I have a 383 that is going in my 68 camaro. I have most of the parts already but need help with a cam and proper valtrain components. This is my DD so reliability is a must. With that said I don't mind a decent sized cam. I do autocross so a broad curve would be nice. Here is what I have already.
Forged bottom 383 4 bolt
AFR 195 El. street port. 65cc. (shooting for 11.25 comp ratio after milling)
Edelbrock air gap (will prob port and match to the heads)
Pro systems carb. (will be custom made for the car once cam is figured out)
Dougs 1 3/4 to 3" x pipe and 3" borla xr-1's
The car also has a t56 and a 12 bolt with 3:73 posi.
Now should I go solid roller or hyd roller? What cam would you guys suggest as well as valvetrain components? Thanks
Depends, you want to have a rough cold start or easy? I see most solid cams have a harder time starting when cold. The hyd arnt bad. If you arent going for max power, hyd roller is the best way to go.
Something with what you want would be a custom grind. Call comp and see what they recommend.
The weight argument it stupid, compare a Warhawk LS motor to a all aluminum BBC, the weight difference is worth it to me with the kazillion more cubes.
I was recommended the comp xr288hr. 236/242 110... What would the manners be with that cam in a 383? I'm hoping with the 3:73's and t56 the bigger cam will be easier to drive at lower speeds. ANy one have an idea on what ratio rockers would work best? I know the AFR's like lift so I was thinking a 1.6. Any ideas?
I was recommended the comp xr288hr. 236/242 110... What would the manners be with that cam in a 383? I'm hoping with the 3:73's and t56 the bigger cam will be easier to drive at lower speeds. ANy one have an idea on what ratio rockers would work best? I know the AFR's like lift so I was thinking a 1.6. Any ideas?
Here is what my 383 sounded like with the same cam:
I was happy with it, drove verry nice and with my BS heads i was killing head and cam LS1 cars.
Shifted at 6200 RPM, i had 2.73 gears and 9.7 to 1 compression and it still killed most cars i ran across.
The weight argument it stupid, compare a Warhawk LS motor to a all aluminum BBC, the weight difference is worth it to me with the kazillion more cubes.
If I may add my two cents I think that you are on the right track with your build. A hydraulic roller daily driver is a very nice luxury compared to a sollid roller. A mid 230s duration camshaft @50 should suit very well with a cylinder head of that style. I also think that 1.6 rocker arms are a nice touch to street engines with lower lift camshafts (lower lift being low 500s) if you put 1.6s on a 530ish lift camshaft your overall lift will still fall short of 600 wich makes things real easy on the valve springs but the faster valve lift speeds really force the heads to start working sooner wich is good. I think you will like that setup. And with having a few more cubes helps the engines manors for street driving as well.
I am a proponent of modern solid roller cams. I have one in my current 383 and it will rev easily to 7000rpm, although the cam itself runs out of steam around 6400.
With a stick, I would do something like a 236/242@.050 on a 110lsa. If you don't want to spin it that high I would drop down to a 230/236 and keep it below ~6300rpm.
You can have it all with a good roller: high vacuum, smooth idle, killer midrange and a top-end that seems endless. Add in the very low maintenance on these modern rollers (Check every year and adjust IF needed - most of the time they don't need it) and you are golden.
Jim
__________________ Don't bring a knife to a gunfight.
Half-Assed = Half Fast.
How would the 230/236 power curve be compared to the 236/242? I'm thinking it might be a better route since I do autocross. I may even drop the comp down a bit to run lower octane gas seeing as it's a DD.
A 230/236 110 with higher lift and fast ramp rates would be a tq monster right? Anyone know any custom cam guys here that can help with lobe selection and what not?
A solid roller 230/236 will idle like a 222/227 hyd. roller and will be a definite torque monster with those heads. And it will have awesome mid and top end. I like Comp's Extreme Energy Street Rollers, and their P/N for that cam on a 110LSA is 12-769-8.
With your heads I would set it up with 1.6 roller rockers and let 'er feed!
Jim
__________________ Don't bring a knife to a gunfight.
Half-Assed = Half Fast.
How would the 230/236 power curve be compared to the 236/242? I'm thinking it might be a better route since I do autocross. I may even drop the comp down a bit to run lower octane gas seeing as it's a DD.
In reality, it would please you, but you will end up wishing you had the 288HR. Trust me lol.
The weight argument it stupid, compare a Warhawk LS motor to a all aluminum BBC, the weight difference is worth it to me with the kazillion more cubes.
Not sure if you can still get Crane grinds anymore, but there PowerMax hyd rollers were very strong. In fact I will stop short of claiming GM is using Crane Cams in their crate motors, but if you check out the published specs for the cam in the GM Performance Parts ZZ383 that is supposed to make 425 HP/460 TQ, it is identical to the Crane Powermax 222/230 .509/.528. That cam should make power to 6000 maybe more with a set of 1.6 rockers. The next one up is 230/238 .539/.558 (.575/.595 with 1.6 rockers). I have the 222/230 in a 355 with an old set of Dart cast iron heads that was built in 1995 that made 425 hp on an engine dyno and is still running strong to this day.
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most these guys are on target but do you need vacum for acessories if not low 230 duration lift at or under 550 110 is good for sbc most run better with that then 108 give you the mid range for carvin up the corners road course is not all top end just my opinion but i do run nothin but sbc my nova has a 250 duration 555 lift 108 ceterline powerband 3k -6600 and its really to big but it was free.
Cam and valvetrain help 383 
