[Rons68]

Has anyone ever sent Comp Cams an e-mail ? If they answered it, how long did it take ? I asked about a cam recommendation last Friday, and I still haven't heard from them.

[69ProTouring]

How about just calling their Cam Help line. It's toll free. 1-800-999-0853

[Neil B]

It took them about a week to respond to my e-mail.

[Rons68]

Well, It doesn't look like I'm going to get a reply. I didn't want to call, because I'd probably forget to tell them something, or I'd forget what they said. If anyone here cares to read what I sent and has some advice, I would appreciate it. There are some on this forum who probably know as much (or more) than some who work there anyway ! Here goes:

"I have a stock 1996 Vortec 350 ci engine from a Silverado pick-up. The engine has a Edelbrock Vortec RPM intake with a 750 Carter carb. I am going to put this engine in my 1968 Camaro which has small tube Hooker headers, a TH350 transmission with a 10" converter (2500-3000 stall) and 3.73:1 rear gears. This car is just a weekend cruiser (with an occassional back street romp). I have manual brakes, so vaccuum is not a huge concern.

I want to change the stock hydraulic roller camshaft in this engine to something that will give me more power and that has a nice lumpy idle.

I want to re-use my stock roller lifters and push rods. I also need a cam that has a gear that will be compatible with a stock distributor gear, and it must have an eccentric for a mechanical fuel pump (the stock cam does not have this). I want to keep the power peak at 6000 RPM or below.

I know that the specs on the stock cam are: Int - 202 duration / .410 lift; Ex - 207 duration .424 lift w/115 LSA. The engine has 9.4:1 compression. I haven't been able to find out what the stock piston to valve clearance is though. I don't want a cam with so much lift that this might be a concern. Also, the vortec heads have pressed in studs.

I know that I will need to change the valve springs; I want to use the new Comp springs for Vortecs that don't require machining - I saw these in the October '03 Car Craft (p/n 26915 & 26918). Please recommend which spring that I should use. These are just a drop in for the Vortec head, correct ? I don't want to have to remove the heads from the engine. Is the installed height a concern ? I don't have much experience with this.

I've been told that the XR276HR cam would be a good choice; do you agree, or would you recommend a different one ?"

Thanks, Ron.

[DjD]

Call the 800 number and have a printed copy of your e-mail in front of you so you can make notes and check off as you cover each item you want to cover. There's only 1 e-mail address I could find published on their site so I would assume it's for inquires of all kinds, not specifically cam recomedations. They hide it well within their web site and have in bold large text above it and all over the site "CAM HELP 1-800-999-0853".

The problem with publishing an e-mail on a web page that gets traffic is the spamers use automation to gather the addresses and bombard the address. They feel if it's published they are not spamming. I have 3 published addresses on 2 websites and get 30-50 spam messages a day. My spam filter is full and it sucks... Your email to comp is most likely lost amoung the muck!! Make the call, if you get to talk to "Red" you are in good hands... I'm sure the others are just as good, Red just went out of his way for me...

[Rons68]

Thanks DjD, I'll give them a call.

[travis]

Well, FWIW, here's my comp suggestion. I don't have the catalog in front of me so I don't know the part number. They make a 4x4 hydraulic roller that sounds like it would be perfect for you. It is 230/234@.050, .474/.474 lift, on a 111 lsa, and I believe it has 4* advance ground in. It should have a nice lumpy idle, and requires only a 981-16 spring that is a drop in spring...just get the matching retainers and locks too.

[Rons68]

Hey thanks travis ! That sounds more like what I'm looking for ! I want the "thump" but without so much lift since the other parts I have can't handle it.

I haven't called Comp yet. I have no doubts about what DjD said about published e-mails and spammers, but it seems strange that Vintage Air usually answers e-mails the same or next day that they're sent. I'm sure that Comp has a lot more business than Vintage Air though. Thanks, Ron.

[Rons68]

Well, I have to give Comp Cams a little praise now; I sent them an e-mail this morning regarding the cam that travis suggested, and I got a reply this evening ! The cam (08-414-8 / X4280HR) has the specs that travis stated, a fuel pump lobe, and stock compatible distributor gear - That's my cam ! They did say that #26915 would be the proper drop in spring (for Vortec heads). Thanks again travis !

[travis]

I am not familiar with the 26915 spring. I am using a xe268 cam with vortecs in my '78 truck and used the recommended 981-16 springs and matching retainers. No problems with .480 lift. Comp's catalog also says use the 981-16. I think the part number you listed has a slightly bigger ID as some 1.250" diameter springs catch on the valve guide because their ID isn't big enough. Let us know how it turns out.

[DjD]

Sounds like a nice cam... Here's the cam card for it and it calls for the 981-16 springs...

http://compcams.com/Technical/Search...umber=08-414-8

[Rons68]

Thanks DjD. Travis, did you have your valve guides cut ? I have a Car Craft article that says the stock vortec valve guide has a .900" O.D. I found somewhere else that the stock vortec spring has a .875" I.D.

The #26915 spring has a .885" I.D. at the bottom, and is .656" I.D. at the top.

The #981 spring has a .820" I.D.; it doesn't sound like these would fit all the way down on the guides. They are angled at the top.

Both springs have nearly the same seat and open pressures:

#981 - 105 lb @ 1.70 / 295 lb @ 1.25 / coil bind 1.15 / rate lb/in 417

#26915 - 105 lb @ 1.80 / 293 lb @ 1.20 / coil bind 1.085 / rate lb/in 313

[travis]

Nope. Absolutely no machine work on my vortecs. I took them out of their boxes, blew the dust off them, swapped in the 981-16 springs and retainers/locks that came with the xe268 k-kit, and have had no trouble with it in over 3 years. The springs fit my heads with no trouble at all.

[Rons68]

Travis, that is suprising that the #981 springs fit on the vortec heads. I've heard all kinds of talk about having to have the guides cut to accomodate springs for higher lift cams.

Maybe it's necessary for cams with more lift than what we're talking about ? (I see your cam is .477/.480) I guess with more lift, the retainer may contact the top of the guide. I did notice that the inside part of the retainer that goes into the #26915 spring did not appear to be as deep as the retainer for the #981 spring. Have you ever noticed how close the retainer is at full lift ?

As far as the O.D. of the guide and the I.D. of the #981 spring, there is only .08" difference; I guess the bottom coil would stretch easily around the guide.

The only advantage that I see with the new springs and retainers is that they are lighter, (springs 73 vs 115 grams and retainers 12 vs 28 grams) but they supposedly cost twice as much. I don't know if at these valve lifts and RPMs (< 6000), if the weight difference is a major issue.

Thanks for your help, Ron.