This is a for a 63 Skylark... High compression 215, 4 barrel. Will eventually add long tube headers. Mid-high 3 series rear gear. Short tires on this car (24") so a lot of effective gear. Overdrive trans with 3.06 first gear and lockup. I'm ok with up to a 3000 stall converter. I would like something with a noticeable idle to it, but that cleans up fairly quick. I'm thinking the most I would want to use is a TA212 ground on 110 center. Also considering the Crower 50231. I don't want to completely blow the torque curve, but something that pulls strongly from 2000 or so and extends the powerband on top would be nice. What do you think? There is so little information about this motor compared to the 350 and 455.
The smaller the engine, the more a cam affects the low end. A moderate cam in a 350 is down rate sedate in a 455. Over camming a 215 is a definite concern. I’d be absolutely sure of the actual static compression and then get something custom considering dynamic compression
https://www.crower.com/buick-215-340-compu-pro-hydraulic-cam-278-hdp.html Alittle high on lift, but it sounds like you have a 700 trans, you will want alittle more rpm with the spread of gear ratios from first to second. If its too big, go down to level 2.
You MUST remember this cam is ALSO for a 300 & 340 engine & ground on a 112*. For your combo I feel would be way too much & over cammed. The '63/215 is supposed to be 200HP with 11-1 compression. I doubt from the factory it had 200HP or 11-1 compression. I'm sure you will be hard pressed to find any kind of rear gears for this IF your using a stock rear. I had a '63/215 @ 200 HP & a 4spd. Stock it would do 6K RPM's ALL day. Install a 300 crank for a little stroke then you can think about a slightly wilder cam. Do some research on the cam that's in the engine now. Maybe Jim Blackwell will see this & post his comments. Tom T.
It is getting a 4l60e and ford rear end, so gears are not an issue. All good points, thank you. I know it's easy to overcam this small of an engine, but I was hoping to alleviate that somewhat with gearing and stall. I don't want to go too wild with it, would prefer to stay under 3000 stall. The goal is to pick up a little rpm capability and midrange torque... nice sounding idle wouldn't hurt either (kind of false advertisement with a not-really-200hp motor, lol). Also to reduce dynamic compression for pump gas that isn't as high octane as when the car was made.
Actually, increasing the dynamic is gonna make more power, and Since its not 11 to 1 you should be able to tune for today’s fuels. Its probably near 9.6-9.8. 91 octane should be decent. Just recurve distributer advance as needed 4l60 is basically an electric 700r4
Actually going with a wilder cam than stock will ALSO lower dynamic compression because the intake valve is closing later. I would believe that now you are getting by on 91 octane??? with your so called 11-1. ALSO don't forget you can get away with higher compression because not only are the heads aluminum, BUT ALSO the block so heat dissipation is NOT lacking. That's why they were able to get away with the so called 11-1 back in the day. Dynamic compression needs to be within the ranges of 7.5-8.5 to run on pump fuel. Tom T.
Years ago I did a 215 with 300 heads milled .030 and larger valves, Crower 50232 and Offy Dual port and 400cfm Carter AFB. Seemed to wake up after 2000RPM. With the stock heads I'd go with the 50230.
