What to budget for a cam job?

[euroZ06]

So the market is changing, and im trying to gauge what should I budget for some engine work (I'm in Miami). i don't want to spend too much, as the wife unit will flip.

I have a stock 383 (with headers), I would really like to add a bigger cam (for sound mainly). The car is great now (it had restoration not long ago, under the previous owner), and everything seems to work well, but I'm missing sound and more power (its limp up top and won't even do a burnout if i just floor it off the line).

So, my understanding is that i need cam and valve springs? Intake and carb (I think i have 650)? any setup recommendations? What should i budget for this (including work)? I can't do my own work, my building garage wont allow it.

[XH29N0G]

See what others say, but I have a question and a few thoughts.

650 cfm probably will have a good throttle response.  I know some have gone to larger carbs, but my inclination with a 383 would be about the size of a 650 and maybe a double pumper (I have a manual transmission and low gear ratio 4.30:1).  It spins pretty high on the highway, so this works better if there is an OD.  It also can introduce problems because the driveshaft needs to be better balanced, and it may be less forgiving on driveline angles.  But a 3.23 or 3.55 or 3.91:1 would be something I would think about.

What transmission and what rear end gears do you have.  Changing the gears can have a very noticeable effect but isn't a cheap modification.

If you are set on cam, I would probably keep it on the smaller side with a 383.  I went with a lunati 60702 cam on my 383 and liked it. 

Intake:  I do not know what the optimal intake is for a street 383.  I swapped to a performer RPM intake, but that may be better for something more agressive.  It also required a dropped base air cleaner because it is tall.

Other things. I changed the heads, but that is also an expensive option.

If I were thinking of something a little more, and set on cam, I would probably do the 60702 again and leave the 650 and manifold for now.  I might then save up and look to gears.

I think a 383 can be a fun engine.  It won't be the same as some of the more modern or larger engines, but it can be fun.

[euroZ06]

I have 3.55 posi and automatic

I like the gearing, ive had 3.91's in my other charger, and they were just too much for highway driving.

After 3500 rpm, i really have no power, but low end is fine.

I like the stock look of the air filter, so id rather keep that stock.

I want the cam for some more power, but mostly for sound. I have electric cutouts, and at low rpm it sounds ok, but at high rpm it sounds like a busted muffler... previously ive had a 440 charger, with a cam and cut outs, and it sounded awesome with the cut outs. Ive been told its due to my stock cam.

[Mytur Binsdirti]

I want the cam for some more power, but mostly for sound. I have electric cutouts, and at low rpm it sounds ok, but at high rpm it sounds like a busted muffler... previously ive had a 440 charger, with a cam and cut outs, and it sounded awesome with the cut outs. Ive been told its due to my stock cam.

Are you 17 years old?

[Nacho-RT74]

has being told the whiplash cam from Hughes Engines is good for sound at low RPMs ( smoothing out at high RPMs )and still some power on stock engines.


https://www.hughesengines.com/Index/products.php?browse=category&level0=RC0gQmlnIEJsb2NrIChMb3cgRGVjayk=&level1=Q2Ftc2hhZnQ=&level2=V2hpcGxhc2ggTXVzY2xlIENhciBDYW1z

otherwise, a 110 centerline cam with around 218-224° duration at .050 could do the job on stock CR ?

Not my mech experience, but just what I have "learnt" reading around.

[euroZ06]

I want the cam for some more power, but mostly for sound. I have electric cutouts, and at low rpm it sounds ok, but at high rpm it sounds like a busted muffler... previously ive had a 440 charger, with a cam and cut outs, and it sounded awesome with the cut outs. Ive been told its due to my stock cam.

Are you 17 years old?

if i wanted a quiet car, id get a tesla  I like for it to be loud when i want it, and quiet when i don't and i see nothing wrong with that. Most "fun" cars are louder than mine when I'm running it with closed valves, so nothing wrong with having sound good sound, except now its not that good.

[XH29N0G]

You could put a MP 509 in it.  If that were the case, I do not know what it would cost to have someone put it in and then get it set up. My guess is it would not be street friendly, but it might sound like you want. or a MP528, but then the price would go up.  That would do the sound bit.

[Challenger340]

So the market is changing, and im trying to gauge what should I budget for some engine work (I'm in Miami). i don't want to spend too much, as the wife unit will flip.

I have a stock 383 (with headers), I would really like to add a bigger cam (for sound mainly). The car is great now (it had restoration not long ago, under the previous owner), and everything seems to work well, but I'm missing sound and more power (its limp up top and won't even do a burnout if i just floor it off the line).
It(a 383) still isn't going to lay rubber just flooring it off the line with just a Cam change ? If anything.... any larger Cam profile will just make it even worse as far as  'off the line' snap is concerned..... however, it will do better once the rpm comes up.  Just say'in.... If you want best results in 'off the line' snap with any bigger Cam selection you make it's advisable to do a Torque Converter change to match that Cam as well and give it a few hundred rpm 'run' into the Cam's power band.

So, my understanding is that i need cam and valve springs? Intake and carb (I think i have 650)? any setup recommendations? What should i budget for this (including work)? I can't do my own work, my building garage wont allow it.
Easy to OVER-Cam a 383 so stay conservative.... and any Cam you choose for sound with a nice audible rumpity-bump Exhaust note is gonna require a higher stall converter as discussed prior.

With 3.23 or 3.55 gears behind a 383 you are fairly limited in Cam choices..... and again here, anything that goes "rumpity bump" will need at least a 2,500-3,000 stall for decent 'off the line' snap in a wee-83 AND aftermarket V/Springs ? meaning best get the Heads off as well and gone through to setup the V/Spring pressures correctly..... lest you eat Cam Lobes on Cam break-in ?

[euroZ06]

So the market is changing, and im trying to gauge what should I budget for some engine work (I'm in Miami). i don't want to spend too much, as the wife unit will flip.

I have a stock 383 (with headers), I would really like to add a bigger cam (for sound mainly). The car is great now (it had restoration not long ago, under the previous owner), and everything seems to work well, but I'm missing sound and more power (its limp up top and won't even do a burnout if i just floor it off the line).
It(a 383) still isn't going to lay rubber just flooring it off the line with just a Cam change ? If anything.... any larger Cam profile will just make it even worse as far as  'off the line' snap is concerned..... however, it will do better once the rpm comes up.  Just say'in.... If you want best results in 'off the line' snap with any bigger Cam selection you make it's advisable to do a Torque Converter change to match that Cam as well and give it a few hundred rpm 'run' into the Cam's power band.

So, my understanding is that i need cam and valve springs? Intake and carb (I think i have 650)? any setup recommendations? What should i budget for this (including work)? I can't do my own work, my building garage wont allow it.
Easy to OVER-Cam a 383 so stay conservative.... and any Cam you choose for sound with a nice audible rumpity-bump Exhaust note is gonna require a higher stall converter as discussed prior.

With 3.23 or 3.55 gears behind a 383 you are fairly limited in Cam choices..... and again here, anything that goes "rumpity bump" will need at least a 2,500-3,000 stall for decent 'off the line' snap in a wee-83 AND aftermarket V/Springs ? meaning best get the Heads off as well and gone through to setup the V/Spring pressures correctly..... lest you eat Cam Lobes on Cam break-in ?

i do have 3:55 gears.

So 2500 stall converter? My understanding was that stall converter makes it not so street friendly, i.e i have to floor the gas to get it to 2500rmp (for 255 stall), to get power, and before 2500 its just dead? I havent driven a car with a high stall converter (all my other cars are manual).
So do the stall, do the heads, do a mild cam? Do i need a different intake too then?