So I found numbers on the stock cam in my ‘64 327. 250hp, 300hp 32:30 87:30 300 (118) .398" 74:30 45:30 300 (76) .398" (138) 78 I have no idea how to read those numbers, and am looking for a lumpier cam, want to stay with a flat tappet though. The rest so far is all stock 327, Offenhauser 3x2 intake, 3 Stromberg 48s, 700r4 trans.
Ignore all that BS and source a 350 hp 327 (L79) cam from one of the name brand mfg. At one time Crane Cams had one that they called a "blueprint" series hydraulic lifter cam. Don't let the armchair camshaft gurus tell you "you're leaving hp on the table" with this cam, the new generation of cams are sooo much more technically advanced since that cam came out from GM (1965) blah blah blah. The one thing to keep in mind is Chevrolet never offered this cam in automatic equipped cars, but THOUSANDS of people have used it with automatic transmissions.
rearend gears? torque converter stall speed? car weight? intended use? Just to throw a little "bs" in there for you to consider. fwiw, I put a Summit 1065 cam in my 62 Corvette 327, it's the 250 hp engine, with the original WCFB, cast iron intake and exhaust manifolds, M20 4 speed, 3.08 rear gears. It's lumpier than stock, but still manages to get close to 20 mpg on the highway, and is fun to drive. I don't know how the specs compare to the L79 cam, let's do some research? This is the cam I have: Lopey-rough idle, excellent midrange power in street vehicles. Likes 9:1 and higher compression and works with stock converter. Basic Operating RPM Range: 1,500-5,000 Intake Duration at 050 inch Lift: 218 Exhaust Duration at 050 inch Lift: 218 Duration at 050 inch Lift: 218 int./218 exh. Advertised Intake Duration: 284 Advertised Exhaust Duration: 284 Advertised Duration: 284 int./284 exh. Intake Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.458 in. Exhaust Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.458 in. Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.458 int./0.458 exh. Lobe Separation (degrees): 110 Here's the Comp L79 cam specs, for comparison. Pretty darn close, I expect it would be really hard to tell them apart when you're driving the car: Street/Strip Basic Operating RPM Range: 1,800-6,200 Intake Duration at 050 inch Lift: 229 Exhaust Duration at 050 inch Lift: 236 Duration at 050 inch Lift: 229 int./236 exh. Advertised Intake Duration: 276 Advertised Exhaust Duration: 283 Advertised Duration: 276 int./283 exh. Intake Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.468 in. Exhaust Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.462 in. Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.468 int./0.462 exh. Lobe Separation (degrees): 112 Have fun!
easy answer is to ring a competant cam grinder of choice and tell them all the details and what you want to acheive.
I compiled factory SBC cam specs in a thread, others helped expand it. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/gm-factory-cams-specs.1227162/#post-14025003 General cam guidance, larger duration pushes the powerband up rpm range. Take a look at different factory cam specs and you'll start to get a feel for it.
Squirrel, Summit 1065 cam. 218 duration and .458 lift - I'm liking that - shorter duration than most at that lift.
Best one ever. Not big anymore but was a great go-getter in its day and a great street along with the 30-30 if you would like a solid lifter that works great with less than 100# springs.
I am a huge fan of the L79 cam as well for a mild build where you want to stay hydraulic lifters. I currently have a true GM one in my 68 C10 with its 327. I do have good 69 Z/28 2.02 heads and a 69 Z/28 intake manifold on it, but here is a link to my thread on my truck, 3/4 of the way down on page 2 is a video "1968 Chevy C10 new 327 idling" if you want an idea of how the cam sounds. I do have long tube headers and flowmaster 40's https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...that-became-a-shutdown-project.1316202/page-2
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