Cam choice on stroked 318

[Armudster]

 Hello guys, after a lot of thinking I decided to do a major overhaul on my 318, I plan on doing a stroker 349 or 391, and changing my entire valvetrain and I am thinking about the Comp Cams Thumpr 283 int. 303 ex. 107 lobe cam, gonna have my stock heads ported and fitted with 2.02 intake and 1.60 exhaust valves, probably will change the intake manifold and carb too, I'm shooting at a torque monster with 400 to 550 HP, it will be mainly street driven so max. 6500 RPM, all backed up by a 4 speed, so I want to know your opinion about this cam or if you have another option for me.
 

[Purple440]

Call Engle http://www.englecams.com/index.php and see what they have to say.

[firefighter3931]

Don't waste your time with stock heads if you're planning on building a stroker...go right to a set of Edlebrocks and be done with it. As for the cam ; the correct choice depends on many factors such as displacement, stall speed, gearing etc....


Ron

[Armudster]

Don't waste your time with stock heads if you're planning on building a stroker...go right to a set of Edlebrocks and be done with it. As for the cam ; the correct choice depends on many factors such as displacement, stall speed, gearing etc....


Ron

Call Engle http://www.englecams.com/index.php and see what they have to say.

Hello, displacement would be 391 to 402 C.i, compresion 10:5:1, I'm using a 4 speed, and will put 3.90 gears, headers, and will change my intake to a performer RPM and when its ready will see which carb will match (prob 750CFM). Ok, you're right, edelbrocks really are better than ported 318 heads, but what about if I pick some 340 or 360 heads and then port them? As I said the cars is a street car, but I really want it to stand out. I checked the Engle cams website and I liked the idea of making a custom K58/K62 combo with 108 or 110 of lobe, do you think it would be appropriate? Will I still be able to idle at 800 RPM?

Thanks 

[firefighter3931]

Don't waste your time with stock heads if you're planning on building a stroker...go right to a set of Edlebrocks and be done with it. As for the cam ; the correct choice depends on many factors such as displacement, stall speed, gearing etc....


Ron

Call Engle http://www.englecams.com/index.php and see what they have to say.

Hello, displacement would be 391 to 402 C.i, compresion 10:5:1, I'm using a 4 speed, and will put 3.90 gears, headers, and will change my intake to a performer RPM and when its ready will see which carb will match (prob 750CFM). Ok, you're right, edelbrocks really are better than ported 318 heads, but what about if I pick some 340 or 360 heads and then port them? As I said the cars is a street car, but I really want it to stand out. I checked the Engle cams website and I liked the idea of making a custom K58/K62 combo with 108 or 110 of lobe, do you think it would be appropriate? Will I still be able to idle at 800 RPM?

Thanks 

By the time you port the heads and install new valves, guides, springs, retainers, locks etc...and get all the machinework done you will spend more than a brand new set of lightweight aluminum castings with nice closed chambers. The iron heads will be crack prone and will cause detonation on anything with more than 9.5:1 static compression. If you want to mix in race fuel and take a chance on 30 year old iron castings by all means blow the cash on factory heads. Unless they are havily ported the ported iron heads won't make as much power as the aluminum Eddy's anyway....your call.

The Engle cams are excellent....a custom split pattern grind could work very nicely in a build like yours.



Ron

[1BAD68]

I agree with Ron, new Edelbrocks would be the way to go but they're so damn expensive.
I stroked my 318 and am still running the stock heads that I ported myself. The engine has incredible power (for a small block) and I can only imagine what a nice set of heads would do.
BTW, I have a stock 340 cam in it.

[Armudster]

Don't waste your time with stock heads if you're planning on building a stroker...go right to a set of Edlebrocks and be done with it. As for the cam ; the correct choice depends on many factors such as displacement, stall speed, gearing etc....


Ron

Call Engle http://www.englecams.com/index.php and see what they have to say.

Hello, displacement would be 391 to 402 C.i, compresion 10:5:1, I'm using a 4 speed, and will put 3.90 gears, headers, and will change my intake to a performer RPM and when its ready will see which carb will match (prob 750CFM). Ok, you're right, edelbrocks really are better than ported 318 heads, but what about if I pick some 340 or 360 heads and then port them? As I said the cars is a street car, but I really want it to stand out. I checked the Engle cams website and I liked the idea of making a custom K58/K62 combo with 108 or 110 of lobe, do you think it would be appropriate? Will I still be able to idle at 800 RPM?

Thanks 

By the time you port the heads and install new valves, guides, springs, retainers, locks etc...and get all the machinework done you will spend more than a brand new set of lightweight aluminum castings with nice closed chambers. The iron heads will be crack prone and will cause detonation on anything with more than 9.5:1 static compression. If you want to mix in race fuel and take a chance on 30 year old iron castings by all means blow the cash on factory heads. Unless they are havily ported the ported iron heads won't make as much power as the aluminum Eddy's anyway....your call.

