Help with cam and head decision.

[1low4x4]

Guys I'm getting parts together for the 65's 350...its a 350 from an 88 suburban.

So far

I'm having it bored .030

New flat top pistons and rings

new oil pump

new cam, rod and main bearings

roller tip rockers

bought a cam kit for it pictured in the link below-
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-K12-210-2/

These are the things that are done to my dads engine, and it runs strong, nice lope to it...but

Now I have the intake off my 350 and see that its roller cam capable.

Should I go with a roller cam? Less friction, more hp right? I dont mind sending that cam kit back and ordering another-or the higher price. I want to build it right the first time.

If I did this, what heads should I run, Vortec? It has the tbi heads on it now with the bolt thru the middle of the valve cover to hold them on...does it matter what CC and all that?

Could someone give me some direction and maybe find me a good rollercam kit on summit or jegs somewhere and possibly name the heads I need to get the most performance out of it? I dont want to go so radical that it needs a stall.

Also...dont cre about mileage,dont care about what fuel grade I'll have to buy...the trans will be a 700r4...Thanks for any help!

 

[HotRodPC]

Best Bang for the buck is Vortec heads. From there the price goes up for aftermarket aluminum heads.

 

[1low4x4]

ok, a little birdy told me to buy this cam

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-12-600-8/

ANd vortec heads

What do you think

 

[crazy4offroad]

You'll need head/valve spring work for that much lift. The beauty of Vortec heads is how well they flow in the intermediate range, say 0.450". Anything more than that isn't much of a gain.

 

[1low4x4]

You'll need head/valve spring work for that much lift. The beauty of Vortec heads is how well they flow in the intermediate range, say 0.450". Anything more than that isn't much of a gain.

So I'd need new springs, what kind of head work?

SHould I buy roller rockers and roller lifters? Not to savvy on the Gen 1 stuff

 

[crazy4offroad]

I think the valve spring seats would have to be milled to accept the new springs. And I think the block would have to be machined for the roller lifter retainer brackets. If you started with a vortec block you could bypass the need for machining for the roller lifter retainers, since they have them already. Then you could go with a better set of GM Performance Parts vortec style heads. You could choose larger intake runners, combustion chamber capacity, and they would be ready for higher lift cams. You also wouldn't have to fool with having the stock heads' rocker studs pulled and swapped with screw-in units.

 

[HotRodPC]

Yes, you'd have to machine the springs seat for dual springs, yes you'd have to use roller lifters since its a roller cam. That cam grind is more of a set up for a circle track racing and I honestly don't think you'll like that cam because it will have alot more bark than bite, meaning its gonna sound mean as hell and won't be at idle. You'd also better run a 3000 stall cuz its not going to have much low end torque with a 107 LCA (Lobe Center Angle) aka Lobe Seperation. More of a 110,112 or 114 LCA will give you more low end torque. That cam you chose is more mid range to top end power. Just me, but for a truck for around town horsing around and some drag racing, you want low end and mid range power, since most drag races are won at the light in reality. Jus my oinion. I do like the idea of going roller cam if got the funds for it all. Lots less friction with roller set up.

 

[HotRodPC]

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-CL12-242-2/

Here is you a similar cam grind in a hydraulic flat tappet. Its 110 LCA, but notice it give you power band from 1600-5800 where that roller cam you looking at, power band is 1900-5800. This cam here would work real well with a 2000 stall and should have some good low end umph and still a nice sounding idle.

 

[GreaseDog]

@9.6:1 compression (optimal for the HE268), that engine with Vortec heads should put down somewhere in the neighborhood of 300hp/300ft/lb peak torque @ 5000... switching to an XE268 would bring things up to 350/390, with a peak @3500. the Vortecs are lacking a little on the exhaust side, so the split duration cams will help to cover that.

as for the 12-600-8 Thumpr cam... it will like 10:1 compression, and bring the numbers up to 400/410. with peak torque at about 4500.

 

[GreaseDog]

You'll need head/valve spring work for that much lift. The beauty of Vortec heads is how well they flow in the intermediate range, say 0.450". Anything more than that isn't much of a gain.

they'll flow well up to .500, then is when things start to fall off... since the highest peak lift has been .513 to this post, its safe to say the valves spend most of their time below .500, so it should work pretty well.

 

[crazy4offroad]

I still keep coming back to this link, it is the best assembly of vortec info in one spot I've found...
http://www.onedirt.com/tech-stories/engine/a-guide-to-vortec-vs-oe-small-block-chevy-heads/
I think I even posted it in the original thread for the '65 when the topic of an engine build began. Whether or not it was ever read, I dont know. But about 3/4 the way down they have a chart comparing the flow of GMPP heads, stock vortecs and gen 1 2.02's. If you split the difference between 0.400 and 0.500 lift you can assume you're only gaining 2 CFM above 0.450 lift on the intake side, 4.5 CFM or so on the exhaust side. The really impressive numbers are seen between the 0.300 and 0.400 slots and not so much above that. Not trying to take away from your experience GD, I like reading expected HP ratings for certain combos, I just feel like he could save some money in the machine shop and still have a great performing engine without going too radical with the cam lift.

 

[1low4x4]

God dammit this ******* computer.

Anyways. Decided I wantmy stock heads and stock converter. Ive already bought the spider and dog bones needed to use a roller cam. Ive also bought roller lifters and roller tip rockers. I will also buy new pushrods.

SHould I just by this cam except in a roller setup? Ive already ordered this but can send it back.

WILL THIS CAM IN A ROLLER SETUP BE OK FOR MY STOCK HEADS AND STOCK CONVERTER???
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-K12-210-2/

 

[1low4x4]

Nevermind, I'm going stock. Everyone has a different opinion and no one agrees on anything. Its easier to go stock.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[89Suburban]

Stock FTW.

 

[1low4x4]

looking at this and be done with it
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/NAL-10067353/?rtype=10