Hi,

I'm all confuse and I would appreciate your advice(s), here's what I'm after:

1) Good get up and go at the traffic lights.

2) Want to retain my stock Valve Train (i.e. Springs, Studs, Rockers and Push Rods).

3) Want to the car to be still reliable for occasional 2-3 hours drive to cruises.


My car is as follows:

o 1969 Camaro
o TH350 with Stock Stall Converter.
o 3.73 Posi Rear End.
o 26.1" Diameter Rear Wheels.
o 1972 350 Engine (Low compression with 76 CC heads)
o Heads: Freshly rebuilt stock 333882 Heads, with 1.94 & 1.5 Valves. The springs are new Pioneer RV880X with the following specifications: 72-84lbs @ 1.70" and 194-206lbs @ 1.25".
o 600 cfm Holley Carburetor.
o Dynomax Long Tube Headers.
o Edelbrock Performer Intake.


The cams that I'm currently looking at are the following:

1) Crane Energizer 260H, LSA 110, Overlap 40, 260/260, 0.427"/0.427".

2) Crane Energizer 266H, LSA 110, Overlap 46, 266/266, 0.440"/0.440".

3) Crane Energizer 272H, LSA 110, Overlap 52, 272/272, 0.454"/0.454".

4) Comp High Energy 260H, LSA 110, Overlap 40, 260/260, 0.440"/0.440".

5) Comp High Energy 268H, LSA 110, Overlap 48, 268/268, 0.454"/0.454".

6) Comp Nostalgia 300HP+, LSA 113, Overlap 38, 258/265, 0.426"/0.420".


What would you recommend ?

Thanks,
Daniel.

1 or 4..with your low compresion...they will be done making power b4 5000rpm however

I wouldn't think of running any springs weaker then the great, el-cheapo stock, Z-28 springs..

You can usually pick a set up of the old -142's for like $25 to $30 from Competition Products, Midwest Motorsports, Powerhouse and several other places...

They spec. at 1.70" = 110# to 120# and 1.25" = 260# to 300#, (depending on those spec'ing them sorta deal)..

Heck, even a stock, lo-po spring is like 1.70" = 90# and 1.25" = 220#, so the springs you have are TO ME really weak, lo-po springs, imho....

pdq67

pdq67 according to Crane Cams, if I go with more than 280lbs @ 1.25", I would need to go with Screw-In Studs.

I would like to keep the current Press-Fit Studs!

Thanks,
Daniel.

I would just drill them throuhg carefully with an 1/8th inch bit and add 1/8" x 1" long roll pins at the bases of each stud.

Works fine in my book!!

Just put a straight edge across their tops to make sure they are all the same height. If not, you might just tap/press them down until they are and then pin.

pdq67

None of those are really all that good for the rest of your combo.

Try one of those super cheap generic ones, the 204/214 @ .050" grind. Summit sells it as their 1102 IIRC. You can get it from Elgin or Melling too, and dozens of other places; it's even the "Performer Plus" grind from Edelbrock, if you just want to pay too much for it. That cam was made for a motor like that.

If you want one with a little more bite to it, look at the Comp XE256, or the Crane one that's about the same duration, of about 212° @.050". They both have the larger exhaust lobe (which those heads desperately need), but they're small enough not to need any higher compression than what you've got.

Although, those springs you have are crap (still), they really need to go. You're basically wasting your time worrying about what cam you put in it if you use those, because the valves aren't going to follow it anyway.

Heck, he listed two 260 advertised duration at .050" cams here!!!

AND you are right-on with the Performer cam if he wants to go that small but I figured we were talking about the cams he listed.

So I was worried more about his valve springs and the performer cam slipped by me..

pdq67

#4, hands down. I have ran all the above cams except for the last one, and the 260H is definately my favorite low compression 350 cam. It idles well with just a faint lope, and pulls strongly to 5200+ even with stock low pressure valve springs. The crane 272 energizer also works well in a situation like this. One that you didn't list but also works very well in a low comp 350 with 3.73's is the cheapo generic 214/224@.050, .442/.465 lift cam sold by summit, PAW, crane (under the blue racer name), mellings, TRW, etc. I would still step up the springs to a set of the cheapo Z-28 style like PDQ67 spoke of earlier. My local speed shop carries these Z-28 springs (made by Elgin) for about $25. This cam will go to 6K easily with 3.73's and better matches the gearing than the 260H. For a hair over $100, you could get the Z-28 springs and the 214/224 cam and lifters...about the same price you would pay for JUST the comp cam, and about the same price as the crane energizer cam/lifter set.

I agree with Travis, and you know -- stock pressed studs can take a little more than you think. Back when factory heads were all that you had to run with most of the guys never bothered with converting to screw in studs !!

Now I wouldn't go to a big XE type lobe and expect them to last forever, but don't be shy about going with a little more spring/cam !!!

If the heads are still off you could always just pin the studs. Sounds like Travis has your plan-of-action.

When a stud starts to pull out,we used to bang 'em back in and then weld 'em ;) :D

But seriously,#2 would work..least you have 3.73's too..a mild stall (like 2200 or so) would also help out.

Thanks for all your responses.

CraneCams recommended the Energizer 272H, I’m not convince that this will give me good bottom end with my 8.5:1 compression.

I’m therefore planing to go with the Crane Energizer 266H and keep my new stock springs.

Thanks,
Daniel

I've run the 272H in a few 350's that where all stock and had miles on them..typical mid 70's smogger 350's with Performer intake,Holley 600 or Qjet and headers..actually worked well.I've also used the 272H in a few stock big block Chevys too.
Just covered 'em with cam lube and sent 'em in..only thing I changed where timing chains..always used the stock valve springs too.

I bet the 266 cam will be a dandy for your mild, low compression, street motor..

pdq67

Thanks Again for all your Responses.

I just placed my order with Summit for a CraneCams Energizer 266H. ;)

Thanks,
Daniel.

When I got my '77 nova, it had a 8.2-1 compression 355 with stock 882 heads, stock valve springs, performer intake, 600 holley, headers, 3" exhaust :rolleyes: , and a crane 290 fireball cam (exact same as the 272H energizer). With a stock torque convertor and 2.56 posi rear, it would burn the tires to the rims, but with the 882 heads it falls flat on its face by 5K. The 266 energizer, in a 8.4-1 355 with similar bolt ons and heads as the above motor, was pretty well done by 4500 rpms (it would rev to 5K, but wasn't making any power). It did get darn good gas mileage in a '78 chevy truck with 3.08's. The 260H energizer makes a real good high geared, low compression 305 truck cam, but is pretty well done by 4200 rpms in a mild 350.