cam for vortec headed gen1

[JointTech]

Lunati says PN 10120702
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/LUN-10120702/

262/268, Lift .468/.489

these are the Uses of my truck.
My wife may drive it. It has AC. I want to do a burn out every once in a while. I may want to dust an import off the light once a year. May haul a load of trash to the dump sometime.
Gen 1 350 with centerbolt Vortec heads.

Am I going to be happy with that cam?

stock TH400 and torque convertor. Im pretty sure its 4.11 gears but havent been able to pin that down for sure.

[Tom]

Thats a great mid range/all around cam. Just make sure you upgrade your valvesprings for it.

[JointTech]

do I have to upgrade the spring due to to much lift or some other reason. Im trying to do this engine super low budget. Grabbing junkyard heads and NOT having them redone, throwing them on top of my non rebuilt engine.

[donut]

I did mine on a low budget, summit cam even. Valve springs to keep the valves under control. (your link even says springs required.) Vortec springs aren't all that strong. However, still up to you. (think I went with a "z-28" valvespring.)

What you have to check is the retainer to seal clearance, mine were hitting at .460, yours may be fine, but check.

This was with a Summit 1103 cam.

[clinebarger]

Originally Posted by JointTech

do I have to upgrade the spring due to to much lift or some other reason. Im trying to do this engine super low budget. Grabbing junkyard heads and NOT having them redone, throwing them on top of my non rebuilt engine.

I have seen too many cracked Vortec heads to ever just slap them on an engine without a Magnaflux or a crack detection dye process.

[JointTech]

Originally Posted by clinebarger

I have seen too many cracked Vortec heads to ever just slap them on an engine without a Magnaflux or a crack detection dye process.

the never ending hole of spend...
With all the crap im doing to this motor I might as well get one of those gutless 290HP $1500 specials... At least it has a warrenty and will be reliable.
Im going to be into this "junk" motor over a grand by the time it all ends.
vortecs are only $90/pr at the junkyard.
then I need springs and magnaflux - $200
cam- 160
waterpump
gaskets
oil pan
timing gear and chain
headbolts
harmonic balancer

grumble

[cableguy0]

I think the point that cline is trying to make is that its not worth screwing around with used heads. By the time you buy the heads, Have them machined,swap springs/add screw in studs you could buy a brand new set of heads that will outflow the vortecs. Vortecs are the best STOCK head. They are by no means the best head.

[JointTech]

yea I know.. Its just that when its a tight time it gets depressing throwing money at a bare frame in my shop.
So as I see it now I'm either going to grab the vortec heads and reuse my cam, waterpump etc etc. if they are cracked, oh well. old junk parts and smogger cam with the better heads. If it blows im only in it $200ish for heads and gaskets
Or just get a new motor.

I probably should have done more research before taking apart my perfectly good working non smoking motor with the grand idea to "throw some vortecs" on it.

[clinebarger]

Originally Posted by cableguy0

I think the point that cline is trying to make is that its not worth screwing around with used heads. By the time you buy the heads, Have them machined,swap springs/add screw in studs you could buy a brand new set of heads that will outflow the vortecs. Vortecs are the best STOCK head. They are by no means the best head.

Yes sir, It was.

[DBD]

easier just to use a cam that works with the stock springs than to "upgrade" the head to use a bigger cam. max flow is around .450 lift.