Thread: Cam Help!

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Thanks, Pat. I did not think there was any "break in" for a roller, but this was a good opportunity to be sure.

Thanks Pat, we're on the same page.

The cam is brand new never been used it jsut never came with a box. I was reading other forums and people with the same I 5 1539 code said it was a 350/350 LT1 aftermarket re grind. It is intended for a chevy small block

The 1970 LT-1 was an engineering triumph in 1970 as a combination of components that performed very well together and made for an incredible engine. Some say it is one of the five best engines to ever come out of GM. It red lined at 6500 RPM and the valve train was proofed to 7200 RPM. The 1970 LT-1 also had 11:1 compression (factory advertised) and ran on “premium fuel only” and was not available with an automatic.

If your cam is truly an LT-1 copy, the specs are: 242/254 @.050", .458/.485" lift, and 116 lobe separation. It’s a mechanical (solid) cam and needs a lot of care and feeding in the form of regular valve adjustment. The original LT-1 was optimized for the GM factory cast iron manifold, that’s the reason for the longer exhaust duration and the wider lobe centers (116 versus 114 on the “header” version of the cam used in Z-28 – GM Part Number 3849346 which was also used in the 365 horse 327)..

Unless you’re prepared to “go all the way” and re-create an LT-1, don’t use this cam. You’d be better served to use it as a conversation starter and tell stories about the “legendary LT-1 Corvette engine….”

As is continually discussed on this site – the correct way to build an engine is to start with a clean piece of paper and build from the back forward. The rear end and transmission decisions should be considered before developing an engine build. Case in point – the cam you’ve got (if it is an LT-1) was not even available in an automatic version in the Corvette because there was no practical rearend/transmission combination with a TH400. Even with the four speed and a 3.73 rear end, it was hard on clutches. An automatic would have been a disaster off the line but would have run like jack-the-bear when you nailed it at 70 and it downshifted!

Think about what you want to do with your car – then let us help you decide which pieces and parts will allow you accomplish the dream. This cam is way too much for a “weekend project” and would provide lots of disappointment if not combined with all of the correct parts. It will have a really lumpy idle – but there’s a lot more to making usable horsepower than an impressive idle. The guys in their “Subaroos and Hondos” would eat you alive if you stuck this cam in an otherwise stock 350.

Regards,
Glenn

That there is some really good advice IMO ......................

Kitz

ok thanks for all the information im just gonna set it aside.