Cam suggestions?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Steve78 k10

Junior Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2020
Posts
28
Reaction score
50
Location
Tennessee
First Name
Steve
Truck Year
78
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
350
So I'm looking for a little bit of advice on what cam to put in my motor it's a 350 bored 30 over. A fella at work was suggesting that I go with an RV cam but I was thinking a little more on the side with some thump. Once done the truck will not be a daily driver more of just a cruiser very little highway. And if I go up to a comp Cam thumper cam would I need to change my stall converter I believe it's just stock in a turbo 350 and what is my worries of brake boost? Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions.
 

The88

Mhmm
Joined
Dec 9, 2015
Posts
1,074
Reaction score
1,363
Location
South Louisiana
First Name
ThatGuy
Truck Year
88
Truck Model
K5
Engine Size
5.7
Way i see it if you want to play in the motor you should also get it to the wheels reliably.

Need to know your tranny can take some abuse along with u joints and rear end. I know you wouldnt want a gov bomb going off in the rear after working up front.
 

Steve78 k10

Junior Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2020
Posts
28
Reaction score
50
Location
Tennessee
First Name
Steve
Truck Year
78
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
350
Way i see it if you want to play in the motor you should also get it to the wheels reliably.

Need to know your tranny can take some abuse along with u joints and rear end. I know you wouldnt want a gov bomb going off in the rear after working up front.
Trans has been rebuilt less than 5k miles ago.
 

BKING33

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2020
Posts
278
Reaction score
795
Location
York Springs, PA
First Name
Brian
Truck Year
1987, 1989
Truck Model
K30, Suburban
Engine Size
6.2, 6.2 turbo
If you are worried about vacuum you can install a vacuum canister or ad a electric vac booster. I have a vacuum can on my chevelle with a large roller cam, have plenty of vacuum to stop. Best to match your converter and rear gears to cam manufacturer recommendation or you have a slug. I wouldn't recommend a thumper cam. the smallest one comes in at 227/241 .050 duration. Biggest cam I would recommend for a truck would be an extreme energy cam. the 268/280 model works good on a mild build.
 

Swearbody

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2018
Posts
701
Reaction score
716
Location
Birmingham AL
First Name
Jeff
Truck Year
84
Truck Model
C1500
Engine Size
355 sbc
I am about to be swapping from a 292d 512lift to a 262/270 500/512 due to the 292 being too big for my current setup. I second not going with a big cam on a stock truck. With the 292 a square has about 9vac and needs like 15 to have good brakes. Ill be riding the line with the xe262 im installing. The xe 262 is basically the biggest cam for a relatively stock sbc and stock converter that you can use and still have solid brakes IMHO...it has a nice chop too!!
potato potato
 

potent rodent

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2020
Posts
195
Reaction score
112
Location
indiana
First Name
butch
Truck Year
86 and 78
Truck Model
1500
Engine Size
350 and 305
i wold call the cam company and tell them your eng and trans and diff set up, im sure they will set u up for your combo
 

Steve78 k10

Junior Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2020
Posts
28
Reaction score
50
Location
Tennessee
First Name
Steve
Truck Year
78
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
350
Thank you guys so much that is exactly what I was needing just a little bit of advice from a square body family. I will definitely check out that extreme energy cam.
 

Dustycolby

Junior Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2020
Posts
17
Reaction score
22
Location
Florida
First Name
Dustin
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
350
Can I ask what cylinder heads and gearing you have?

Sent from my moto g(7) supra using Tapatalk
 

Steve78 k10

Junior Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2020
Posts
28
Reaction score
50
Location
Tennessee
First Name
Steve
Truck Year
78
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
350
I've got a set of vortec heads I'm putting on as far as the gear I'm not totally certain yet I haven't gotten into the rear differential yet I do know it's a 12 bolt.
 

seniorbear69

Member
Joined
Oct 1, 2020
Posts
49
Reaction score
19
Location
rayleigh essex uk
First Name
steve
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
good stuff onc ive finished the wiring ! im looking to fit a 88 block with roller cam and vortec heads
 

BigDaddy72

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2020
Posts
434
Reaction score
871
Location
Bentonville Arkansas
First Name
Travis
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
C30 Chassis Cab
Engine Size
496
Vortec heads will love a 256 lunati voodoo cam.

I suggest a performance intake manifold, headers and dual 21/2” exhaust.

That will get you in the 300 ish hp range and keep your torque curve low and useful in a heavy small cube vehicle.
 

75gmck25

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2016
Posts
2,266
Reaction score
2,210
Location
Northern Virginia
First Name
Bruce
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
K25 Camper Special TH350 NP203
Engine Size
5.7
Stock Vortec heads will only handle about .420 lift and the lift on the 256 lunati voodoo cam is too much. You need to look for a cam with similar duration and less lift, or plan to modify the Vortec heads and/or springs.

Depending on your gear ratio and tire size, the voodoo cam's 213/219 duration might also be just a little too much with a stock 350 torque converter. You want to get RPM up fast enough to be in the cam's power band, and big tires and high gears make this difficult.

Bruce
 

Dustycolby

Junior Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2020
Posts
17
Reaction score
22
Location
Florida
First Name
Dustin
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
350
I would go with a comp xe262 or xe268.


Sent from my moto g(7) supra using Tapatalk
 

BigDaddy72

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2020
Posts
434
Reaction score
871
Location
Bentonville Arkansas
First Name
Travis
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
C30 Chassis Cab
Engine Size
496
Stock Vortec heads will only handle about .420 lift and the lift on the 256 lunati voodoo cam is too much. You need to look for a cam with similar duration and less lift, or plan to modify the Vortec heads and/or springs.

Depending on your gear ratio and tire size, the voodoo cam's 213/219 duration might also be just a little too much with a stock 350 torque converter. You want to get RPM up fast enough to be in the cam's power band, and big tires and high gears make this difficult.

Bruce

I have that exact set up with with stock valve springs been in my 55 Chevy for over 12 years. With a stock converter.

That combo works great for a mild stockish motor. It makes great bottom end torque.

Otherwise I wouldn’t recommend it.

The stock gm l31 cam is .428 btw.
 
Last edited:

Frankenchevy

Proverbs 16:18
Joined
Jan 3, 2018
Posts
6,084
Reaction score
7,759
Location
USA
First Name
Jeremy
Truck Year
Square
Truck Model
CUCV
Engine Size
Small
Ls6 springs or comp beehives will get you around .480 lift clearance on stock vortec heads, iirc
 

Forum statistics

Threads
44,173
Posts
950,859
Members
36,288
Latest member
brentjo
Top