69Z stock cam

[enio45]

Im rebuilding a 69Z 302 motor and was wondering what cam people are putting in for the stock performance - or maybe a slight improvement. Car currently has a new off road cam/cross ram installed, and we are taking that out and going to a more stock performance and driveability.

thanks for the thoughts

[VintageMusclecar]

Manifolds or headers?

[enio45]

Eric, ill be running stock manifolds, no air pump, stock intake and carb (the one u just did for me) , as well as the dist.

[VintageMusclecar]

If it's going to be a driver and not a hot rod, I'd give the `70 3972182 LT1 cam strong consideration over the factory `69 3849346 cam.

3972182 camshaft (http://www.cranecams.com/product/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=24410)

I can help you with anything you might want from Crane, just send me a PM.

[Lynn]

I thought 70 LT-1 would be 3972178

Are those numbers interchangeable?

[enio45]

it will be a driver - with a very nice resto.....

lynn, not sure on the number interchange??

[enio45]

does the 182 cam still have the nice 30/30 sound as well?

[Salvatore]

I believe the 178 cam is the 1970 version. The 182 Crane that Eric talks about is a real good cam kit for your application. Remember Fast, with manifolds you will NOT get that tinny, kinda pinging sound you will get with headers.

[VintageMusclecar]

Not sure what the anomaly is re: the part #'s, that's just the number Crane uses for the LT1 cam now.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I'd vote for the stock LT1 cam as well. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif But then, I'm biased! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

[Plowman]

I like all HOT sounding cams and also the ring from the headers...

[Salvatore]

&quot;ring from the headers&quot; and LT-1 cam X2 Fast Eddie.

[COPO PETE]

I d go with the stock 302 blue print spec from CRANE. Straight up. Will work great with manifolds. Lot s of people have put in &quot;similar cams&quot; and end up going slower...


Depends what you are wanting in the end.... Performance or sound..

[Lynn]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: enio45</div><div class="ubbcode-body">does the 182 cam still have the nice 30/30 sound as well? </div></div>

Eddie:

Answer to your question is: almost.

The lash settings are a little tighter (24 / 26 IIRC instead of 30 30, so you don't get the clickety clack quite as loud. Sound out the tail pipe is virtually the same.
Starting in the early 70's GM sold the 178 cam as the replacment for the first gen 302.

Thanks Eric for clarifying the numbers.

[Salvatore]

That is the cam I have in mine. Crane spec 302 and it runs good! The LT-1 is still a nice cam though. Would not waste my money on an NOS one though.

[Lynn]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: [email protected]</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That is the cam I have in mine. Crane spec 302 and it runs good! The LT-1 is still a nice cam though. Would not waste my money on an NOS one though. </div></div>

Agreed. Crane makes that one, and Federal Mogul makes one as well, available from Rock Auto. I am running the LT-1 cam in my 350 (per Eric's advice).

[sixt9rsx33]

I agree on the LT-1 cam.

There are several threads similar to this discussion over at the NCRS.org site. The discussion points are what to replace an L-76 camshaft with and also what to replace a L-79 cam with. I realize a L-79 cam is hydraulic but still great threads surrounding these topics.

[COPO PETE]

LT-1 is a fantastic cam also. But make sure its blue print spec from CRANE. the ones that are &quot;close but tweaked&quot; don't cut it...

[enio45]

guys thanks a lot for the input....very much appreciated....let me do some thinking on this and ill let u know which way im going!

[Mr.Nickey Nova]

Eddie,
Go with the stock 30/30 blue print cam from Crane.I have the same cam in my 69 Z and it runs good with it.Stick with the cam that was designed for the 302...

[Salvatore]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: enio45</div><div class="ubbcode-body">guys thanks a lot for the input....very much appreciated....let me do some thinking on this and ill let u know which way im going!</div></div>
Ed, really not much to think about. This ain't your first rodeo. Crane!!

[enio45]

Sammy - I like how u beat around the bush!!

[Salvatore]

you know how us Italians are.

[enio45]

amen brother - crane it is

[Salvatore]

good choice Fast Eddie!

[Plowman]

Eddie haw did the car run with the off road cam/cross ram. With headers or not.

[enio45]

on this particular car the motor was never fired, not completed. I was rebuilt in the early 80's and the short block was assembled with the cross ram cam......heads were done with the cross ram valve springs and lifters were still in the box.

I bought the car and decided to go more stock - thus the questions on the cam. ill sell off the off ram cam, lifters, springs etc...they are all new etc.

On another car with the cross ram cam and a single 472 intake with stock exhaust - the car was hard to drive, had to be over 3grand to get moving, and had a nice sounding cam, but not street friendly.

