Can you guys give a recommended cam?. I recently bought this truck and it's real torquey with the XE262 and 3:73 gears. I have 882 heads on it but the guy I got the truck from has a set of used SPII's we might be making a deal for. I'm looking for "as much power as possible" around town with no race track action planned. If I get his other heads, will I be losing my torque with a XE268 or XE274?. I realize the powerband is shifted up the RPM range but feel like this heavy truck could still use more torque. It has a stock stall that will be replaced by a 2500-3000 stall later. I figured with 3:73's I could wait awhile. Thanks guys for any input offered.

I have a 350 with the XE262 and Dart Iron Eagle 180 heads, which are similar to SPII's I think. I ran a 13.54 in the 1/4 mile last Saturday night, with a 2000 stall and 3.42 gears. In my opinion, especially with a big old heavy truck, the XE262 will work better than either the XE268 or XE274.

69, thats what I'm thinking. I heard Lunati single pattern cams make good lowend power. The SPII's are 200 cc runners that's why I was thinking maybe going bigger but I'm afraid I'll lose torque. I wish my truck would run 13.54 like you!

I have heard that a single pattern cam is better suited to a cylinder head with a good exhaust port, so if true, my Darts or your SPII's might work better with something different than the Comp XE line...maybe something from Lunati. UDHarold works at Lunati now, but I think all of his cams are dual pattern. Maybe one of the older Lunati's. Good luck, and let us know how it turns out.

I bet a good old CC 268HE would work fine here!!

And I do figure anything over about a 170 port will be a schosh too big to generate good bottom to low end torque which is what a big, heavy truck needs, imho..

pdq67

do you guys think I will really suffer lowend with these SPII heads?. Maybe keeping my small 262 cam with better flowing heads I'll still pick up some power. It might be time to invest in DD2000 to try these heads with a few cams.

I think swapping to the SPII heads your in a win-win over the 882 castings...a bump in compression and flow.... :D

The Sportsman II heads are good, but have a weak exhaust port out of the box. Definately stick with a dual pattern can with the Sportsman II's.

Personally, I'd leave the cam alone and see what the heads and converter do for you first.

The XE262 is a good pick for a heavy truck with SP IIs IMO.

I think I'm going to give the SP II's a try with the 262 cam thats already in the truck. Then I'll go for a new verter later. Thanks guys

If you have to means, I'd strongly recommend a mild pocket port/clean-up of the SPIIs before you bolt them on.

From what I've read, SPII need to have the exhaust bowl worked a little. Not a lot. Easy DIY job.
Look at Comps site. They have dyno test of the 262 and 268 cams posted. Or did. Base on that, you may not get enough on top to compensate for what you'd lose on the bottom going up to the 268. The 268 has a lot more duration split than the 262 or 274 IIRC. This can hurt torque in some applications.
From my talks with UDHarold, he likes a single pattern cam under 5500rpm. Less overlap. So the HE268 may be a better step up. Which UDH designed too btw. For a truck, I'd go with vortec heads.

Thanks guys! I thought port work was to increase upper end power. I would do it as long as I don't lose low end power!. Scott, you are the second person recently that told me a single pattern cam wa sthe way to go but if SP II's are weak on the exhaust I might just stick with the split pattern for now.

Port work can be based on .500 lift and up or down.
Hard to make both excellent.
The SPII just has a weak port out of the box. Needs a little work. Maybe $150 at a shop. Or easily done at home if you have the tools.

Im having the same dilemma with my new motor im building. Cant decide on the xe 268 or xe274. I talked to Comp Cam last night and asked what they would recommend. Your setup is almost the exact same as mine and they definitly said the xe274. the heads i will be running are the performer rpms. He said with the 3;73 gears and 2400 stall it will have plenty of low and tons of midrange torque. I wanted to go with the xe268 but he said no. My other chevelle has the xe262 and its very torquey.and i like it but it just has little on the top end.

Im having the same dilemma with my new motor im building. Cant decide on the xe 268 or xe274. I talked to Comp Cam last night and asked what they would recommend. Your setup is almost the exact same as mine and they definitly said the xe274. the heads i will be running are the performer rpms. He said with the 3;73 gears and 2400 stall it will have plenty of low and tons of midrange torque. I wanted to go with the xe268 but he said no. My other chevelle has the xe262 and its very torquey.and i like it but it just has little on the top end.

scott thanks for the info. blaster, I just talked to a comp cam tech and he said I would be happier with the 268. I really don't have the cash right now to buy new cam and lifters so I'm thinking 1.6 rockers will give me a tad more lift. Once I add a 2500 verter I think I'll be satisfied!