Well i want to do a cam but im having a problem deciding what cam i want. i think i have it narrowed down to 4 cams but if there are any other that you think would be better let me know. for right now im running a stock stall and have nitrous, but im not currently using it. in the future i am hoping for forced induction but that might be far away. the cams i am thinking of are:

Hydraulic Roller (LT4 Hot Cam)
This hydraulic roller cam is for service only for all V8 engines with roller camshafts. The duration at lash point in degrees (intake/exhaust) is 279/287; duration at .050" tappet lift (intake/exhaust) is 218/228; and maximum lift with 1.6 rocker ratio (intake/exhaust) is 525/525. Valve lash is zero/zero and lobe centerline is 112 degrees.

Hydraulic Roller (LT4 Production Cam)
This is an LT4 production cam 1996. The duration at .050" tappet lift (intake/exhaust) is 203/210; and maximum lift with 1.6 rocker ratio (intake/exhaust) is 476/480. Valve lash is zero/zero and lobe centerline is 115 degrees.

comp 212/218 488/495 112

204/214 429/452

this is the specs on my valve springs currently in there
Seat Pressure @ Installed Height 115# @ 1.750
Open Pressure and Height 350# @ 1.175
Coil Bind 1.100

 

I dont think LT1/LT4 cams will work in your truck, bucause the LTs had the distributer on front of the engine, vs. your truck having it in the rear traditional place.

 

yea, i thought that at first also. but after hearing about people putting the lt1/4 cam in there 1st gen vortec trucks i looked into it and found the cam goes in with no problem.

 

anyone?? bump

 

any opinions?

 

Yep. The stock LT4 cam would be a good cam for that engine. You will not be able to use the HOT cam unless you pull the heads and have the valve guides machined for that lift.
Stock vortec heads are only good for .480 lift, the valve guides are too high for anything else.
Also, you will need to enlarge the push rod holes for 1.6 rockers or the push rods will rub on the head. I have experianced this myself. People have been just drilling them out to 1/2".

Another good cam would be the one they use in the 383 crate motor. Its also the same one used in the ramjet 350. Should boost the low end quite a bit.

Let us know how it goes. I am thinking of this type of thing for my blazer as well.

 

with my current setup im able to support a max of .550 lift. with the hot cam and the 1.6 rockers it puts it right at .525 right bellow my max lift. I was wondering more about how each cam would perform in my engine than anything else and where the cam would make power.

 

Ok, I did'nt know you had the heads machined already. The LT4 would be the best all around cam IMO. With the HOT cam giving gains up top. I think the 383 cam would give a good boost to the low end tq but not much on the high end. I guess it all depends on what you are gonna do with it...

 

I have a 96 model with a 350 bored .040 over and a LT4 hot cam. The cam is a little weak off the bottom, but once you get around 2500 rpms or so it really starts to come on. I only have a few hundred miles on this setup so it hasn't really been driven hard yet. The truck was originally a 305 with a 5spd and would die off around 4500 rpms, but it will easily pull past 5k now (that's about as hard as I have pushed it so far). I'm still using the pos NV3500 trans, if you have an auto a stall will be a must. I got a custom tune from Westers, the 305 computer with a Hypertech wouldn't even keep the motor idling for the first 10 or 15 seconds after it was started. After that it would catch and idle, but it didn't really run all that great. The tune really helped out a lot. Starts right up and idles perfect and it has a very nice lope to it, which was the main reason I went with the hot cam. I wanted something that would run good and sound even better. I was willing to sacrifice a little hp for the sound. If you do any towing with your truck you might want to go with something milder that will make more power down low. My truck is used basically like a car, it doesn't tow or haul anything so being a little weak on bottom doesn't bother me. I used a set of Pro Topline vortec heads that were also set up to handle .550 lift, but I am using 1.5 rockers which put my lift at .492 instead of .525 with 1.6 rockers. I didn't want the hassle of using 1.6 rockers for the few hp that might be gained. I hope this helps you out some with your decision.

 

well i do no towing at all, my truck is practically a car. i have the stock stall right now but i'm definately gonna get a converter around the time of the cam install or shortly after. 357 how bad is the lowend bellow 2500?? I really want the lope sound, i just love the sound l82 you think the production lt4 or stock lt4 would be best? i was also looking at the 383 cam (thats the zz4 cam right?). the zz4 is Duration @ 0.050" Lift: 208/221 Lift: .474"/.510" Lobe Separation: 112 the i/e split seems kind of high, what would a high split like that do?