Thread: 348 cam choices ?

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i suck at picking out the right cam so i need some help here. i have 348 with 9.5:1 comp, 700R4 trans and 3.73 rearend and i would like 16" tires. it will have TBI injection and i would like about 300 hp. i figure on lots of driving and some long trips.

here are some choiceswww.show-cars.com/campage.html

348? Isn,t that motor hard to find parts for it . I looked in Summit , Jegs , P.A.W. and can't find any listings for it. Didn't Chevrolet discontinue that engine back in the early 60's? Was it a truck engine?

348 started out for truck use, but made its way into cars from 58-61. you wont find any listings for it in the mainstream catalogs, but some of the cam companys still grind cams for 348-409, such as crane.

there are lots of parts out there for them yet you just have to pay a little more. the biggest price difference was the main brgs at $110.00 a set and the pistons were $300.00 . not to bad considering. rod brgs and bolts are same as SBC and oil pump BBC. i have spent $1500 on the bottom with boring pistons, recon rods balance and engine kit. probobly have a little over 2K in it when the top is done. still not to bad for a rare bird.

53..nope not bad, use to brkt & nostalgia race a 61 Bel Air with a 409 & had a 71 3/4 ton pickup I put a 348 in.

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Here's Crane's first listing for the 348. You may or may not experience some detonation with this cam at 9.5 c.r. due to an early intake closing point at 25 degrees ABDC.
http://www.cranecams.com/?show=brows...tType=camshaft

This might be a better choice with the intake closing at 36 degrees....
http://www.cranecams.com/?show=brows...tType=camshaft

Don't take my word for your final choice, I'm just throwing out suggestions. The best way is always to call the cam company and discuss it with the tech guys.

My whole point is that you don't want to build too much cylinder pressure that you won't be able to keep detonation under control with available pump gas. The 348/409 has a pretty big chamber which is formed in the cylinder, with the cylinder head being flat.

Use the Crane specifications and description of characteristics to compare other grinds to.

thanks tech, i guess i never thought of calling the cam companys, i think i'll do that