I've been searching all the old forums but I haven't quiet found what I'm looking for. See im in high school and on a bit of a budget. I've been wanting vortecs for a while but I can't afford the nice ones with the better valve spring. So my question is, what is the best cam to run with bone stock vortec heads. This is my daily driver and has 2.73 gears that are staying in there. I have a 2000rpm torque converter as well. With those gears should I stick to a regular performer intake or an rpm? My current motor is a new goodwrench 350 with 1 5/8 inch headers, hei, and a performer manifold. I want to be able to use my current 600holley. Any suggestions would be great. I'm not looking for a power house but I would like some more power than the stock motor is giving.

Any cam with about .460" lift should work for sure.
Crane H-266-2
Comp HE260 or 268
Crane also has a 222@.050 .460 lift cam. Think it's and Energizer line. May have to small an LSA for what you want.
Also the new 60101 Lunati cam web page (http://www.holley.com/voodoocams/Cams.htm)
Be the first one here to run a Voodoo cam.
Don't worry about being the first, Harold designs reliable cams.
There are some bigger low lift cams available, but they will rpm more and aren't suited to a 2.73 gear.
Keep the current performer intake.

That Lunati cam has .468 lift on the exhuast. sounds good for vortecs but is that pushing the valve springs. I'll be running stock self-aligning rocker arms

Lunati also has a cam @ .454 if you can gear your car for it.

Specs are: 276/286 221/230 112LSA

This is UDHarold's old 276/86H12 grind. Probably want around 10:1 CR, and 3.73 gears and a converter to match if using an auto trans.

I have the XE-256. Stock springs and 3.08s. It is an excellent combo. With 2.73s it probabily would work better. In my Nova it could use a little more cam but the car is lite and it has a 3.42 low ST-10.

ya i was thinking along the the line of an xe256. How far does pull to?

Don't forget that you'll need to run the Vortec-specific intake manifold, along with the centerbolt valve covers.

You'll also need to scrounge up some Vortec intake manifold bolts, Vortec head bolts, head gaskets and intake gaskets. They are all specific to those heads.

I'm in the beginning stages of putting a Vortec combo together for a friend, so I'm heading down the same road.

I believe he has 3.08's in an '81 GMC truck with a stock converter, tho.

FWIW, I ran a comp XE 262 with a set of press-in stud factory heads, and pulled 2 studs. That was .464/.470 lift.

Originally posted by 70_FathomBlueMalibu:

... Vortec head bolts, head gaskets and intake gaskets. They are all specific to those heads.Justin,
The head bolts and head gaskets are common SBC items...nothing special needed here.
You are correct about the intake and it's gaskets, though.

70chevelle15,
How about Comp's 265DEH, a dual energy hyd flat tappet cam?
Specs are 265/269, 211/221 @ .050, .442/.465
This is the cam kit I've bought for my '67. Gonna replace the stock top end on the 350 with a Vortec head combo. I think the 10* longer duration and greater lift on the exhaust side will really help with this weak side of the Vortecs. This cam would fit in well with the rest of your present combo, IMO.

(16), 1/8" x 1" long roll pins and an 1/8" drill bit will cure pulling studs!!

Can you say, "Shade-tree"??

pdq67

felpro also makes a std style intake gasket that is much more used friendly than the vortec gaskets and you don't need the special bolts

I wish those valve springs were better. That dual energy cam sounds like about what I need. But I might just stick with a xe256 to stay on the safe side with .454 lift. dang.

Originally posted by 70chevelle15:
I wish those valve springs were better. That dual energy cam sounds like about what I need. But I might just stick with a xe256 to stay on the safe side with .454 lift. dang. =
Good plan graemlins/thumbsup.gif
If it is over .450 lift you NEED TO CHECK THE RETAINER TO SEAL CLEARANCE.
Some clear, some don't.
You will have people tell you they did it & it worked,,, this is not a reliable recomendation of weather it will work or not.
I have a set that I could not flow over .450 without removing the seal with the stock retainer.
It hit right at .450 on some of the valves.

Ya you just proved my worries wolfplace. See I was going to go all out and get modified heads from sdpc but I relized since I'm going keep my 2.73 gear for quiet some time since I drive on the freeway to school every day, I could just save some money and buy a smaller cam that would probably suite my gear and needs better any way. So xe256 should be ok with stock springs and I'll just get vortec performer manifold. won't be going past 5500 rpm any way. How much hp and torque might I expect from a setup like this.

I did a back to back Performer vs RPM test on a Vortec 350 with modified heads and a ZZ4 cam.

The power curves crossed @ 4700 RPM with the RPM making 11hp more @ peak, and with the peak approx 250 rpm higher. The RPM also required more jet.

The Performer made 16 ft lbs more torque at peak (3350)with less jetting, with even a larger difference below that.

Ya I need all the torque I can get especially down low, 2200rpm and above, plus if I can save a little gas with less jetting that works too. Like I said this car wont see much past 5200 any way, most of the time 2000rpm to 3500 is where i'll be. Thank you Greybeard and everyone else you've made my decision making problems just a little easier. Should make a nice daily driver with just a little power to scoot.

My XE256 with a Performer open spacer Q-jet and stock 2in ram horns will pull pretty good to 57-5800 RPM. I was suprised it would go that high but it seems to like the Vortec heads. It pulls fine from 1000rpm in 4th gear. It really works well for a mild 350 with tall gears.

Wow, I really thought one needed specific Vortec head bolts and head gaskets. That's a bit of a relief, as my friend didn't get all the bolts from the yard. I thought I might have to buy a new set from GM.