85 GT 225,000 miles and needs help.
 

Sup guys! Got an 85 GT, it's got alot of miles but still holds great oil psi. I think it's been rebuilt sometime but I don't know when. Anyway it's pretty stock except 3.73's and a set of Super Turbo's. I been thinking of trying a Air Gap RPM manifold from Edelbrock and tricking out the stock carb and heads best I can, and some Headers and stuff but how much cam lift b4 I run into valve to piston problems. I've got a buddy that says an x-cam has no problems but how much can I go? Thanx.

later

Something I always wanted to do to my 1985, was, a kick butt carb, do that, and you'll really like it with those 3.73's.

well as far as how big of a cam can you go, there really isn't a straight answer. Lift isn't the only thing you have to look for in this situation. Some cams with different LSA, duration, etc will have different clearances. For example, one cam with .544 lift might clear, but another cam with .525 lift might not. All of the factors (kind of pistons, how they're flycut, type of valves in heads, and all the cam specs) have to come into play. Not just lift. Sorry, I know this isn't the answer you wanted. If you find people with stock bottom ends (assuming that's what you have because of the questionable rebuild), and stock heads, you could find out what they're running.
Dave

I've got a set of 79 heads off of a reman motor they have almost no miles on em. I was gonna hog the ports and leave the small stock valves in their. The pistons are stock 85 w/4 valve reliefs. Does any1 have an idea of a good cam. I'd really like something around the 224/230 in duration at .050. Thanx

later

IMOHO, 224/230 is too big for a mild motor. Get something more like 214/224 @ .050 and keep it under .500" lift. Your stock heads wont flow that much, and no need to spend money on all new springs...
Just my opinion.

My friend was running a b-cam and stock heads, ported, with a 650 holley dp, it ran great,(13.2's) but when the motor was tore down, there was evidence of piston/valve contact, but we believe this was due to the crane 1.7 rockers, and crappy timing that was set, oh yea, the 175 shot did'nt help much either..:D

I do recomend the b-cam though, with 1.6 rockers it should clear just fine, and retain good torque on the low end, im probaly gonna put one in my car. btw, his e7'd 302 went 12.0 @120 on the juice!!:p

TTT