Hey Guys I wasn't gonna put a cam in my motor, but while doing the water pump I found a bad timing cover. I read you can't go to much bigger on the cam because of the low compression. I found this Comp XE250H which is 206-212 compared with the originals 196/208 the lift is .443 & .448 VS the original .440 so I assume it would work with the stock non adjustable valve train. The Edelbrock performer cam has higher lift & says it may require longer push rods. The engine is also getting 4160 Holley performer intake & probably headers. The original intake and Computer distributor were missing and the carb is rusted solid is why I'm replacing so many things. Thanks Jackson

 

I think 206 duration @ .050” lift would work well.

 

The Edelbrock cam doesn't require longer push rods from what I have found, used two of them. I think all aftermarket cams come with a smaller base circle. My latest Performer cam came in a Comp Cams box, whatever that means. I did have to replace a few rocker arms with this last one to stop the ticking Most were replaced with the Performer cam before it. Replace all the rocker arms while you are in there, no matter which cam you choose.

 

It may require longer pushrods because some of the aftermarket cams have smaller base circles than factory ones, and that adds clearance. cutlassefi might have some tips on cam selection, but that cam seems pretty "tame" if you're going to run it with the computer and likely won't have much of an issue getting the carb set to use it. In either case, if you run stock type lifters and rocker arms, you need the ones to accomodate the LARGE style of pushrod ends for the 80s 307s.

I have a stock rebuild 350 in my 84 H/O, and I have the H/O spec Mellings replacement cam and it works ok. I transferred everything but short block and heads over from the original engine. I didn't have to get any special pushrods. It met the preload specs, so I went with it without having to buy new pushrods. It was higher lift and everything than the stock 350 cam, and works just fine and no valve train noise. Using it with the CCC system and no problems whatsoever. I look at it as just a heavily bored out 307.

As for the carb, pretty much VIN 9 and Y carbs are almost identical, even utilizing the same primary jet size of 75 on those funky tube jets, but use different primary and secondary rod to help tune the fuel mix. Secondary DA rods are fairly easy to find, but those primary rods are the hard part. 83-85 VIN 9 use the same primary rods, AFAIR.

 

Good point on the different rocker arms, forgot about that. I found out that when I put 5A 307 heads on a 350 in a 78 Chebby 1/2 ton. I believe the switchover is 81 and up. Hopefully they are available.

 

I didn't know I'd have to backdate the pushrods and rockers. That adds over $200-$300. Probably just put a new chain on it, $700 + is probably not worth it for a cam. Thanks Jackson

 

James I managed a 15.1 @ 89 MPH with my stock 307 in its 87 442. Our cams are pretty aggressive, everything else engine wise is lacking ...

A gazillion tweaks got me there. Those same tweaks will get you even quicker. True duals, advanced timing, high test gas, TV cable adjusted for max performance, shorter rear tires, etc. Headers on top will probably put you high 14s at 90 plus... May not sound like much but thats 2 seconds quicker than stock...

Our factory setups, Code 9 200-4R, D5 torque converter, and 3.73 rear, are probably the best balance for performance and driveability in olds History for RWD. It's perfect minus the stock 200-4Rs weaknesses... I heard of someone who put a stock healthy Toro 425 in a Code 9 442 as is. And managed high 13s in the 1/4.

If you want a beast, significantly more engine is the key not cam swaps in my opinion...

 

I have this cam in a 8:1 350 with zero issues. Stock everything…pushrods, rockers etc. no preload issues even with .010 thicker head gaskets. Runs better than stock but I added hooker 1 5/8 headers and advanced the cam 2 more degrees. In at 104. And yes the hooker headers fit supreme just fine despite the foot note saying they won’t, at least on my 76 model. No power house but it runs better than factory.