Thinking of a cam change

[82 GT]

I'm beginning to wonder if my my current cam is too small for my setup.
I currently have a Comp 274XE cam with the following specs:
274/284(230-236) .519/.523 110LSA

I was thinking of going with the next size up 284XE cam:
284/296(240/246) .541/.544 110LSA

When I built my engine, I was worried about going too aggressive and I knew it's better to have a cam that's too small rather than too large so I went with the 274 cam.
In retrospect, I think I was too conservative on my cam selection.
What do you guys think?

[lx mike]

I think the cam you have is fine for your combo. you change the cm you would probly change your powerband. right now i bet it's very torquey and a fun ride around town

[82 GT]

It's an excellent combo on the streets but it's only worth a 13.36@104 on the strip. I feel I should be running mid 12's even though my converter is a little small for now.
I think my carb/intake would like a larger cam

[~The Jester~]

I got an X303 sitting here that's currently doin nothing!

[83GTMUSTANG]

I Would Go With A 3500 Stall Or Higher And 4.30's You Should E In The 11's Easy.........keep The Cam You Got

[82 GT]

A set of 4:30 gears and I will run out of gear. My current cam is only good up to 6000. I'm at 5500 rpms now, in top gear, through the traps. I have a C-4...not a T-5

[82 GT]

Originally Posted by ~The Jester~

I got an X303 sitting here that's currently doin nothing!

Thanks but I'm not setup for a roller cam.

[HotRoddin]

Originally Posted by 82 GT

Thanks but I'm not setup for a roller cam.

Based on what happened when you changed intakes and carbs, and the fact your buddies told you it sounded like it was bogging off the line, and the 2200 RPM you said you were getting, actual stall, I'll bet if you go up in size you're gonna get worse instead of better ?
You are in that unknown territory area right now, and it's really difficult to predict what is gonna work and what isn't until you just take the leap and try it. One good thing is, you're doing all my research for me
If you're in the traps at 5500 RPM, I think you're out of the power band on the low side. That is a 110 degree cam, and if you're getting your power band info from the comp cams web site, that was in a fairly mild 350 Chevy with 1.5 rocker ratio.
A quick way to find out if my theory holds water, is to borrow some shorter tires. That should be a cheap way of raising your RPM's, which barring a loss of traction, should tell you a little more about what cam that beast is wanting.
Keep in mind I could easily be way off base on this
Don't give up now my brotha, you're closer than you think. This is the time when, although frustrating as hell right now, will make you a seasoned veteran when you get it all ironed out.

Keep us informed !!

Rod

[82 GT]

So...if I change cams, I'll gain more top end power but still suffer at the 60' mark....right?
If I go to...say...a 3500 stall converter my 60' would be much better and I would have more of the power band through the traps because the converter would lock up later??

[~The Jester~]

Originally Posted by 82 GT

A set of 4:30 gears and I will run out of gear. My current cam is only good up to 6000. I'm at 5500 rpms now, in top gear, through the traps. I have a C-4...not a T-5

Ya got good valve springs in there? Wind that beeotch up! I'm shifting at 6800. I understand I have a bit more motor than you, but you're setup should be more than capable of reaching 6500 or so. The cam is only "good" to 6000, but your entire engine might like it better at 6500 instead of 5500. Remember the engine is a system, and everybody gotta play nice together. Heads and intake may take over where the cam leaves off.

Keep us posted!

[82 GT]

Yep...all new valve springs. Based on trying different shift points, it seems to like to be shifted at 5800...any more or less and E.T drops off. Going through the traps in 3rd, at 5500rpms, I can tell the engine is running out of steam.
My 60' sucks...even with slicks so now I'm leaning towards the converter being the culprit. If I can drop my 60' by .2, I will be in the mid 12's.....make sense?

[Ieatcamaros]

Originally Posted by ~The Jester~

I got an X303 sitting here that's currently doin nothing!

Pretty bad, you can't even give that cam away.

I remember you thread from a month or so ago. I am not much of an auto guy, but I still think it's in the converter. I would call a good transmission shop and see what they recommend for that cam and gear.

[Dark_5.0]

Bigger cam will slow you down IMO. If everything is functioning as it should be on your motor then a bigger cam is the last thing you need for your poor flowing heads.

Really man what else could it be?

[82 GT]

I wouldn't exactly call my heads "poor". They might not be AFR's but there is a lot of money wrapped up in them...porting, polishing. oversized valves...etc.
Anyhow, it almost HAS to be the converter. There's still some fine tuning that needs to be done on the carb. but not enough that's going to gain me 3 tenths.
I figure if my 60' times are only in the 1.9 range with slicks and gears then it's either the carb or converter.....but then again, I was getting the same 60' times with the carter 625 and performer intake.....so it's back to the converter again.

[HotRoddin]

Originally Posted by 82 GT

Anyhow, it almost HAS to be the converter.

I have no doubt the converter is at least part of the problem. Whether it's all of the problem or not is a different story ? I know for sure, that motor should not be falling on it's face, on the other end at only 5500 RPM, not unless somebody shoved a potato up one of your header pipes

You're 60' is not good, are you spinning the tires that much, or does the car just not have the power to get you there any faster ???
With that motor, in that light a car with 4:10's, if you're hooking up, it should come off the line like a bull frog off a hot rock.
If it isn't ign. timing and it isn't valve timing and it isn't rocker ratio and it isn't valve lash and it isn't a carb thats way out and it isn't restricted exhaust and it isn't a vacuume leak?????

If I were you, i'd go back to the beginning, with an open mind (must have the open mind, otherwise you'll keep walking right past a mistake without ever catching it) and recheck the ign. timing the cam timing, check for a major vaccume leak, check that you really have the rockers you think you have, reset the lash, check the exhaust for restrictions, get another torque converter ! lol then if it's still falling on it's face on the big end at 5500 RPM I'm gonna have to ease over next to Dark_5.0 and start questioning your heads, because there ain't much left other than that

Keep us posted, this is the kind of thing we all learn from. It's just to bad it has to be from your misery

Rod