Okay, been talking about it for three years...the time has come. I've been talking about a cam swap for three years, and I've finally got some money. So weigh in..

Combo:
http://www.chevelles.com/feature/february2003.html

402 (bored to 415) BBC
Forged, nitrided steel crank
Stock rods, shot peened, deburred.
KB Hyper pistons, 9.75:1 compression
Moroso 6.5 quart pan
Moroso High volume pump
Crane roller rockers
Crane springs
Crane Cam: 296/306 duration (236/246 @ .050), .553/.571 lift, on a 114 LSA.
Edelbrock Airgap intake
Stock Chevy oval port heads with some exaust side work done
2.19/1.88 Moroso valves
Holley 950HP
Mallory Comp 9000 Distributor
Malory Comp 140 Fuel pump, regulator
Hedmann headers, Flowmaster exhaust system
*edit* 12 bolt, 3.73 gears...

I've had it chassis dyno'd at 339hp @ 5700RPM / 357tq @ 3700RPM. The cam in it is a monster, but the manners aren't too bad because of the 114 LSA...I was oringally going to spray it, but decided against it. It's a four speed car and this presents a lot of problems.

I've been looking at the Ultradyne (now Lunati) 280/288 223/231 (@.050) 0.525/0.550 0.309 112LSA.

I had originally set the car up to race, but have got so much money in this SS I don't want tear it up. Go figure. :rolleyes: I'd like to get her in street form. A cam swap would bring the HP/TQ band back down to a more streetable level. I just don't want to lose HP/TQ. I kind of like it. :D Spinning that bbc up to almost 6000 RPM's isn't the best in the world for street, either. That's libel to get me a huge ticket or break something quickly...

Need some opinions here before I make the purchase, and get the motor out...

The 280 cam is a much better match for your CR. Still, it is a little large but usable. You should get a bunch more torque at a lower rpm. The ideal match for 9.75CR is around 258º but you could run up to a 282º cam and still make pretty good power. Hopefully, your headers are not huge. You didn't mention the rear gearing. This needs to be considered, too.

Ok...Hedders are 1 3/4x3...12 bolt, 3.73's...

BB Mike does very well with the 280/288 UD on a 112 LSA in his 402+ combo,as does my 454 using the same cam w/2.73's

Sean, thats a fine choice of cam. I do believe BBMike had it ground on a 110 lsa, which is what I would recommend and also, if you really want it snappier, lose about 100 cfm from your carb.

The cam swap to the 280/88 110 lsa will give you MUCH MUCH snappier throttle response. The car will feel quicker and might actually be. Combine that with a much more suitable 700-750 cfm carb and your 'lil 396" should ROCK!

114 lsa cams are NOT snappy. And if you think they are , put a 110 or 108 in.

On the racing side, my wife, the attorney, says to me, " So, how much do you have in the car ?"

$ XXX I reply ( a lowball but not a glaring one).

" Oh, ok, I just wnat to know how much money is at risk when you race that car."

Yeah, she's right. No insurance on the track baby! I'm playing 'craps' with 24Gs every time I race. So' I HEAR YA!

Gene and Sean..my cam and Mikes are on a 112 LSA..Lev has it on a 110

Sean, I'll be even more conservative and say that a cam of 276 dur on 110 lsa would be about the best for your combo. I don't know what your stall is, but if you went with this cam and a 4000 stall converter, you 'could' drop your et by a full second. And your carb is just too big...... Try a 750 instead. The car will be an animal.

Ooops, just re-read your specs, forget the convertor recomendation.... redface.gif

I read an article recently (I think it is this months Hot Rod) about carb cfm and a Holly 750 would be much better for your combo.

I agree on the carb issue completely. She runs rich at part throttle, but DAMN! At wot she runs like a raped ape.

Originally posted by SS_Sean:
The cam in it is a monster, but the manners aren't too bad because of the 114 LSA...Why that's just a little feller ;)

I agree with the others about the smaller cam for your compression.I think the combination of low compression, the duration,and the 114 LSA is what is hurting your bottom end.

As others have said a smaller carb might work well.

750HP?

Thanks to all of you who've applied! I appreciate it very much!! graemlins/beers.gif

Sean
I think that you may want to think about one step down to the 276/286. Slightly smaller but should match with the 415 a little better smile.gif Or go solid and run the 276/284 ;)

Hehehe, the solid 276/84 will be a friggin' gorilla in that car and it will be lumpy. I've driven both BB Mike and Chris's rides and they are pretty mellow, Chris's big 454 idles like a Caddy ( well almost). And in Mike's case I wouldn't have guessed a 112 lsa cam based on the pull out of the hole. ( I didnt beat on Mike's car, I rode shotgun).

But JJ makes a point. It would thump! Curious to see how Rich Cummings likes that cam in a 427 with a stick.

I think it might be too much for you Sean. You'll catch yourself putting a 7K rev chip in one day, I GUARANTEE IT!!!! tongue.gif

If I am not mistaken, and I might be, JJ means the 276/286 hydrualic, and I don't believe its in the same lobe family as the solid. The solid is defintely a thumpy-arse short track cam that makes GOBS of power. But there's no hiding the idle. I cant pass my motor off as 'just an old Vette 435hp engine'. The idle is more L88-like.

Gene,Mikey's ride has 3.73's,so thats where that "pull" is coming from,and with that in mid,imagine my ride w/3.73's :eek: (while it would be nice,highway rides wouldn't be as fun)
Sean,I'd stick with the 280/288 UD(Lunati) cam,and go smaller with the carb..other than,leave the rest of the combo alone,and you should be well rewarded in the ET department-just get the car to hook graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Oh absolutely Chris. Mike's impressed me being such a 'small' motor is all.

3.73s in your ride. YEOW! I've NEVER been pinned in the seat in any ride with 2.73s like yours! And the ET's prove it. Wait until your "controlled opening" experiment. Your sig line WILL CHANGE! graemlins/thumbsup.gif

I was using it as an illustration of what a nice cam it is. Mellow idle in a 454, a bit of lump in a 402, Good power in both! The 276/84 solid doesnt idle ANYTHING like it.( but I do lash it down tight).

Don't think Sean wants a lumpy thang like that that'll spin to 7000 easy in his motor.

Dang it guys! I'm so far from firing my .030 over 427 with the solid UD 276/284 I could cry. I'm totally itchin' to get it built and fired. It should mate nicely to a wide ratio Muncie and 3.73 rear. I hope shut down my friend's '70 SS396/TH400 for local bragging rights (at the track of course) but I suppose my soft shifting techniques will hamper my attempts!

I've made a transmission decision lately that will be more bullet-proof than the rebuilt vintage Muncie plan I originally had so at least I'll be able to bang on it a bit more than original plans would have allowed.