Cam and intake for my 86 350 with 3.73s and running stock rebuilt heads and qjet

[lbrowne]

By the time spring rolls around I hope to have everything lined up to do my truck. (current heads have a valve seal leak)

I have a set of rebuilt stock heads that are going on. My truck sees truck duties, and maybe the occasional late night redlight race coming home from hockey.

Plans for later are for a full exhaust later on, longtube headers and true dual exhaust. (at this point, looks like hooker)

Should I stick with an RV cam? I was thinking of getting an Edelbrock RPM intake to run with my qjet. I like torque, so I'm basically looking for a increased balance of torque and higher rpm pull. (just more than we she has now)

Thnx,

lbrowne

[Layne]

I have the nascar rpm air gap. I like it a lot

[lbrowne]

That looks nice - let's say I want to keep things on a budget and maximize my bang for the buck. Would that intake be cheaper than the Edlebrock?

[Layne]

I think I paid $100 extra for some black paint really
Mine- http://www.jegs.com/i/Edelbrock/350/75013/10002/-1?parentProductId=963678
Rpm air gap- http://www.jegs.com/i/Edelbrock/350/7501/10002/-1?parentProductId=746545
It's just paint and a nascar badge.

[SUX2BU99]

Just my .02 but I wouldn't recommend the RPM Air Gap for your application. If you plan on sticking with the stock heads, you would want to make sure your redline is no more than 5000 RPM. You will probably end up stop making power at 4000 realistically. I'd go with a regular Performer intake. You could go with an Air Gap (non-RPM) but if you drive your truck in the winter in Calgary, that Air Gap could give you a longer warm up time until the motor wants to behave. Check out the Professional Products line of manifolds if you are on a tight budget. They are offshore-made, reverse-engineered copies of the Performer line but I haven't heard anything bad about them.

Going with an RV-type cam is also not a bad idea. Stick to perhaps something in the 256 or 262 advertised duration range and a lift under .460.

Before my top-end upgrade, I had stock 1972 truck heads with 1.94/1.50 valves and a non-exciting 260 adv. duration, .443 lift cam and my motor wasn't exactly strong (still stronger than a stock 305 let's say) and by 4000 RPM it had stopped pulling. At 4500 valve float set in   lol   I had 2.76 gears and those were really lame for acceleration! So at least you got decent gears already.

[lbrowne]

The truck definitely sees chores in very cold temperatures here in CowTown. So I'll keep this in mind!!

[bobcooter]

I put a Summit Stage 1 intake on my 79 350 with my Qjet and I switched over to 882 stock heads. Around $120.00 for the intake. It seems pretty good.

[lbrowne]

Sorry for bumping up this old thread but there's some info already in here I wanted to keep.

Someone here locally is selling a brand new edelbrock performer rpm intake and cam (7101 and 7102 respectively)

Would this be ideal for my setup or be close to what is mentioned above? Aside from these components, my truck will probably only ever see headers and dual exhaust for performance goodies.

[ShawnT]

I don't think it would be a bad choice.  Is the cam used?  Also, if it's a new cam you need to have an oil with a high ZDDP level and break it in correctly or it will most likely fail.  Alot of flat tappet cams have been going bad lately due to the new types of oils.   You can get comp break-in oil or something like that and it will help it.

Shawn

[lbrowne]

These parts are brand new, still in the box. I wouldn't bother with a used cam personally. Intake manifold I would though.

[jaredts]

Take this with a grain of salt, I'm no enginer builder:  The performer rpm intake is for high rpm purpose built engines.  They are not made for low end torque and I believe you give up some performance and drivability at the lower rpm's.  For most I think the performer intake is a better choice.  The RPM is for people that can scream out 6500 rpm's regularly.  I think you're looking for a performer intake and either an RV cam or something in-between stock and rv.  If I'm wrong I'm about to get beat up--please be gentle.

[lbrowne]

Appreciate the info jaredts, I know the ol girl doesn't have a very high redline

[VileZambonie]

The Performer RPM would work great if you had better heads but with those stock heads stick with the Performer or similar.