What’s the biggest cam a stock appearing

Discussion in 'Stock Appearing' started by wildcat4, Nov 23, 2019.

  1. Gary Bohannon

    Gary Bohannon Well-Known Member

    How about the TA 288-94, (230-240)
    It seems like an excellent choice. It loads the power between 3600 and 5500. Looked at all the dyno sheets I could find. Added up the HP numbers from 3600 to 5500. and divided by 20. The average was surprising.
    Iron manifolds need the low end torque. More average torque means better times at the track. Good idle too!
    Ask JW.
     
  2. wildcat4

    wildcat4 Well-Known Member

    Good call. Or at least I hope since that’s the cam I just finished breaking in yesterday!
    I do like the idle, hope it wakes up at the track.
     
    Dano likes this.
  3. 73Stage2

    73Stage2 Well-Known Member

    Can anyone tell me exactly what the idle quality rule states and how it is interpreted and enforced. Will arp head bolts or an sfi balancer disqualify you? Does the timing cover have to be painted?
     
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2021
  4. Thumper (aka greatscat)

    Thumper (aka greatscat) Well-Known Member


    Verified at the 2021 Nats, best pass a 12.72 at 106 in the BSA class. Can't believe I did that motor in 1989 and still runs the same without any tear down between.
     
    Last edited: Jul 16, 2021
    Mike Nussell and BUQUICK like this.
  5. pbr400

    pbr400 68GS400

    Tech for BSA is by peer; I haven’t seen or heard any car that got declined for cam profile. If your cam works with a qjet, manifolds and full exhaust it shouldn’t make anyone protest. I don’t think aftermarket fasteners (on stock appearing parts) would disqualify a car either, but parts that were painted by the factory need to be painted (intake, timing cover, balancer, radiator, etc.)
    Patrick
     
  6. 73Stage2

    73Stage2 Well-Known Member

    Thanks for the info. I have a big solid cam in a stock appearing set up that’s works like a champ. Big split with emphasis on the exhaust, 245/262 @.050
     
    steve murray likes this.
  7. pbr400

    pbr400 68GS400

    I bet it sounds wicked! Bring it next year!
    Patrick
     
  8. David Hemker

    David Hemker Well-Known Member

    Cams with that amount of .050 duration usually exhibit a pretty lumpy idle.
    However I have seen and heard some cams with that amount of .050 duration that exhibit a pretty tame idle.
    The lobe centerlines tend to be the deciding factor on idle quality.
    Compression helps tame it some as well.
    The key is "stock sounding" however this has been somewhat loosely interpreted.
    For example the old school Window Rattler is way too lumpy.
    If you are concerned with the idle quality you may want to have one of the peers listen to it if possible or post a sound trac vid here for all to listen to.
     
    SpecialWagon65 likes this.
  9. wildcat4

    wildcat4 Well-Known Member

    I had great results at the Nationals this year with this cam 12.38@ 107
     
    SpecialWagon65 likes this.
  10. FJM568

    FJM568 Well-Known Member

    Rob, what heads, stall converter, and compression are you running with the 288-94 cam? I'm running the same cam with stock heads, about a 3000 stall, and 9.5 to 1 comp and my best time was 13.03 @ 101. Just trying to see if my combo needs more tuning, compared to yours. (for next year) Lol

    edit...And what gear? I'm running a 3.08
     
    Last edited: Jul 16, 2021
  11. wildcat4

    wildcat4 Well-Known Member

    Stock heads, home ported manifolds, 10.6/1 compression, 3500 with 3.91 gear
    I think I want to go down with the gear to like a 3.73 or something like that
    Good to see some differences in combos to compare things.
     
  12. Dano

    Dano Platinum Level Contributor

    I had a C118 in my last 350 build w/ported/big valve iron heads, headers, & dp TA intake and despite the "old technology," honestly it was great (so was the old KB Mark 2 it replaced). I'm just planning the next build (a stock appearing 350) and still need to look more closely at the build/numbers/calculators/simulations/etc., but have definitely considered getting Scotty to grind me another C118.
     
  13. Gary Bohannon

    Gary Bohannon Well-Known Member

    What does your car weigh?
     
  14. wildcat4

    wildcat4 Well-Known Member

    4020 with me in it.
    Working AC power brakes steering
    You know, it’s a Buick
     
  15. Gary Bohannon

    Gary Bohannon Well-Known Member

    Ported iron heads should get you 12.10's.
    Aluminum ported heads should get 11.90's.
    My Stage 2 ported heads and headers, c118 cam, 3.73, JW 3500 stall, TA no-hop bars, got me to 1.63 60 ft, 7.52 at 92 in the 1/8 with my 67 GS closed exhaust and small air filter installed.
    (This calculates to 11.73 at 113 for 1/4 mi based on Wallace calculators for my car.)
    I need a 288-94 cam for my heads to work best.
    You're doing great already for a 4000 lb car!
     
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2021
    wildcat4 likes this.
  16. FJM568

    FJM568 Well-Known Member

    So...just trying to gauge my combo with what you're running...

    Would your stock Stage 1 heads, an extra point of compression and your 3.91 gears get you .7 tenths and 6mph faster than what I'm running or do I have more fine tuning to do with what I've got?
     
  17. Gary Bohannon

    Gary Bohannon Well-Known Member

    Make sure you have good fuel supply and timing is topped out at 34 degrees around 3500 rpm max (with vacuum plugged off ).
    I use half inch fuel pickup tube, line and Robb Mc fuel pump. Fuel tank is stock GS (with 2 vent tubes) and sealed gas cap. Also the stock fuel return line is working from pump to tank. All fuel lines are spaced away from heat and insulated in hot areas. Line from pump to Qjet is 3/8" stock.
    This is critical stuff for anything runing in the 12's or high 11's.
     
  18. wildcat4

    wildcat4 Well-Known Member

    Thank you for saying that. I was tickled my car ran that well.
     
  19. wildcat4

    wildcat4 Well-Known Member

    I believe so if you also consider how much the right converter does for a combo.
    Do you have other gears or converters you can swap with to see if it helps?
    Maybe a crazy question for some but a few guys have extra parts laying around.
     
  20. FJM568

    FJM568 Well-Known Member

    Funny you mention that. I originally had about a 2000 stall converter. With street tires, it would blow them away at the track. Then I got drag radials, and it bogged until I got out past the 60'. Put a 2700-3000 stall converter in, and it went from running a 13.58 @ 102(in BG fall2018, street tires, 2.2 60') to 13.03 @ 101(in BG May2021) with no bog & a 1.8 60' with drag radials.

    Don't think any extra stall would help any, but I'm sure more rear gear and Stage 1 heads might do something, but would it gain me .7 sec and 6 mph?

    Going to hopefully do a M22z 4spd swap before next year, which will probably gain me something. It's got a 2.98 1st gear, which should go good with the 3.08 rear. As long as I can shift consistent, it shouldn't hurt too much. Running a TH350 now.

    Apologize for hijacking your thread with my questions.

    Thanks for the info.
     
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2021

Share This Page