Camshaft/ intake/ HEI upgrade questions!

[rich weyand]

Very slightly more torque, slightly more horsepower, mostly in the 4000-5000 rpm range.  Very minor twiddles to the cam timing numbers.  Lift is the same, so no difference in valve train wear.  These cams are very close to each other, dang near the same, truth be told.

I'm not sure you would notice the difference.  Either would be about the same IMO.  Especially in normal driving (i.e. in the lower half of the rpm range).

Much bigger differences would be involved with things like headers, muffler choice, H-pipe or not, carb tuning, manifold selection, etc.

[darmentle]

Hey rich do you know of any good rollers that are good for 383. With a nice lope do it at idle  and that would work good off road to?

[81_Chevy]

in a way that contradicts itself, because a cam with a lopey idle is for top end horsepower, where as a cam for off roading will have a smooth idle and more bottom end torque

[darmentle]

in a way that contradicts itself, because a cam with a lopey idle is for top end horsepower, where as a cam for off roading will have a smooth idle and more bottom end torque

Ok he said when he built the motor had a aftermarket cam in it already this my first 4x4. I had 89 5.0 mustang E303 cam in it was nasty sounding with dual 40's dumped i was just hoping to get the cam sound to. But what you are saying makes since. Thanks for the info

[rich weyand]

Yup, like he said.  A torquey motor will idle very smooth.

As for the roller stuff, I have no experience with it.  Someone else here will know.

[travisr1988]

Rich, I would like to thank you for the help and the insight. You are a knowledgeable person and quite generous to share what you know. I'll argue with my dad some more and try to get him to give me a few good reasons why I should use stock instead of the comp.

[rich weyand]

De nada.

Biggest reason to go stock is reliability.  Lower lift and slower ramps mean less wear and tear on the valve train.  But you can step up to something like the 12-235-2 or 12-234-2 and they aren't real hard on things because they aren't that radical.  And you get a lot in return.

GM sold 9 MILLION of these trucks during this 15 year period.  They had to make them something everyone would be happy with, including the EPA.  They were pretty de-tuned as delivered.