Dellb
CCCUK Member
Hi All
This one is for all you SBC engine buffs.
My 1980 C3 is now complete after 3 years of toil, and I am loving her.
There is however one minor point.
I have to say I am a little disappointed with the way she drives.
The engine is not the standard 350, but a 400. When it was stripped, I was amazed at its condition.
The bores were standard 4.125, and there was insufficient wear to warrant a rebore.
The cam and hydraulic lifters were in excellent condition and thus not replaced.
The heads are standard and are fed by a 4160 Holley.
My problem is this,
The idle is very lumpy, and there does not appear to much in bottom end grunt when getting off the line. Power comes in at a rush much further up the Rev band, which I found strange for such a large engine.
When I searched my engine notes, I found the cam spec. It is a comp cam magnum 12-211-2 270H grind.
This strikes me as a bit wild for ordinary street use with cruising and the odd blast off the line my main requirement.
Therefore my winter project is a cam swap.
Therein lies my dilemma. It is a minefield.
My thoughts are
Roller cam with hydraulic roller lifters and roller rockers. The reasons being
Super quiet operation
Longevity
Easy on the valve train
Able to use modern oils
Low/zero maintenance
My problem is this, I cannot find a mildish roller cam that will give me power from idle.
It appears that if you are going down the road of roller cam you must be wanting a beast of a cam.
Anybody any thoughts
Dellb
This one is for all you SBC engine buffs.
My 1980 C3 is now complete after 3 years of toil, and I am loving her.
There is however one minor point.
I have to say I am a little disappointed with the way she drives.
The engine is not the standard 350, but a 400. When it was stripped, I was amazed at its condition.
The bores were standard 4.125, and there was insufficient wear to warrant a rebore.
The cam and hydraulic lifters were in excellent condition and thus not replaced.
The heads are standard and are fed by a 4160 Holley.
My problem is this,
The idle is very lumpy, and there does not appear to much in bottom end grunt when getting off the line. Power comes in at a rush much further up the Rev band, which I found strange for such a large engine.
When I searched my engine notes, I found the cam spec. It is a comp cam magnum 12-211-2 270H grind.
This strikes me as a bit wild for ordinary street use with cruising and the odd blast off the line my main requirement.
Therefore my winter project is a cam swap.
Therein lies my dilemma. It is a minefield.
My thoughts are
Roller cam with hydraulic roller lifters and roller rockers. The reasons being
Super quiet operation
Longevity
Easy on the valve train
Able to use modern oils
Low/zero maintenance
My problem is this, I cannot find a mildish roller cam that will give me power from idle.
It appears that if you are going down the road of roller cam you must be wanting a beast of a cam.
Anybody any thoughts
Dellb