Hey all, I have a 81' Z28, with a 73' 350, and a 4spd tranny from an ole' vette The ole' motor is tired and its time for some freshening. Bottom end has been recently re-done, so im looking for cam-up-info. This is my first build, so i am looking for input. Not a daily driver, but looking to spend around a grand. Id love to spend more but it just isnt there to spend. So cam/lifters, intake/carb, rockers, etc. looking for that good lopey idle, also would like to drive by at least one gas station without stopping haha.

 

First the heads will need to GO. The best factory heads out their are the vortecs. They are cheap to buy and need very little to make them a ready bolt on. The comp. EX-268 will work with the stock springs on the heads. You will need a vortec intake off ebay or a new one and a 600 CFM carb and you should be set for well under your price range. If you are doing the 1.5 after market rockers why will need to be self alining rockers. With the vortec heads and EX-268 cam you should be getting close to 400HP with a set of headers and a good tune.

 

thanks for the quick reply, but i am also interested in numbers, what kind of valve lift and duration should i be looking for to get that lopey idle?

 

I dont get it. Build me a high performance engine but make it good on gas. Thats like throw it long but make it fall short.

The package described is the best bang for your buck. Hands down. The comp 268 will sound ok, most of the lopey sound people like is from compression not cam. Not many understand that. Make sure you use break in oil with plenty of ZDDP in it or you'll be buying another cam.

You can go to Comps website for cam specs.

 

I'd have to disagree with compression giving a engine a lopey idle. The compression could be 7:1 or 14:1 and it wont have a lopey idle without the cam having the right combo of duration and LSA. Compression will make the right cam work and sound even throatier, but it wont create the lopey sound.

The Comp Thumpr cams are a good example of getting a lopey sound without changing anything else. They're not as good a performer as the XE268 mentioned, and they're more designed to give tha sound, than to give optimum performance. They use a long duration on the exhaust and short LSA to get the sound of a built engine.
I'd go with what YAV8 described, but don't expect the combo to give you good gas mileage. It's tough to build a car to perform well, get a great sound, and still get decent mileage. If you want a little better highway mileage, then swap out the 4 speed for a 5 or 6 speed trans.

 

In all honesty gas mileage isnt what im concerned with, i appreciate all the input and look foreward to more. I just aquired a set of vortec heads today, and hopefully tomorrow ordering the intake and cam.