The Engle cams are excellent....a custom split pattern grind could work very nicely in a build like yours.



Ron

Thank you again, I will look on a set of edelbrocks heads, I think its safe to say that with this build I will also need a performer RPM Air-Gap and a 750 CFM Proform Mechanical Secondaries Carb or does my 650 Demon will handle fine? What is you sugestion on lifters, valve springs, retainers, rocker arms and timing chain? What kind of power I can expect of this build?
  Thank you again and sorry for this many questions but I want to do this right, feel free to corect me anywhere if I´m making any mistakes 
 

[firefighter3931]

Thank you again, I will look on a set of edelbrocks heads, I think its safe to say that with this build I will also need a performer RPM Air-Gap and a 750 CFM Proform Mechanical Secondaries Carb or does my 650 Demon will handle fine? What is you sugestion on lifters, valve springs, retainers, rocker arms and timing chain? What kind of power I can expect of this build?
  Thank you again and sorry for this many questions but I want to do this right, feel free to corect me anywhere if I´m making any mistakes 
 

Ok, here's a good recipe to follow...this is my buddy's 408 stroker build and it runs awesome. Idles at 850 rpm and pulls 16in of vacuum...power brakes are no problem. Off idle throttle response is very sharp. I spent a day dialing it in earlier this month and the car now feels like it has fuel injection the throttle is so sensitive/sharp !  It runs fine on pump gas and boils the 28x10in tires for 100 ft. It's easily a 450hp engine combo and i would say close to 500ftlbs of torque. Engine has a very nice lope at idle but nothing too radical....very pleasant to the ear. 

Rpm heads
Airgap
750dp holley (Proform 750 would be fine)
Comp XE275HL cam 231/237 @.050/.525 lift/110 LSA
TTI step headers/2.5in X-pipe exhaust/Dynomax Super Turbo mufflers
Auto trans/2500 stall Turbo Action "hemi" converter
8.75in rear end with 3.73 gears and Sure Grip


The stock RPM valvesprings/retainers/locks are fine with this cam....no need to upgrade. I like the Comp Cams Magnum double roller timing sets...excellent quality, very reasonable price and they don't stretch, unlike some more "high dollar" stuff that i've used in the past ! 

You could get by with a stock replacement rocker arm or go with a roller tip setup depending on the budget. The Roller rockers will give you a more accurate rocker ratio, fwiw. 



Ron



Ps. Here's a pic of Rob's Cuda...looks and drives great. Lots of tire frying power !! 

[Armudster]

Thank you again, I will look on a set of edelbrocks heads, I think its safe to say that with this build I will also need a performer RPM Air-Gap and a 750 CFM Proform Mechanical Secondaries Carb or does my 650 Demon will handle fine? What is you sugestion on lifters, valve springs, retainers, rocker arms and timing chain? What kind of power I can expect of this build?
  Thank you again and sorry for this many questions but I want to do this right, feel free to corect me anywhere if I´m making any mistakes 
 

Ok, here's a good recipe to follow...this is my buddy's 408 stroker build and it runs awesome. Idles at 850 rpm and pulls 16in of vacuum...power brakes are no problem. Off idle throttle response is very sharp. I spent a day dialing it in earlier this month and the car now feels like it has fuel injection the throttle is so sensitive/sharp !  It runs fine on pump gas and boils the 28x10in tires for 100 ft. It's easily a 450hp engine combo and i would say close to 500ftlbs of torque. Engine has a very nice lope at idle but nothing too radical....very pleasant to the ear. 

Rpm heads
Airgap
750dp holley (Proform 750 would be fine)
Comp XE275HL cam 231/237 @.050/.525 lift/110 LSA
TTI step headers/2.5in X-pipe exhaust/Dynomax Super Turbo mufflers
Auto trans/2500 stall Turbo Action "hemi" converter
8.75in rear end with 3.73 gears and Sure Grip


The stock RPM valvesprings/retainers/locks are fine with this cam....no need to upgrade. I like the Comp Cams Magnum double roller timing sets...excellent quality, very reasonable price and they don't stretch, unlike some more "high dollar" stuff that i've used in the past ! 

You could get by with a stock replacement rocker arm or go with a roller tip setup depending on the budget. The Roller rockers will give you a more accurate rocker ratio, fwiw. 



Ron



Ps. Here's a pic of Rob's Cuda...looks and drives great. Lots of tire frying power !! 

Hey Ron, thanks for the info, this is a simple, yet solid build, I will look into that, I plan on running it on a Dart, on a 4 speed with 3.90 gears, so lots of power and lightweight car, just like I wanted it  I'll keep you guys updated on my build.
 
  PS: Cool Cuda