How about this cam?

[bucket]

Let's start with what I'm putting together:

'77 K5
Stock low-mile gen5 454 with rebuilt (shaved some) peanut port heads. Basic long tube headers, aluminum dual plane intake and 4bbl carb.

Rebuilt th350 with mild shift kit. Undecided convertor, waiting for cam choice. NP205 t-case and 3.42 geared 14 bolt SF, 33 inch radials.

Truck will be street driven, mostly as a weekend play toy. Will also need to make an occasional long trip on the freeway (hence 3.42 gears). Looking for an honest 330-plus horsepower, with excellent low and mid range torque. I won't be happy if it's a slug off the line or if the top end has no balls either (I know, the peanut ports are hurting me, but I have them already).

I just came across this cam on evilbay, I had planned on using the newer style roller cam/timing set anyway.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/150667471848?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Will this work good for me? Cam science isn't one of my best areas. Lift seems a bit on the mild side, but I haven't bought rockers yet either.

 

[davbell22602]

Go for it and let us know how it works out.

 

[HotRodPC]

May not be to bad, but it just appears to be a very mild cam. Duration is very low too. It appears to be a boat grind and should be loaded with mid range hp and low end torque. Boats basically have unlimited stall and need some rpms to get the prop turning faster, then mid range power kicks in so the prop is already moving pretty good. With 3.42 gear it might work well for you. I'd be curious to see how it does.

 

[skysurfer]

I assume you're already running an electric fuel pump?

 

[HotRodPC]

I assume you're already running an electric fuel pump?

Gonna borrow the thread for a minute bucket since sky is subscribed. You need to visit and post in this thread skysurfer.
http://www.gmsquarebody.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1760

 

[bucket]

I assume you're already running an electric fuel pump?

Not yet, but I planned on it. Currently the Blazer still has the old 350 with a bad cam in it.


I was afraid this cam may be too mild, but the price sure is right. Higher ratio rockers would help a little bit I guess. It has to be better than the TBI cam though.

 

[HotRodPC]

Not yet, but I planned on it. Currently the Blazer still has the old 350 with a bad cam in it.


I was afraid this cam may be too mild, but the price sure is right. Higher ratio rockers would help a little bit I guess. It has to be better than the TBI cam though.

I should be quite a bit bigger or more performance than TBI, if I understand the spec right, its actually a little bigger than Vortec.

 

[skysurfer]

Isn't that the standard cam for the '96-2000 Vortecs? It's described as having lots of bottom end which surprised me, the LSA is big so I would think it isn't a torque cam. Don't know about bbc cams though so maybe that's normal, I'm used to seeing LSA's around 110-112.

 

[HotRodPC]

Isn't that the standard cam for the '96-2000 Vortecs? It's described as having lots of bottom end which surprised me, the LSA is big so I would think it isn't a torque cam. Don't know about bbc cams though so maybe that's normal, I'm used to seeing LSA's around 110-112.

Kinda what I was thinking, its a hair over Vortec and just tweeked a bit for a marine cam. Actually the higher the LSA, the more low end torque, the lower the LSA the more top end power. So this is a low end torque cam.

 

[bucket]

Bummer. Comparing to the Comp cams listed at Jegs, the ebay cam is even more mild than the most mild Comp marine cam.

I suppose something like this is more what I'm looking for:

http://www.jegs.com/i/Comp-Cams/249/01-411-8/10002/-1?parentProductId=754881

 

[HotRodPC]

I think that's a good RV type cam choice. The thing that will hurt you there is those Piss Port heads. It's my understanding the Piss Port heads run out of breath about 4,000 rpm, so to take advantage of the upper end of that 1200-5200 power band, some heads might be needed. But, it should pull real hard from 1200-4000 even with PeaPort heads. PeaPort heads are supposed to be for towing and lots of low end grunt, so with 3.42 gears, the PeaPort and that cam will compensate for your taller gear, and the taller gear will be good to keep well withing your power band at cruising speeds.

 

[bucket]

I know, the heads aren't ideal... but it's what I got to work with. Being a gen5 block, I'm stuck with the newer heads (I couldn't find any gen6 heads) or aftermarket heads ($). I did have the heads shaved a bit though to help get the compression up some, and I've also been looking for some thin head gaskets (but they are $ too). I'm just trying to pick the right parts to get what I want out of what I already have.

I don't need a high RPM screamer, mostly I just don't want a motor that's going to fall on it's face above 4500 or so. As long as I can surprise some mustang owners, I'll be happy. Big things that go fast are cool.

 

[HotRodPC]

I think you're being realistic about keeping the heads you have to work with, and knowing they aren't high rpm screamers. You don't really want a BB in the high rpms anyway otherwise you'll require bottem end work or the thing will come apart at high rpm since its moving such a heavy mass. But my other question is, are you going to keep running the TBI? Unless you intend to do something about the aspiration end of the build, I'd probably just go with that tad over Vortec marine cam for $90. Reason being, the TBI also is not going to take advantage of the bigger RV cam. If you are carbing it, then I'd consider the bigger RV cam grind, but I think I'd stay with a 600cfm carb since you still have the piss port heads and intended to be looking to make alot of power over 4000rpm. 600cfm is plenty of air for low end torque and mid range hp, and I just don't see piss port heads being able to move 750cfm thru them at any rpm. But, you could always go with the 750cfm and dejet it a bit. I just think even if you go with bigger injectors in the TBI, the intake isn't going to allow the gain, so you'd have to go with aftermarket TBI intake and bigger injectors both to benefit from the bigger RV cam and of course the aftermarket intake will sure give you some quicker throttle response too. You're not asking much to get to 330hp out an older Pissport 454 but you'd certainly feel it cuz it might get you well into 500ft lbs of torque with those piss port heads. Piss Port heads get a bad wrap, but they can certainly do some amazing things. Bigger isn't always better. GM knew what they were doing when they desingned those heads and for their intended purpose of low rpm high torque, they can't be beat. Same with big valves. Everyone always wants the bigger valves and will pay big bucks to get from a 1.94 to a 2.02 in a small block. Sure there is a gain on the top end, but it also hurts your bottom end, so all you are really doing is moving your power band up to a higher rpm. I myself, like to stay with the cheaper stuff that noone wants cuz the other **** is overrated.

 

[bucket]

It will be a carb, I have several to choose from. A new 650 Holley, a 670 Holley street avenger, and a 750 Holley vac secondary. I think I'm going to save the 670 for my Impala. I'll probably use the new 650 on this 454 going in the Blazer, and the trusty 750 will probably get stuck on the 454 in the crew cab (it's got a tiny Eddy on it now).

Hmm, thinking about it now, that tiny Eddy carb would probably work well on the "wee oh five" in the C10. The stock Q-jet is just about hosed. Looks like I've got some carb swapping to do when I get some time.

 

[HotRodPC]

Yep, I think either the 650 or 670 would be good choices for pissport 454's.