347 questions

Reply #15 – January 15, 2008, 08:48:37 PM

yea, i was pretty shocked when he recomended this cam. i said, wow are u serious, thats alot of cam dude. he said, yeah, but thats a 347, you got alot more engine now... and your gonna love the torque this cam will put out for you.

so i guess i'm sold. i'll buy the stuff tonight.

thanks again everybody!
Keith

347 questions

Reply #16 – January 16, 2008, 10:26:29 AM

Sorry I have missed your posts on this thread about your cam. Hopefully you haven't purchased the parts yet, if you have, you may consider sending them back. If you want an education on cams and valvetrain go to SBFTECH.com. I have found it to be the best tech support on engine building and picking the right parts once. In my experience getting good information on part selections from a cam tech line didn't happen. I will describe the issues I have had with going with a cam which was highly recomended by a cam company tech line. I had the car dyno'd and got a chip burned to get it to run decent. The idle did sound incredible, but surging and stalling was always a problem (with an idle of 1,100 RPM). Power came on great after 3,000 rpm, pretty soggy below, power fell off the cliff after 5,600 (due to valve train instablity). Keep in mind, I went with the package of springs and cam recommended. Mileage was was consistently 10 MPG around town and 18 on the highway. It was not a car that was fun to drive. My wife didn't like to ride in it because she didn't like the stink of unburned fuel.

The cam I had made for it completely changed the nature of engine. It now idles at 750 RPM, has amazing low end torque and pulls to 6,000 RPM. Mileage is now 16 MPG around town and up to 24 MPG on the highway (easily average 20 per tank). This was without ever having a chip reburned for it.

I am not new at this, I have been working on cars for 35 years. I have bought many camshafts and built many engine combinations. There was always a trade off on the performance I received. In retrospect, I always went with a cam that was too big (though they sounded nasty!). I didn't realize I could have my cake and eat it too with a custom camshaft. Granted it doesn't have the tough idle, but it has everything else!

We all have cash flow issues justifying the money spent on speed parts. I have used the same rationale, trying to save a few dollars here and there. It was hardly cheaper for me to buy the tech line "recommended" stuff and then go and buy the right stuff. Just a suggestion to learn from my mistakes. It's cheaper to do it right once! If you want another example, go to SBFTECH and read the thead on "noisy comp cams XE-274", under 260-302 Small Blocks. It will let you know how bad in can get.

You have the basis for a great project and I applaud your recognition of the need to have a professional put the bottom end together. By the time all is said and done you may have as much as $4,000-$5,000 in it, what's another $100-$200 now?

BTW the cam I had was the XE-274-HR

347 questions

Reply #17 – January 16, 2008, 08:34:57 PM

very noteworthy article. i have sent jay a form regarding buying one of his cams. 400 buck isnt too bad really considering the cam i bought was about 300. summit has a good return policy i hope. i'll let ya'll know how it goes. thanks for recomending him to me. he seems to definatly know his stuff

347 questions

Reply #18 – January 16, 2008, 09:37:38 PM

Kieth, I'm really glad you spoke to him. You will be amazed at the amount of back ground info he will provide and the incredible service you will receive. I've been amazed at how generous he is with his time. He will walk you through assembly to sorting the bugs out. He will call a spade a spade though! Hope everything goes well for you.

Mark

347 questions

Reply #19 – January 20, 2008, 08:42:27 AM

Quote from: grutinator;197758

if i spend this much money and loose to every mustang and camaro that goes up against me. ill just go crazy

Good luck with that set up and at least you won't end up like Slopoke :(