Putting in a new Camshaft...any warnings, words of wisdom etc...

[Jack]

Frank:
Your 350 (& all others I know of) shipped as Internally Balanced (or neutral balance). You indicate yours is Externally Balanced. You've indicated elsewhere you plan to change out harmonic balancer/damper. This Internal/External discrepancy is all the more reason to carry your balancer with you and match. Be flexible, but remain focused.
JACK:gap

 

[JHL]

There are good packages from both Edelbrock and Holley that will easily give you the required 400+ hp. I used the Edelbrock Performer RPM kit, although I found the cam a bit to much for the street, to be fair though their cataloge does say for use in lightweight cars.

Holley do the a similar kit which includes all the bits you need and I recently read an article in a chevy magazine where the progressivly fitted various parts to an old 3400lb Nova including a 3.70 something rear end and went from a standard trim 17 second quarter to low 13`s after everything was fitted.

It takes all the guess work out of it and for me apart from a crate engine was the best way to go instead of a mix and match of odd parts that someone remembers a friend of theirs ran.

J.

 

[cruzer99]

After you do all of this keep in mind you have to get it to the ground without breaking something in the drivetrain. I would assume that you have already been down that track.......:duh

 

[sscam69]

This Internal/External discrepancy is all the more reason to carry your balancer with you and match. Be flexible, but remain focused.

. Yeah I hear you. I am slowly trying to work things out and think of other possibilities as well. Trying to work this out thoroughly and thinking how I am going to manage the labor. This is a first so I know its going to take me a lot more time than the average mechanic to get this done.

But the first thing on the list before anything goes in is to make sure that balancer is not thrown off and the timing is right!

It takes all the guess work out of it and for me apart from a crate engine was the best way to go instead of a mix and match of odd parts that someone remembers a friend of theirs ran.

Thats why I am leaning towards one of these kits. I don't have to worry about the matching all the parts its already been done. It seems only logical I go that route considering what I am shooting for and the parts I am going to swap out.

After you do all of this keep in mind you have to get it to the ground without breaking something in the drivetrain. I would assume that you have already been down that track.......

Yup. Breaking stuff is a given. I don't run this car all the time but when I do take it out I know it has it. I usually race from a roll so it wreaks less havoc on some of the drivetrain and I am not going to use sticky tires just the replacement BFG's 255/60/r15.

The only way I know of measuring the performance other than a dyno is at the track. At my altitude (4000ft) I hope at least a low 14 or high 13 would absolutely be great!!

Thanks again everybody for your advice.

Frank p.

 

[sscam69]

UPDATE!!

Well I have some good news and some bad news.

Good News

It looks like my dad wants to go with a whole package deal. Heads/Cam/Intake.

Bad News
The Holley system (@$1350) is a bit out of our range

He asked me if I could get some good used heads like the "fuelie" heads and I said yeah there was a fellow ( Vigman!) that had a pair but it didn't have holes to bolt up the A/C etc.

He said "so, its not like your going to use it"
I thought "yeah your right:L" but they require some work to, don't they?

He then asked about the fastburn heads. I guess these are the Vortech heads:confused and I told him that in the end with all the machine work and having to buy a more expensive manifold to fit the heads it would all come down to the same price as some aftermarket heads. Speaking of which SDPC has a kit with heads gaskets and manifold for 899.95+169.99 (cam w/lifters). Its still just shy of the Holley system.

I asked him what the budget was and he said that he doesn't know but to give him some numbers and then we'll see.

So I kinda don't know what to do. The offers on the table but more cash is required. I have since put the stuff that I had for sale on Ebay and hope fully it will sell. This will make the Holley system a done deal but untill then..........

Any suggestions on some really good flowing heads for low cost price.:confused I would venture to guess that $600-700 would be the limit on heads etc. Thats actually pretty tight but again I am open to suggestions.

I think the best course of action at this point is to hold until I sell the components i have and see how much cas I end up with. then i think we'll take it from there. I really don't want to skimp, especially on something like this!

 

[Mako]

Re: UPDATE!!

Any suggestions on some really good flowing heads for low cost price.:confused I would venture to guess that $600-700 would be the limit on heads etc. Thats actually pretty tight but again I am open to suggestions.

In that price range your looking at iron heads, which is fine, as you don't have to run as high a CR to make up for the extra heat that aluminum heads pull out of the cylinders.

Check out World Product's S/R Torquer heads (http://www.worldcastings.com/sitemap.shtml). They have 2.02" 1.60" valves, all the accessory bolt holes, and make excellent power out of the box with the potentional for lot's more when/if you decide to port them later. I'm using them with excellent results.

Be careful what intake manifold you get, as there is very little vertical clearance under the stock smallblock hood. An Edlebrock Performer dual plane intake is about as tall as you can go and still be able to close the hood.

Good luck with your build up!

Mako

 

[JHL]

Bad News

Think yourself reasonably lucky, when I bought all the bits for my engine I had to pay in pounds sterling what you pay in dollars. That roughly works out at your dollar price x 1.5 then 17.5% in tax on top of the final number. :cry

The kit although initially looking expensive is a good deal but don`t forget to budget for all the other small bit`s n pieces such as gaskets, hoses, clips etc.

Good Luck

J.

 

[sscam69]

Mako

I ran accross your website on a general search on google and noticed that the car on the website looked similar to yours from one of your posts. I came back and checked out your post and clicked on your website and sure enough that was you. Thats one hellava stroker you have got there!!:eek :eek

There is a guy on Ebay that has some S/R torqurers for sale for $650 and 0 bids as of last night. I wish I had the cash in hand!


JHL
Yeah I hear you, that infamous "fudge factor". I am trying to take that into accout to.

