I was looking at the 383/430HP crate engine from allchevyengines.com and it comes with a cam with duration of 244@.05. Will I need a vacuum booster or something like that for my PB and steering? This engine also has 10:1 compression, which I assume I could still use pump gas on. Finally, if you look at the torque curves from the graph on the site for this engine, the numbers are amazing in my opinion as a novice. This engine produces 441 ft/lbs of torque at 2000rpm with this big cam. How is this possible?

You know I have a 244 duartion cammshaft and it will be doggish. Ask your local engine shop first. Heck I got a 355 for sale for 1,100 never been off the stand and was purchased this summer. It has a 268h Crane cams. The big duration cam like a 292H will bleed off compression at a lower rpm and It won't perform like you believe it to. Bigger isn't always better. The smaller one will give you more throttle response and neck snapping torque. Good luck,
Jake

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It is better to burn out than fade away

powerplay,

Be carefull about believing what these guys tell you (since you are asking I'm sure you are). There's another post in the performance section by a guy who bought a crate engine with a gauranteed HP number. Well, he bought it and had the engine dynoed; it came up about 40 HP short. the company is fixing the problem fortunately, but how many people had bought engines from this place (not the Co. you're talking about BTW) before and never knew they got ripped?

My point is this - I find it very, very hard to believe that a 383 with that large a cam could come close to 440 ft/lbs at only 2000 RPM. Probably more in the 300 ft/lbs range at that RPM. According to Desktop Dyno, 441 ft/lbs is very possible, but much higher in the RPM range, probably around 4500 - 5000 RPM.

I would also recommend a much smaller cam, something in the 230 - 236* range with a tighter lobe separation angle (like 110* or even 108*). I'm using a cam with only 230* duration at .050" lift in my 383 and it makes 400 @ 3500 RPM, peaks at 478 ft/lbs at 4500 - right where I need it.

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68 Camaro, 383 small block with TH350 trans. 11.98's at 111mph and never trailered.

[This message has been edited by Eric68 (edited 11-27-2001).]

Powerplay, pump gas should be fine. That cam should work fine, but this will depend on what other parts you have in the combo. I have a 385 10.5 - 1 ci SBC that has 244/252 @ .050 .507/.524 lift, 112 LSA and it has plenty of power from 2000-6700RPM (11.90 in a 70 Camaro with 3.42 rear gears and 3000 stall). This is a flat hyd. cam. The problem I think you may have is with your vacuum, with that cam you will probably need a can to store vacuum for the brakes.

Royce

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70 Camaro 383ci
69 Camaro 385ci
2000 GMC Z71
Link to my 70

http://profiles.yahoo.com/camaroman7d

Have any of you guys visited the website and looked at the parts this crate engine comes with? http://www.allchevyengines.com Do you think those torque numbers on their graph are false? Has anyone heard or have purchased any engines from this site? I don't want to make the mistake of buying something that isn't what they say.

you've got mail.

Oh, and I think you typed a wrong key up above, it is 441 ft. lbs. at 2000rpm, it is 421.
Also, I don't know if it makes a difference for vacuum, but it is a roller cam as well.

A 244@.050 cam may just barely work with power brakes. My uncle ran a 246@.050 cam (on 108 lobe centers) in a 10.5-1 355 and the power brakes still functioned...pedal effort was a little harder than normal but it worked. And it sounded oh so nasty http://www.camaros.net/forum/cool.gif

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'78 chevy truck-355, 9.4-1, vortec heads, XE268, vortec rpm intake, 750 edelbrock, flowtech headers and terminators.

'77 Nova-slowly progressing project.

'78 Nova-parts car?

'95 Lumina 3.4L DOHC 210hp daily driver