all at once, but assumed heads and cam would be a good start, I don't want to be 6 months down line going " man I should have bought a bigger cam etc" then end up buying another one. So that said, I believe these are going to be a good choice of heads going forward; so what cam options would be best suited? Again wanting to make the 350
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Old 12-28-2013, 08:09 PM   #7
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Re: Heads and Cam For 350

Is this a daily driver? 350 cubes, heavy truck, most likely 2.73/3.08 axle ratio.

Think small port Bowties(great heads BTW) and think smaller than you think on the camshaft selection.
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Old 12-28-2013, 08:15 PM   #8
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Re: Heads and Cam For 350

No this is not a daily driver, it's a garage queen. Its just used for cruises around town once in a while and other than that its parked in the garage. Forgot to mention in the prior posts its 2wd SB which I am guessing most of you already knew. Is my truck really considered heavy? Doesn't seem to heavy...... why go for small port vs the large port? I needed educated
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Old 12-28-2013, 08:41 PM   #9
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Re: Heads and Cam For 350

The small port Bowtie Vortecs have 185cc intake runners, plenty for 350 cubes below 6500.

The large port Bowties are better suited for 383-400 cubes with some RPM.

Your truck should weigh somewhere around 4000.
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Old 12-29-2013, 11:00 AM   #10
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Re: Heads and Cam For 350

OK that's why I love this forum the knowledge; so now best can option to maximize the HP of the 350 matched with the bowtie small port heads.....
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Old 12-29-2013, 11:35 AM   #11
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Re: Heads and Cam For 350

I have a done a few Vortec head, GM Hot cam motors. It's a great combo of torque/hp. nice sounding idle. Chevy High Performance built the same combo a few years ago.
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...e_roller_cams/
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