[Plowman]

I hear that the cam was nasty cam and was asking how it was only. Love to here it idle and like you said,thanks. *Paul*

[Salvatore]

The best way for performance on a sb IMO is to jack the rear up and work under the trunk floor instead of radical cam's and big carbs. the 302 makes minimual power if the gearing is stock or even with the 4.10's. The cast iron exhaust manifolds have to go and the M20's and the 56's need to go in. Most Z/28's (302's)are tough to drive with M21's and a 3.73 gear. An off road cam and multiple carbs with a 3.73 or even a 4.10 may wear your clutch out in a weekend.

[Billohio]

Plowman if you want to hear one I have a you tube video of my z on there. Search bill foos. Car had cam, lifters, springs and retainers installed in 70, retainers are best thrown away they were aluminum. My car did have hooker headers. 4.88 gears worked well with cam but no very street friendly

[Salvatore]

Sounds real street friendly to me Bill. Just gotta put a taller back tire on it.

[Plowman]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Billohio</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Plowman if you want to hear one I have a you tube video of my z on there. Search bill foos. Car had cam, lifters, springs and retainers installed in 70, retainers are best thrown away they were aluminum. My car did have hooker headers. 4.88 gears worked well with cam but no very street friendly </div></div>*****I have a 4:88 gear in a 67 Nova since 1968 and some 4 speed's. Broke a axle and stood the car up on two wheels. So for now I went Automatic{350 tubo}did not brake a thing yet. So now I like to try a 302 cu.in. to have some fun with,so only a three gear automatic for now and let the fun begin.

[Salvatore]

leave the 88's in it Boss Man!

[67 Nova Boy]

Yep...leave those 88's where they belong!

Dave
67 Nova Boy

[GaryC]

I like the -140 cam in my first 69 Z. Ran one in the 70's with 12.5's, 4.88's, a little head work on the street with an M20. Car was a handful to be honest, but it sure was fun when 260 was still available. I ran a -140 a few years ago with 4.10's and 11's with an M20 in my current Z and it seemed to be more under control. If I remember correctly that cam doesn't come in until 4500 rpm. I'm sticking with the 30/30 myself and replaced the 4.10's with 3.73's More street drivability.

[Salvatore]

I would only take 4.10's out for 4.56's.

[COPO PETE]

4:56/4:88 is the only way to go with a small block 302z or LT-1 .


Night and day responce from the 4:10's.

[Salvatore]

Amen to that!

I love the 4;10's behind my 302.

[NickZ]

Another vote for the -140. I roll with 4:10's and an M21, she comes alive from 3k on. Would never go back to the 30-30.

Not sure if Aaron from MI is on this forum, but he's done well with tuning his -140 cam. Check out his Youtube clips.

[Salvatore]

the 140 cam with 56's or 88's with a taller tire for the street and an M20 box is getting it done.

[MosportGreen66]

I've watched these about 100 times a pop...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Uy_kQdWuxA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTgT0VCytGc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTRntCxb7es

[Billohio]

What's odd on my z, its a 4.10 axle . The 4.88s were dated 12/68. Which would work on my car. I know the engine was done in 70. My gears might need to go in a copo

[firstgenaddict]

When building an engine and I am not going with a bone stock cam, I call Crower.
Dave Crower will design a cam for what you want to do, you can tell him how to grind it or he will design a cam for your EXACT set up.
As he stated to me... if you want a engine that will post a HP number, let me know I will do it. If you want an engine that will outrun the engine with the high HP number in every situation I can do that as well. He has the experience so I deferred to him and said do what you think is best.

After having spec'd cams myself then having him do 2 cams... Crower will design my cams as far into the future as I can see.
The most critical thing he needs is flow numbers for the heads, if they are unaltered stock 186's the flow numbers are available on the internet. If you have oversized valves or some port work it would be best to accurate flow numbers. The more info you can provide him the better tailored the cam will be to your application.

[Plowman]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MosportGreen66</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've watched these about 100 times a pop...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Uy_kQdWuxA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTgT0VCytGc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTRntCxb7es </div></div>***That 140 Offroad camshaft sound's soo good.

[Joe69Camaro]

The 30 30 cam is what should be there ... I Like the factory stock approach.. But I bet Mr Straub , could do the 30 30 cam in a solid Roller. That's taking stock performance to the next level... Just putting a thought in to you ...

[Joe69Camaro]

Is anyone Interested In a brand New Z-28 140 Camshaft bought in 1975 from Laffin Chevrolet ?
I Also have a brand new set of Cam Dynamic solid Lifters , Restricted Flow HP Lifters...
Edlebrock SB Tarantula.. And some other Goodies.. PM Me.. Its Christmas time...

I have references ;-)

[miket1]

I may be ,what are the lift &amp; duration on the 140 vs. the 30-30 cam
Thanks