I am considering a small base circle solid cam for my 383 build. I called Jegs and they said that they do not recommend small base circle for solid cams because it makes them weaker.

Anyone know if this is true or have any opinions about small base circle solid cams?

you might not need a small base circle if you have stroker-clearanced i-beam rods.i think roller cams are the usual culprits requiring a small base circle.is your solid a roller or flat tappet?

not all those sales men you talk to know very much except to answer a phone .i my self dont know very much either,but i can tell you that i am running two small base circle rollers in my car now plus the back up motor.i havent broke one yet.maybe harrold will help you here,he is an expert on cams

Although there are a large selection of roller cores available as small block chevys, there are none available as cast iron cores.
Having said that, I have been making small base circle SBC cams for 24 years, and have not seen them to be particularly weak because of it.
Where the confusion comes in is that the base circle has to be about .100" smaller than normal---That's only .050" per side. There is NO RELATIONSHIP between the base circle size of a roller cam and that of a solid lifter cam, other than they are both .100" smaller than normal.
Roller cams I make for the 383-406 SBC are normally .900" to .930" base circle diameter.
The solid cams I make for the same 383-406 engines are around 1.030" base circle diameter...
As long as you don't hit the cam with a 'wild' rod, it should give years of good service.

UDHarold

Ok, thanks guys! Looks like I will be going with a SBC solid cam.