Todd, you mentioned once that you had the Chevrolet Power manual. In that book there is a cam chart for a small block build up. It shows the original part number and specifications for a number of performance cams used in sbc performance motors . L-69, l-79, L-83, Z-28, LT-1 , L-82 are listed. The only cam with higher lift than the L-79 is the one used in the Z-28, LT-1 & L-82.
Wow, and I had always assumed that the L79 was more cam than the L82. I had never bothered to compare them. I just figured any of the later "smog" cams were tamer. However, before saying too much I guess I should look at the rest of the specs too. Lift isn't everything, that's for sure.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
That original 350 2 bbl was rated at 250 HP in 1969 so you're going to have a legitimate 325 HP car! Performer intake, holley 600 cfm 4bbl, L-79 cam and full duals!
Ya. I probably shouldn't be doing all this since a few months ago I met a woman who has an uncanny psychic ability tell me out of the blue that I'm going to get nailed for speeding "sometime in May or June" in an area that goes from 80kmh to 50khm and the cop will be hiding and he will be "ruthless'. Since then I've been driving like a little old man but with 325 horses it might be difficult....
Yep, Now I need to find someone who has a puller to get the crank sprocket off. The guy at the speed shop said "A few whacks with a cold chisel oughta do it!" I even splurged and bought pushrods and one of them thare chrome timin' covers! Todd
What's your thoughts on soaking the lifters overnight before installing them? I read somewhere that was a myth and not needed (in fact I read somewhere that can hinder proper pushrod adjustment). Other car mags show the lifters being filled using an oil can. Another shows them dipped in STP.... Did I tell you all this is my first cam swap? Could you tell?
Wouldn't priming only work if you also primed the motor by spinning the oil pump prior to starting? Otherwise, wouldn't the oil just bleed out when you try to crank over the engine to get it initially started? Should I try to make some kind of tool to spin the oil pump to prime the whole engine prior to starting? Am I over-analyzing this like I do everything else?
stand the lifters uprite in a small container, immerse them in oil for about an hour, the air will bleed out. i've always used a can of EOS with new cam/lifters.
I would make an oil pump primer like you said. I think that is by far the best way to have it well lubed before starting. You also know it's important to follow the cam instructions and run it fast idle for the first while when you start it?
And I would echo the EOS idea too. Same thing I've always done on a new engine. Can't be bad for a new cam and lifters.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Well, I'm about half way there. Just taking a dinner break and thought I'd log on. The cam is in, timing chain, cover, balancer and water pump are on. Next is lifters and adjusting the rockers, then intake, distributor, rad, fan, accessories etc etc and hopefully success! It's been fairly smooth other than two trips to the part store (I assumed the cam would come with pre-lube and it didn't and I also assumed my timing cover gasket set would have the front pan seal-it didn't). Todd
Well, I'm about half way there. Just taking a dinner break and thought I'd log on. The cam is in, timing chain, cover, balancer and water pump are on. Next is lifters and adjusting the rockers, then intake, distributor, rad, fan, accessories etc etc and hopefully success! It's been fairly smooth other than two trips to the part store (I assumed the cam would come with pre-lube and it didn't and I also assumed my timing cover gasket set would have the front pan seal-it didn't). Todd
Boy, if you would have asked I would have said my last GM cam kit came with the pre-lube in it. Also, I don't think I've ever seen cover gasket kit sans front pan seal. What brand did you buy?
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
I don't know the brand of timing cover gaskets-they were "white box"... I ended up having to buy a complete second set of Felpro's to get that seal. It's 1am and I just came in and I'm still not finished. This engine fought us all the way. I had one of my technician friends over tonight and he couldn't believe the problems this engine caused us! I'm not overly optimistic this engine is going to run properly. There's been someone in there before - one rocker stud had iffy threads and looked like it had been replaced before. We cleaned them up and they seem ok. I'm almost certain this engine had some serious abuse-perhaps by the guy I bought it from. He said he never drove it and his son drove it from Welland to Guelph after buying it from Ken on Ebay. He had planned a big block swap so I'm sure junior may have beat on it during that one drive figuring that engine was going. Anyway, I'll finish up tomorrow and start it up and keep my fingers crossed. I hope the bottom end is ok.