RV Cams?

Congrats!

Santa brought me some new Hooker headers, I hope the intake isnt far behind!

I've tried RV cams in those perminantly sick 70-80s engines and it was useless. I also tried an RV cam in a built BB and I won't do that again either. BBs already have tons of low end tq. That truck would beat dirt bikes across an intersection but it was also topped out nearly that quickly. I made a bushing and retarded it 4 degrees to get some top end back. Craig

To the OP I used what's called a RV cam in motors I have built in the past, they are a longer buration grind for more low end toque. If I remember right the last one was a Crane cam, I was able to pick the grind for the desired rpm. Also remember to replace the lifters when installing a new cam.

Denny

I bought a 454 from GM, brand new a few years back, you might want to check into that. At that time they had the best price.

It all comes down to money , of course .
I would really consider a 383 stroker or a small block 400 replacement because you probably could bolt that right up to your transmission .
I bought a brand new 1977 Blazer with the small block 400 . I think it was rated 175 ? HP . Black with Rallye Wheels . Sweeet at the time .
My best friend bought an identical Blazer with the 350 .
We were towing ski boats then , like down to Shasta .
That 350 was one sick puppy .
The stroker 400 worked great towing a ski boat in that era .
Now it would be a slug .
Like my Pop's always said " There ain't no substitute for cubic inches " .
He's been gone a while , long before Turbo Diesel pickups .

Oh baby that's gotta be fun to play with... :C

Yes it is a lot of fun but very expeensive. It has been a best at the track 11.90 at 118 mph in the 1/4 mile
Yes lots of fun till it pukes out the trans or breaks something then it becomes the OH NO!! moment But it is worth it.

Happy camping. Merry Christmas to all!!

Bearsfanatic85 wrote:
Actually I am looking at Summit for the parts, i plan on using the edelbrock performer package minus the heads, for them I want to go with the summit double hump heads 2.02/1.60, with the 64 cc combustion should raise the compression from 8:1 to 9:1, The only reason I am going this way is because of the short block ( 4 bolt mains ) a short block rebuilt from summit with 4 bolt mains will run $1100.00. If i were to go with a crate then It would definately be a big block for a drop in 454 im looking at $5800.00 plus assorted parts and not to mention the trans and drive line upgrades. Budget dictates all, not to mention the application, Its just pulling a truck camper, It would be like swatting a fly with a sledge hammer.

That sounds like a great plan to me. The 64cc heads will make the smog pistons work. I assume they are dished, but not too bad. That should be a torquey motor.

I still have a low mileage take-out GM Target 4-bolt long-block under one of my workbenchs. It belongs to my son and I don't know whether he will ever use it. I checked cold compression with it lying on the ground and it checked 100 #'s across all 8. We moth-balled it with plenty of oil down the cylinders.

Along with that, he got some original old double hump 2.02 Corvette heads that came out of a mudpuller. They had a recent fresh rebuild and should really wake up the 350 if he ever finds a use for it. The original project fell through. My son did buy a 305 powered 80's pick-up a while back if he ever gets around to matching the parts. Still, the idea that something like that may end up eventually resold makes it sometimes worth checking for a used engine in some local hotrod publications.

Good luck with your project and happy holidays.

Wes
...

I have had nine different small block chevys/gm motors. All fun and easy to work on make additional horse power.

They were 283's in a flat fender jeep, 63 Suburban, and 60 El Camino.
305 in a boat.
350's in three pickups
Buick Rainier with 5.3
And the winner was 1967 Camaro SS350 which was 295 HP with 10.25 compression ratio.

The 76 K25 Chevy got a Competition 260(maybe 268) cam advanced four degrees and headers. It ran pretty well.

Have fun.

Chris

jmatthews wrote:
Ok here is my two cents here. Small Block chevy engines are probably the easiest engines to make them produce horsepower. An RV cam is made specifically to give more low end torque rather than horsepower. that being said. In the 85 86 the heads were the biggest problem. The engines were produced for the smog and low horsepower and torque ratings were the result.
I can assure you, The 350 that you have is capable of producing plenty of horsepower and torque to do what you are trying to do.

Carb intake Headers and heads will put you where you want to be. If you dont change the heads you will see limited results. The heads have very small valves and intake runners making them the weakest part of your equation.

Here is what I would suggest.
without replacing heads,
Go with a good RV cam that will increase your torque.
Headers and high flow cat and good perfomance mufflers and dual exhaust.
600 Holley with vaccum secondaries.
Use an elderbroc dual plane intake manifold I beleive an air gap intake would suffice.
If you can afford it and are willing to, buy a set of elderbroc performer RPM heads with 64 cc chambers and 170 intake runners.

I have a 1986 350 in my 1969 chevelle it has not been bored and it is still 350 cubic inches. I have elderbroc heads and a huge solid race style cam. I forgot to mention I changed pistons to 12-2 to 1 pistons. I am running a victor JR intake and have a 930cfm holley. I have had it on the dyno and at the fly wheel I am making 485 horse power. so yes the cam intake and headers and exhaust will help. The heads will be your biggest gain.

Good luck!!!

Oh baby that's gotta be fun to play with... :C