Thread: what cam should I go with

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Hi I have a 350 sbc and I am going to rebuild it. I am going to have it .030 over . The heads I am going with is the Vortec 64 cc with Intake Runner Volume 170 cc intake valve 1.940 in and exhaust 1.500 in. Edelbrock Performer RPM Vortec Intake Manifolds. 750 holly carb.
I am going to run 9.1 compression. I am looking for a cam that would make 350 hp with this setup but still keep ok gas mileage. With the old stock 350 I get like 12 miles a gallon I would like to stay around that not go much lower. I want the cam operating RPM range to go from 1,500-5,500 RPM. If anyone has any ideas what cam Duration and lift i should go with. please give me ideas
I still need a good amount of vacuum for my brakes. Also it will be a everyday driver.

Originally posted by 1969chevytruck
Hi I have a 350 sbc and I am going to rebuild it. I am going to have it .030 over . The heads I am going with is the Vortec 64 cc with Intake Runner Volume 170 cc intake valve 1.940 in and exhaust 1.500 in. Edelbrock Performer RPM Vortec Intake Manifolds. 750 holly carb.
I am going to run 9.1 compression. I am looking for a cam that would make 350 hp with this setup but still keep ok gas mileage. With the old stock 350 I get like 12 miles a gallon I would like to stay around that not go much lower. I want the cam operating RPM range to go from 1,500-5,500 RPM. If anyone has any ideas what cam Duration and lift i should go with. please give me ideas
I still need a good amount of vacuum for my brakes. Also it will be a everyday driver.

Someone is going to come on behind me and recomend a much larger cam. But something close to a 268 comp. cam would do great with that combiination. Most every article I have ever read on camshafts says people try to use too big a cam for the application. Many cam companies have something close to the 268 comp. A little bigger or smaller wont hurt much. Also , You are a little strong on the carburator. Id back up tp a 600 or no more than a 650 holley.
Sounds like You have a nice project there, Good Luck!

the Vortec heads are limited to .480lift and 230 duration at .050 in out of the box form....

personally I would not go bigger than 225.....I run a lot of the vette cams .447 x .222

for your ap I would recomend a "dual pattern" cam from either Crane or Comp cams....

Those heads have very efficient combustion chambers....what that means to you is less cam to make 350hp and possible 18-20mpg with good tuning and conservative timing 32-34 degrees total nice choice

ON the heads I was told to upgrade the valve springs. would that be a good idea. So when you say dual pattern, do you mean a cam like Duration intake 224 and exhaust 230 and intake lift .479 ehaust lift .480
like this cam

yes....both Crane and Comp cams make cams specifically for the Vortec headed application....they will be able to reccomend a cam for you....

dr_bowtie ,I guess we should have ask him about his transmission and his rear end ratio. The Vortec is a very good head for the money. I was just looking at summit's cam#sum1103 214/224----442/465---$79.95 cam,lifters,lube . I have used comp for years but Im sure they all have good cams.
$79.95 is not a bad price.

i have a turbo 350 and i think my gearing is 411s becaus when i run 65 i am around 3100 rpm with 30 inch tires

I am looking at the headman headers model HED-69090 will these Headers work with the vortec heads. because I am looking for a set and trying not to spend much more that 150 on a set of headers.