I picked up a 72 350 SBO completely stock with it's 2 bbl and #7 heads. I'm cleaning it up and with help from a few members here I've collected most of what I need, so thanks. I'm going to install new lifters so I may as well add a small cam. Nothing radical, just barely above stock. Can someone help me with sizes for a stock 350? I'm thinking 204/214 @ 50 ??? Other items I'll be changing or adding 2711 manifold / 1406 carb. Headers, dual exhaust, hei distributor. Thanks in advance, John --BTW, I tried to do a "cam" search but nothing comes up.

 

That is a popular cam because it is inexpensive. It is also slow and lazy. One option is the 307 vin "9" cam, .440 lift, I forget the duration.

 

a cam that i really like is the comp high energy 260H. i've used it in a few different motors and really like it. with 8:1 compression and so/so head flow i wouldn't get too carried away, nor would i worry about having the most modern grind. something to keep in mind is the fact that you are using stock springs... they will be happier with a "lazy" or more traditional cam design.

maybe coppercutlass will chime in, he has used the 260H quite a bit on the street and the track...

 

That would be the Edelbrock 3712 cam ?
split lift/duration , doesn't sound real radical unless you idle it 500 -600 rpm
204/214 duration , 448/472 lift as advertised .
About the most stock heads can handle without working them according to my machinist .
This is the same set-up I have and I don't find it lazy at all .
I also have a 680 street avenger Holly , on 2711 intake , long tube headers , and Magnaflow exhaust , and roller tip rockers , on a stock 2bbl engine .
The HEI may not have the best curve , I used the stock distributer with a curve kit , points eliminator and MSD .
I think it would sound better with H pipe instead of X pipe .
I have 2.78 rear , and think 3.90 would really do better .
This cam isn't that far off from a " Ram Rod " , but with split duration/lift will idle smoother , and work with 2bbl heads .
Makes me happy anyway !

 

CaptJim, explain slow and lazy please, I'm not sure I know what you mean.

Frank3, yes that is the cam I was looking at. After cleaning the heads a little more I found the A on them, so now I have 7A heads. Not sure if that matters. I was going with the HEI dist. because the original was not included with the engine when I bought it, I'll do some more research on that issue. Surprisingly the engine is in pretty good condition. Nothing like some of the pics I saw here. Thanks for the info, still learning about these SBO's

 

go with the 260h i ran it in a high 13 sec 350 very mild, great idle and plenty of grunt . I ran it in a stock bore/piston 14cc dish piston 73 block with 72 7A heads bone stock everything was just cleaned up and re ringed bearings etc.. With a 600 cfm edelbrock 1405 and the regular performer intake, Hei dist, full legnth headers, x pipe, 3.73 gears with a 2200 stall . car ran 13.86 through the exhaust. Try to bump the compression a bit if budget allows or keep it the same if you use the .040 head gaskets have the heads milled to make up for the diffrence. I ran my combo with 9 to 1 compression.

 

Wow, I quite expected to see a custom grind offered in this thread...good to see some off the shelf stuff being promoted

 

Imo. I'm not a cam expert but. Our cars are just about as generic as the off the shelf cams. Compression varried along with diffrences between dual exh gear not to mention head cc which will vary with casting and chamber to chamber unless you cc' them and get them all close there is many variables left on the table for most street strip apps. There is nothing wrong with off the shelf cams. The trick is to pick the right one for your app.

 

Has anyone try'd this kit from Comp cams K42-222-4 ?

 

I have not had an issue with any comp cams product. I currently run their cam and lifters 280h , timing chain, push rods, guide plates, studs, with no issues.

 

You know most cam grinders have a customer help line , and with some info about your car and intended use , will offer the best cam for your set-up . Sometimes they may even offer a custom grind .
I built the 2TC engine in my '72 Corolla , and Isky cams did a custom grind for it , with consideration for things like 10.6:1 compression and no available high torque starter he added over lap to bleed compression at lower rpms , power band kicks in @ 2k and pulls through 8k . That was his idea , and it works great .
Edelbrock tells which cam and intake work together in there descriptions , and are very willing to help you with what works with your heads , trans , rear , etc ..
I've used the Comp cams grinds also , most are not split grinds , so they give that nice camming idle , and like higher stall converters .
I have a 292 grind in a Chevy 350 , making 470 hp & 415 ft-lb @ the crank with Edelbrocks fuel injection , and 400 hp/ 410 ft-lb with a Holly 650 , or 440 hp / 410 ft-lb with Holly 750 , but throttle response is lost with the 750 . All tested on a Dyno at the local machine shop . I'm using the 650 because I don't want to spend so much money on the FI set-up at this time , and the price goes up every time I save up .
Long story short ... If some body tells me to build an engine a with their pick of parts I do . But if they tell me what they have , and what they want to use , and what they want it to do with it , I start making phone calls or sending e-mails to manufactures for their suggestions .
In the end maybe your more interested in the way it sounds than how it preforms ( like my Chevy ) or maybe more of a compromise for commuting and SCCA auto cross racing ( like my Corolla ) , or maybe a mild mannered cruiser that puts a smile on your face when you stomp the go pedal , like my Rocket .
Up to you !

 

Thanks guys, you've all given me enough information to do my research. For now a mild mannered cruiser with A/C is all I'm looking for. A 455 will be going in late next year. I do have 1 more question about the heads. At this time I'd rather not have them milled so where can I get a set of original thickness head gaskets or what thickness am I looking for? I purchased a set from RockAuto and there alot thicker than the originals. Thanks again

 

An Erson TQ20 would be a good choice, 214/214 at .050 on a 111. Lift is .478 on both.
Throw it in with about 4 degrees advance and you'd be good to go.

 

Cutlassefi, PM sent

 

Don't go with the Edelbrock cam, there are better. Mark, isn't that cam big duration wise for 8 to 1? You can get .011" shim head gaskets from Smitty at M+J Proformance. Most time the pistons sit .025-.030" in the hole on these motors, makes the .011" gasket perfect.