cam for 383

I'm building a 383 sb for a friend of mine. it's a street/strip 1966 el camino. the eng is 9.8 compression w/RHS vortec heads. He wants a nice cam sound so i want to know how that comp xe 268 sounds in a 383 sb. Does anyone have any experience with this cam? Should I maybe step up to the 274 xe?
ihaven't built too many smallblocks...i've built more big blocks. The car has a 3:55 gear and a 2200 coverter so the 274 will be fine but i would rather use the 268 for a bit more torque. thanks for any help.

I would say with the 9.8.1 C/R and your 355 Gear / 2200 stall the XE268H will work better and yes you will have more Low end Torque with it .

ok thankyou. will it have a noticeable idle?

if sound is all your after theres always the thumper cams:D

yes you need to get one of them comp cam s big mother thumper cams

I had a 406sbc built about 2 years ago. D-dish hyper pistons, 9.7:1 comp, heavily ported 461 feulie heads, air gap intake, 1 3/4" headers with 2 1/2" full exhaust with Dynomax super turbos, etc with a XE274 cam in it. Yes the idle was noticable. Like a mild anger! Not pro stock evil or anything, but healthy. Certainly enough to get a few disaproving looks from some neighbors. I imagine a xe268 in a 383 would be a little bit tamer than a xe274 in a 406.

Rumpety-rump is a function of lobe separation angle. Call up Comp and have them grind the 268 on a 106 degree lobe separation angle.

Most of the short track camshafts are 106-108 L/S . But you will have very Low vacum . If you have power brakes don't run a camshaft Like this ! :eek:

could you run a vacuum canister to help cleat this up?

Crane still has some of their Energizer series cams ground on 106 l/s.
These cams are symetrical but they are "shelf-cams".



An example would be Crane part #274 H06.Specs. are .450/.450 lift duration at .050 is 218/218, l/s is 106.
Basic power band is 2,200 - 5,200 rpms.



Another Crane part number is # 282 H06,specs. are .470/.470 lift,duration at .050 is 226/226.l/s is 106.
Basic power band is 2,500 - 5,500 rpms.

I'm going with the tried and true: isky 280 232/232 450/450 108
i've used this one before. It pulls hard and sounds good. Also, it will bleed a little bit of cylinder pressure off. Thanks for all of the replies.

Thats a really out of date cam profile.........I would think for almost the same price you could get a custom cam ,with alot more torque and power.

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Originally Posted by shawnlee28

Thats a really out of date cam profile.........I would think for almost the same price you could get a custom cam ,with alot more torque and power.

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X2,
That is an 80's symetrical grind.
I would look at some of the new Lunati Voo Doo cams or the Comp. Cams XE cam.
I.M.O.,you are giving up 25-35 hp with the Isky cam.

i've never built a 383 before. it's good to hear all of the replies of advise. I'll give crane a call on the custom grinds. I prefer crane but may go with the 274 comp grind. thanks for all of the help guys.

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Originally Posted by flanker1970

i've never built a 383 before. it's good to hear all of the replies of advise. I'll give crane a call on the custom grinds. I prefer crane but may go with the 274 comp grind. thanks for all of the help guys.

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If you are having one ground you might as well have one ground on a small or reduced base circle to help clear the rotating assemble.

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Originally Posted by erik erikson

If you are having one ground you might as well have one ground on a small or reduced base circle to help clear the rotating assemble.

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Ditto.....help yourself avoid issues with clearancing and make the build easier while you have an opportunity with the cam selection.

thanks for all of the replies guys. will do