72 350 Rocket w/4 bbl
February 23rd, 2012 | 12:55 PM
#1
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 359
From: Didsbury, Alberta
72 350 Rocket w/4 bbl
Hey all,
I just picked up a 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass w/350 rocket and a Qjet 4 barrel. Everything is original right down to the 204000 miles it has on it & nothing has ever been done to the engine. I've been away from turning wrenches for a few years & I will be looking to rebuild the engine over next winter. Can anyone suggest a good camshaft & lifter combo? Something that has a good lift/duration to give her a nice rumble come next spring without going totally overboard? Something that works well on the street for a daily driver but will also work well when the 4 barrel opens up.
I just picked up a 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass w/350 rocket and a Qjet 4 barrel. Everything is original right down to the 204000 miles it has on it & nothing has ever been done to the engine. I've been away from turning wrenches for a few years & I will be looking to rebuild the engine over next winter. Can anyone suggest a good camshaft & lifter combo? Something that has a good lift/duration to give her a nice rumble come next spring without going totally overboard? Something that works well on the street for a daily driver but will also work well when the 4 barrel opens up.
February 23rd, 2012 | 07:55 PM
#3
Chevy budget Olds powered
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 8,632
From: Elgin, Illinois
Im happy with my 280h comp cams it's a bit big for the street but works good . I was also happy with the comp 260h i had in my old combo had a good rumble to it and had gobs of tourqe.
February 24th, 2012 | 08:03 AM
#4
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,907
From: Plano, TX
I ran three cams in my 350 - the generic "RV" cam, Comp XE262, and an UltraDyne 266/272H12. UD isn't in business, but Bullet Cams has their lobe masters and can easily make them.
The RV was a disappointment - not much change.
The XE was noisy, didn't idle or transition well. Maybe poorly matched for my combo, but I just wasn't impressed.
The UD was amazing. Absolutely loved every aspect of that cam. Idles nicely at 600rpm yet has quite a bit of grunt.
No dyno runs, so just subjective on how the car ran.
The RV was a disappointment - not much change.
The XE was noisy, didn't idle or transition well. Maybe poorly matched for my combo, but I just wasn't impressed.
The UD was amazing. Absolutely loved every aspect of that cam. Idles nicely at 600rpm yet has quite a bit of grunt.
No dyno runs, so just subjective on how the car ran.
February 24th, 2012 | 03:21 PM
#5
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 359
From: Didsbury, Alberta
Ok. Any suggestions on intake manifolds? I'm toying with the idea of instead of the stock intake going to an aluminum Holley or Edelbrock that will work well with the Qjet carb.
February 25th, 2012 | 09:48 PM
#6
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,907
From: Plano, TX
All depends on what you want to do. 
If you stay near-stock, then the Performer is lighter and prettier than stock. The Performer RPM raises the powerband and can help on the top end. There's some older stuff no longer manufactured that can be had, but I don't know if they're necessarily better than the current ebrock parts.
If you go far enough to make use of a single plane then you'll probably know what to get.
If you stay near-stock, then the Performer is lighter and prettier than stock. The Performer RPM raises the powerband and can help on the top end. There's some older stuff no longer manufactured that can be had, but I don't know if they're necessarily better than the current ebrock parts.
If you go far enough to make use of a single plane then you'll probably know what to get.
February 26th, 2012 | 06:59 AM
#7
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,004
From: Central Fl
It's going to be difficult to get a rumble out of an 8.0:1 motor.
Plus I'll bet it has a 2.73 or so gear in it as well.
Change the gear, then figure out the rest. You'll need a small intake lobe to retain cyl pressure then a larger/different exhaust lobe to hear it. I can help if you want but either way you'll need to stay small with that compression ratio.
Jmo
Plus I'll bet it has a 2.73 or so gear in it as well.
Change the gear, then figure out the rest. You'll need a small intake lobe to retain cyl pressure then a larger/different exhaust lobe to hear it. I can help if you want but either way you'll need to stay small with that compression ratio.
Jmo
February 28th, 2012 | 02:09 PM
#9
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 359
From: Didsbury, Alberta
Yes it is going to be a complete rebuild. Anxious to get it done. But will drive her for the summer this year. Have to find a good engine shop somewhere to have the block & heads tanked & checked, new cam bearings/frost plugs, & have the valves & seats ground. I was thinking about putting flat tops in as well. The engine was orginally painted gold, which I have come to find was only done for a year or so back in the 70's. All the rest were metallic blue.
February 28th, 2012 | 02:31 PM
#10
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 359
From: Didsbury, Alberta
Correction on engine color. Got this from http://www.442.com/oldsfaq/ofeng.htm
Small Block CIDs
Small Block CIDs
CID Years Bore Stroke VIN Color Notes
260 '75 - '82 3.500 3.385 F metallic Blue
'79 - '80 3.500 3.385 metallic Blue Diesel
307 '80 - '84 3.800 3.385 Y Black No roller lifters, and w/5A heads: 150hp
'85 - '90 3.800 3.385 Y Black Roller lifters, and w/7A heads: 140hp
'83 - '90 3.800 3.385 9 Black 442, H/O engine; Roller lifters w/7A heads '86 and up.
330 '64 - '67 3.938 3.385 T Gold
350 '68 - '72 4.057 3.385 M Gold
'73 - '74 " " " metallic Blue
'76 - '80 4.057 3.385 R metallic Blue
'78 - '79 4.057 3.385 B metallic Blue
'80 4.057 3.385 8 metallic Blue
350D '78 - '81 4.057 3.385 Z metallic Blue Diesel; Roller lifters '80 and up
350D '78 - '85 4.057 3.385 N metallic Blue Diesel; Roller lifters '80 and up
403 '77 - '79 4.351 3.385 K metallic Blue
All GM engines were painted black starting in 1983. It was due to better heat dissipation. From early 1977 to 1982, all GM engines were "corporate blue". Early 1977 and back, each division had their own unique engine colors, combinations, and usage (low & high compression, low & high performance, etc).
260 '75 - '82 3.500 3.385 F metallic Blue
'79 - '80 3.500 3.385 metallic Blue Diesel
307 '80 - '84 3.800 3.385 Y Black No roller lifters, and w/5A heads: 150hp
'85 - '90 3.800 3.385 Y Black Roller lifters, and w/7A heads: 140hp
'83 - '90 3.800 3.385 9 Black 442, H/O engine; Roller lifters w/7A heads '86 and up.
330 '64 - '67 3.938 3.385 T Gold
350 '68 - '72 4.057 3.385 M Gold
'73 - '74 " " " metallic Blue
'76 - '80 4.057 3.385 R metallic Blue
'78 - '79 4.057 3.385 B metallic Blue
'80 4.057 3.385 8 metallic Blue
350D '78 - '81 4.057 3.385 Z metallic Blue Diesel; Roller lifters '80 and up
350D '78 - '85 4.057 3.385 N metallic Blue Diesel; Roller lifters '80 and up
403 '77 - '79 4.351 3.385 K metallic Blue
All GM engines were painted black starting in 1983. It was due to better heat dissipation. From early 1977 to 1982, all GM engines were "corporate blue". Early 1977 and back, each division had their own unique engine colors, combinations, and usage (low & high compression, low & high performance, etc).
Last edited by rcrac3r; February 28th, 2012 at 02:41 PM.
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