Thread: Help with cam selection 350 chevy

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CompCams XE 268 cam (.477/.480 lift; 224/230 degrees duration) is a very popular cam for a 350 performance engine. Another choice would be the Lunati Voodoo 60102 (.468/.489 lift; 219/228 degrees duration). Personally, I would lean toward the Voodoo cam as it was a later, better design by Harold Brookshire who also designed CompCams XE line. Either one should provide you with up around 400 hp at the flywheel and decent street manners. Anything over 400 hp would probably take either AFR or Profiler heads with a larger hydraulic roller cam, all of which would bust your budget.

Just popped off my old heads. On the # 5 cylinder wall from the deck to about an inch down there was some surface rust. No pitting. The engine was built in 1998 but doesnt have more then 8000 miles. The motor didnt get started for the first time til 2003. Is this a major concern ?

A little surface rust--I would not be concerned about it. I would highly suggest changing out the cam. If you don't know the specs, you are really in the dark about your engine. It could be an old style cam where as one of the newer designs will give you a better overall power curve. Bigger is not necessarily better in most cases. As far as 1.6 rockers arms, I am not a fan so I am biased regarding their use. The power increase with 1.6 rockers is marginal, and you will have to make sure that your valve springs will support the increased lift and not put you into coil bind. More trouble than they are worth in my opinion.