Frank P.

 

[Jack]

Fastburn not same as Vortec

GMPP "Fastburn" is Aluminum and in the $500up/each range ... compare to Edelbrock E-Tec 200 ... either require vortec intake.

GM "Vortec" is Iron. Edelbrock makes a similar head in Aluminum (E-Tec 170) ... either require vortec intake.

JACK:gap

 

[Mako]

Mako

I ran accross your website on a general search on google and noticed that the car on the website looked similar to yours from one of your posts. I came back and checked out your post and clicked on your website and sure enough that was you. Thats one hellava stroker you have got there!!:eek :eek

There is a guy on Ebay that has some S/R torquers for sale for $650 and 0 bids as of last night. I wish I had the cash in hand!

JHL
Yeah I hear you, that infamous "fudge factor". I am trying to take that into accout to.

Frank P.

Wheee, I've been Googled

Email that EBay guy and verify they are indeed the Torquer heads, as there are two flavors of S/R heads, the standard cheap make my truck run flavor and the moderately priced let's make some power flavor. The Torquer heads have the very desirable 2.02"/1.60" valves and seem to be finished to a higher level than the regular flavor are.

He's asking near new $ for them, if that matters. Add $40-50 for shipping costs due to the weight...

Glad to hear you enjoyed reading about my little mouse engine, it's hella fun

CYa!
Mako

 

[sscam69]

Well

It might be a while before I can get the whole setup and I thank everyone for their knowledge and input on the matter. I have printed the post and highlighed all the suggestions for reference when it comes time to do this.

The only other problem is that I cannot leave the vette just sitting there with this messed up adapter for two reasons.

1. I have nosey neighbors and as soon as that car is seen sitting there for a short while they tend to call the city on us for a "junked vehicle". This has happened five times!! ad

2. I want to drive my car!! There is going to be a Domestic vs Import shootout Nov. 10th at the dragstrip and I would like to take the vette out there. Just to represent not to run.

So I am going to buy the performer manifold as a temporary replacement BUT I want to test something out first.

I asked at one point wether the Performer RPM manifold would fit under the L-82 hood w/o problems. I know that the stock L-48 hood does not have a cowl like the L-82. I never really got a good response so I am going to test it out and see how much clearance is available.

I have purchased the manifold already and a recurve kit for the ignition as well. I am going to check how bad the balancer has been thrown off to. I'll let you guys know the results of the test along with pics.

Frank.

 

[Justin_cv87]

I have nosey neighbors and as soon as that car is seen sitting there for a short while they tend to call the city on us for a "junked vehicle". This has happened five times!!

What sicko neighbors do u have that would call a Corvette a "junked vehicle"?

 

[Mako]

Try to get a "drop base" air cleaner similar to the original LT-1 base. It will buy you some critically needed vertical clearance.

Even then I suspect it won't clear the hood depending on how good/bad your motor mounts are. You need good mounts to minimize the amount of "torquing over" the engine has when you stomp on it.

Try topping the drop base cleaner with one of the new K&N "Extreme" air filter lids.

Good luck!

Mako

 

[sscam69]

Oh yeah I forgot to mention that I already have a dropbase and a 2 or 3" K&N. The reason that I am not conviced so easily is that with the current single plane manifold I had to buy an adaptor because the quadra jet would not fit the square bore. I think it was at least 1/2" and there were no clearance issues. Its just a test anyways, if i doesnt work I'll just go exchange it but I hope to provide a definitive answer to this question when it comes to the L-82 hood for future reference.

Sorry I forgot to mention those other details!:L

What sicko neighbors do u have that would call a Corvette a "junked vehicle"?

Yeah I know, I was so upset one time that I cranked the car put it in reverse backed into the street and the popped the clutch at 3K rpm. Needless to say the inspector was convinced.

Now that I think about it it probably wasn't the smartest or most mature thing to do but this is absolute BS. And thats just with my vette. I have been visited by cops twice about our cars on top of what was previously mentioned.ad ad. We are very peaceful and dont' bother anyone.WTF???

 

[Mako]

Oh yeah I forgot to mention that I already have a dropbase and a 2 or 3" K&N. The reason that I am not

If your using a 2" tall filter, that's not enough and your loosing power. Either run a 3"tall filter if there is room or definitely get the K&N lid if there isn't. Ideal would be 3" + the trick lid setup.

test anyways, if i doesnt work I'll just go exchange it but I hope to provide a definitive answer to this question when it comes to the L-82 hood for future reference.

Sorry I forgot to mention those other details!:L

Oops

CYa!
Mako

 

[JHL]

Hey SS

Don`t worry I have been reported to almost everybody that is anybody by my nieghbours. At one time I was into big Caddy`s and had three in a row, one of which was a flouresent pink 70`s Coupe DeVille, hidious by anyones standards but at the time it appealed to my sence of humour, one of my neighbours reported me to the Vice Squad on the asumption that anybody that drove such a car must be a drug dealing pimp.

As you can imagine Mrs JHL wasn`t overly impressed.

J.

 

[sscam69]

anybody that drove such a car must be a drug dealing pimp.

L

 

[JHL]

SS

Here are a couple of old grainy pics I found, hardly surprising my neighbours were upset and suspisious all in the same week, the blue Turbo T/A was my sisters husbands car but I eventually bought it from him, the white 79 actually had an early 327 vette engine which was fitted after the original 6.6 blew up and the Caddy, well that was something else all together.

J.

 

[Mako]

Re: SS

Here are a couple of old grainy pics I found

Should have welded some tail fins onto that Caddy I like your taste in cars and your sense of humor, fun stuff

CYa!
Mako

 

[sscam69]

Well here it is!