Thread: Weird thing done to 305, what cam is it?

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Nice Elky!!!! Sure do like to see a clean and shiny classic!!!

Thanks!

So what does it sound like? It doesn't sound like a comp cam to me.

Sound doesn't mean much, really. If I had to guess I would say the favorite "poser" cam on the market, the Comp Thumper!!!! Comp Cams also has a free download called "Cam Quest". If you input accurate information about your car and your engine it will give you some good choices in cams and other valve train components for a car....

Originally Posted by Littlechevy

Thanks!

So what does it sound like? It doesn't sound like a comp cam to me.

now who.s has the turban on a cam is numbers that they grind on a iron or steel core the numbers are base circle size.lowest part of the lobe the heel and then ramps of lobe s opening closing ramps numbers . then lobe centers all numbers there is no not really a sound thats trade marked in cams any cam grinder can copy the numbers of another cam company other then the parking lot cams that compcam sell as thumpers that may be trade marked. the cam is numbers that if the company has the masters and tooling then any one can copy a cam i had cams copied so to say thats a Isky or Lunati .Howards .Comp Cam . Erson Cam .Crower .many others .it would be very hard to say as many of the smaller grinds cams. some companys buy and put in there nice box with nice stickers

Nice clean Elky, good score. Definitely NOT a "30-30" cam, one of them is just barely streetable, and has a serious "lope", not to mention the solid lifter's "rattle" - they just sound different. Yours sounds like the Erson Perfomance RV cam I had in my '59 - rrumbly, but not lopey.

Okay that was with the electric choke on idling I think around 1,250rpm. Here is it idled down. Here is lope.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Mna8VulLRCU

This is what it was like when someone told me it sounded like a 30-30. This was a could start after a couple days.

I got 18 mpg from the 305 in my 78 firebird.

It's been a while, but I think it was a .490 lift with a 290 duration. If those numbers are whack,then Tech will call me on it.

BUT, it was .060 over, and factory 2 bbl, long headders, and massive flowmasters, 2.56 rear ratio, and th350.

I miss that car. No, not a BB monster, but it had spirit, and put to shame many a rice burning young-un.

Originally Posted by Littlechevy

Okay that was with the electric choke on idling I think around 1,250rpm. Here is it idled down. Here is lope.

This is what it was like when someone told me it sounded like a 30-30. This was a could start after a couple days.

You are asking an impossible question, any answer is simply a quess. No One can listen to a motor run and decipher which cam is in there!

If you really want or need to know, a couple of dial indicators and a degree wheel can unravel the mystery... or get to the cam to read the numbers.

Look back through the posts and you'll see a consistent pattern, with Mike's

Originally Posted by 34_40

You are asking an impossible question, any answer is simply a quess. No One can listen to a motor run and decipher which cam is in there! If you really want or need to know, a couple of dial indicators and a degree wheel can unravel the mystery... or get to the cam to read the numbers.

cutting to the chase and giving you the only option, if you really have to know.

I know your Elky and how you take care of it, and I'd say that you're likely looking at your "messing around" mileage - daily driving around town, lots of stop light/sign stops & starts, occasional runs at highway speeds, etc and your 12.5mpg is really good for that. Am I right in this assessment? If you want to know your "true" mileage fill your tank, jump on I-35 and head north (no tolls that way ) about a hundred miles at the speed limit, driving like you have a raw egg under the gas pedal, hit an exit and head back home light on the throttle all the way. As you pull off the highway go straight to a gas station, refill the tank and note the miles driven and gallons used.

I think you'll find that the biggest reason for your "normal" mileage is that 2.41 rear gear! Those are super high highway gears, bought with highway efficiency in mind since they didn't get an overdrive transmission. I expect that you're getting into the throttle a little heavy on your starts, compensating for those tall gears, and probably staying into it pretty deep. If you're looking for better around town performance the biggest "kick in the pants for the bucks" would be if you dropped in a set of lower rear gears, like something around 3.23 to 3.55, but know that your highway mileage is going to suffer. The only way to get both worlds is to swap to an overdrive transmission or GearVendors OD into it, along with the lower gears.

Bottom line, don't start just buying parts and changing things without a plan. You've done right asking about your cam instead of tearing into it and buying something just for the sound. My advice? Enjoy what you have, think about where you want it to be in five years, write down a detailed plan and start saving your $$ until you can take steps toward your end goal. Sorry for the long winded post...

You guys are all wrong----------Its gotta be a cam out of a Rotary engine---------


If you are looking for milage---your plan should be to either look at converting the truck to an LT1 package or a later LS take out package along with accompanying electronic overdrive and associated wiring harness/ ecm---------

Littlechevy.... That's not the car I was thinking of. But that is a very nice elky and I think the cam regardless of what it is, sounds wonderful. Far as I'm concerned that Quadrajet is the best street carb made. 12.5 mpg is a little hard to take but I'm not so sure there is a lot of room for improvement with out a major swap like Jerry Clayton is suggesting. The worst gas milage offender with a hot rod like yours is attached to the bottom of our right legs, as we just can't help ourselves !

Does that breather in the left valve cover have a PCV in it???? It also doesn't appear to be fitted into the valve cover properly and could possibly be a series vacume leak leaving your engine unventilated plus be causing your power valve open in your carb killing off milage--------

Interesting and very funny reading here so thanks guys. I have a T Bucket that I purchased several years ago that I rebuild to what I wanted but due to the engine running fine I decided I would only be throwing money away having it rebuild too. So when I get asked about the cam as mine does have " that sound " too I always reply yes, it does have a bend long thingy which is a mini version of the larger bend thingy that makes 8 upside down flower pots go up and down. The other common question which amuses me is, " how fast does it go ? " which is the stock answer, " the speed limit " so it sort of comes down to what you really want, the inside knowledge with facts, figures and part numbers of every internal moving part of your engine which I would personal find boring or something like how I reply to " those questions " . I would just get out there and enjoy driving it. Thanks to this post though and the link that Roger posted, I did the numbers on my small block but again, I have decided that all that has done is give me a better idea of what the block came out of so it doesn't really matter too much to me. Now folks it is a 350 275 hp Chev Corvette engine but I have to ask, with every second rod using a Corvette engine, what engines are in all the Corvettes in the world Ford ?

Thanks for posting the pictures! You have a great looking El Camino – very clean and well cared for. I’ve always liked them and would like to have a ‘68-‘72 big block someday! I concur 100% with the advice given above and would encourage you to drive this rig and really enjoy it. If someone really presses you about the cam, tell them it an, “XP-2002 with chromed duraliptic lobes ground with a concentric, off-center valve compensation alignment factor–highly experimental (same guys that do “Black Ops” out of Langley) and only available to a select group of machinist that have been sworn to secrecy.”

Seriously, glad you’ve joined us and you’ve got a real sweet ride that many here would enjoy. Take care of it and you can cruise this one for a long time!

Best Regards,
Glenn

Originally Posted by Littlechevy

Okay here are the pics

Littlechevy, I'll trust that you don't think I was harsh in my reply, I've been accused of not being very "diplomatic" but, the question your seeking an answer to can only be reached 2 ways. And sound isn't one of them.

You've got a great car there and you've found a great resource here as there is a bunch of knowledge that many here love to share with those willing to learn.

And thanks for the pics!!! We all love pics so you've earned huge points there!

Keep coming back and share your vision of the car, we enjoy having you here with such a cool ride.