Will I see more HP/TQ from a new cam in a 300hp crate motor?
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Car: 1985 Pontiac TransAM
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Will I see more HP/TQ from a new cam in a 300hp crate motor?
I "believe" I have a 350chev 1986-1995 4 bolt motor. It was installed in the car 13months ago and the motor originated from a place called suburban imports here in Australia.
I believe it is one of the 2 engines in the image attached, but can't confirm. According to the guy at suburban, it is this(one of) motor but can't confirm if it is HO cam or Roller cam.
My question/s are this:
If it has 300hp rating, would it still be stock heads? (can't get the casting numbers)
If it is stock heads, would replacing the cam increase power or is the engine maxed out already?
If so what cam would i replace it with?
The engine has since had a TPI top end put on.
I believe it is one of the 2 engines in the image attached, but can't confirm. According to the guy at suburban, it is this(one of) motor but can't confirm if it is HO cam or Roller cam.
My question/s are this:
If it has 300hp rating, would it still be stock heads? (can't get the casting numbers)
If it is stock heads, would replacing the cam increase power or is the engine maxed out already?
If so what cam would i replace it with?
The engine has since had a TPI top end put on.
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Car: '83 Z28, '07 Charger SRT8
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Axle/Gears: 2.73 posi, 3.06 posi
Re: Will I see more HP/TQ from a new cam in a 300hp crate motor?
I "believe" I have a 350chev 1986-1995 4 bolt motor. It was installed in the car 13months ago and the motor originated from a place called suburban imports here in Australia.
I believe it is one of the 2 engines in the image attached, but can't confirm. According to the guy at suburban, it is this(one of) motor but can't confirm if it is HO cam or Roller cam.
My question/s are this:
If it has 300hp rating, would it still be stock heads? (can't get the casting numbers)
If it is stock heads, would replacing the cam increase power or is the engine maxed out already?
If so what cam would i replace it with?
The engine has since had a TPI top end put on.
I believe it is one of the 2 engines in the image attached, but can't confirm. According to the guy at suburban, it is this(one of) motor but can't confirm if it is HO cam or Roller cam.
My question/s are this:
If it has 300hp rating, would it still be stock heads? (can't get the casting numbers)
If it is stock heads, would replacing the cam increase power or is the engine maxed out already?
If so what cam would i replace it with?
The engine has since had a TPI top end put on.
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Re: Will I see more HP/TQ from a new cam in a 300hp crate motor?
Pull a valve cover off and copy down the head casting number, they we can help you dig up more details. If i had to venture a guess, i'd say that like the majority of non-performance oriented crate engines yours probably has a mild cam in it. Thus it could benefit from a larger cam. That said, id-ing unknown cams is a bitch, so you may never be sure. You could set a dial indicator up to measure the lift at a lobe and estimate the cams specs using that. Are you prepared to tear this motor apart?
-Zander
-Zander
#4
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Car: 1985 Pontiac TransAM
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Re: Will I see more HP/TQ from a new cam in a 300hp crate motor?
either side?
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Re: Will I see more HP/TQ from a new cam in a 300hp crate motor?
yes either side will do, your are looking for a 7-digit sequence cast into the head.
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Re: Will I see more HP/TQ from a new cam in a 300hp crate motor?
another easy way to see if its a roller cam is, while you have the valve cover pulled off, you can look through the pushrod holes or oil drain holes into the lifter valley, and see if you have roller lifter retainers or other hardware identifying a roller cam. good luck!
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Car: '83 Z28, '07 Charger SRT8
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Transmission: TH350, A5
Axle/Gears: 2.73 posi, 3.06 posi
Re: Will I see more HP/TQ from a new cam in a 300hp crate motor?
Only way to know is to pull off the intake and see. Alot of factory roller blocks never had the finish machining done to accept a roller setup, because trucks came with flat cams. Being a rebuilt engine too, it could also have had a flat cam installed where a roller used to be.
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Car: 1989 Camaro RS
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Re: Will I see more HP/TQ from a new cam in a 300hp crate motor?
Only way to know is to pull off the intake and see. Alot of factory roller blocks never had the finish machining done to accept a roller setup, because trucks came with flat cams. Being a rebuilt engine too, it could also have had a flat cam installed where a roller used to be.
even if the machining isnt done the lifters have to have retainers otherwise they would turn sideways if the bores and then youd have a "catastrophic failure."
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Re: Will I see more HP/TQ from a new cam in a 300hp crate motor?
In this case he has used a late model roller cam Block with what appear to be early heads.I doubt the heads are anything special.
The difference between the 2 engines is whether it has a roller cam installed.
The base Chevy crate engine from GM is rated at 290Hp with a wimpy cam.
Only one way to find out what you have
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