Cam selection

[lownloud76]

Hi guys, I'm rebuilding my stock 350 and I need some input on cam selection. 1975 350, 882 heads with upgraded springs, stock bottom end. edelbrock performer intake, holly 600.  I'm thinking of using a lunati voodoo cam 60102LK. I'm looking for good low end torque and good HP. Is this a good cam selection?   The motor is going in a 76 stepside with a th350 and 4.11 gears

                                                                                                                        Thanks for any input.

[outlaw70nova]

With what you have listed for heads, intake and carb I think that's a good choice.

[rich weyand]

That's basically the same as Comp Cams 12-238-2.  That'll work.  305-310 hp at 4500, 405-410 lbft at 2500.

There is a sequence of cams in this territory (wide torque band, great low-end street drivers) that goes 12-300-4, 12-230-2, 12-235-2, 12-238-2.  That is from lower horsepower with higher torque to higher horsepower with lower torque.  Not that these in both horsepower and torque are in a relatively narrow range.

I went with 12-300-4, 420-425 lbft of torque at 2500 and 275 hp at 4000, because that is more the rpm ranges I am interested in and the 12-300-4 is stock lift, which reduces wear and tear on the valvetrain.

Anyway, it is pretty hard to make a bad choice in this range of cams, and the Lunati 60102 is right in there.  You'll be happy.

BTW, much more torque, and you will need to be replacing the whole drivetrain to take it.  The most torque GM ever ran through the TH350 in a factory build was 410 lbft.

[lownloud76]

  My drive train is solid, I bought the truck from The owner of a respected Transmission shop.  His Dad raced the truck up until he had a stroke, he left the transmission and rear end in the truck so I should be good.   This will be the first engine I've built so I'm doing some research before I spend any money.   Thanks for the advise.

[travisr1988]

I have a similar build with 3.42 gears and vortec heads and used the lunati voodoo 60101 and love it, with your 4.11 gears the 60102 may be better.

[lownloud76]

 Hey guys ,  is anyone running 283 heads on their 350 ?

[travisr1988]

283 heads should be good, if I recall correctly 283 used a 3.875" bore, whereas a 350 uses a 4" bore stock, it might be better to find a set of 327 heads or vortec heads, I used vortec heads because they are the best production heads and they didn't cost anymore remanufactured than 882s. Just be aware that with the 60102 you will need to address the valve clearance issue with vortecs, use a spring kit for them or machine them for standard springs. And you will need a new intake manifold and exhaust manifolds or headers.

[SkinnyG]

I'm running heavily ported 305 heads on my 350, only because they were in excellent shape and needed zero machining at all.  Nice bump in compression with a Felpro 1094 0.015" steel shim gasket.

[lownloud76]

I can get a 283 with a 2 speed powerglide from a friend for free. I was wondering if the 283 heads would be to restricting and if it would bump the compression up

[travisr1988]

283 heads will restrict flow unless heavily ported, and have smaller valves and valve size restrictions, but they will bump compression up a little. Again, the amount money you'll spend making the 283 heads perform well will be just as much if not more than remanufactured or new heads. I picked up my vortec heads for less than $500 for the pair at the part store, normally they run around $600 for the pair, same with camel humps, or any other production head. If the 283 heads have already been worked over with larger valves, heavy port work, etc. then they would be worth it to run, but there's only so much you can get out of them.