Hot Rods Beating a dead horse- how to choose a cam manufacturer for SBC

Ok, I am sure this has been covered, I did do a search but nothing really specific came up.

I am starting a 283 build soon, and need to know how do you know what cam manufacturer is right for you? I am using a 57 283, and am pretty certain I will use a 300 HP 327 cam (GM number 3896929). Naturally everyone grinds this cam, how do you guys choose who's to use? I have never built a chev before, as weird as it sounds I just don't know much about small block Chevys. Is this a dumb question? Probably...but I'd hate to get it in and it eats itself and everyone is like "why the hell did you use that cam? EVERYONE knows they are junk!"

And yes I know about zink and oils and such.

Also, this is going in a 46 Ford with stock trans and rear, power pack heads, log manifolds, etc. I would take cam advise if someone has it. I am not dead set on that cam, I have had a lot of people recommend it however. I want a good broad power cam, nice idle, nothing radical.

 

I doubt that anyone will agree with me but I use crane cams a lot. For a blueprint cam they come closer than the other manufacturers (perhaps that is because they actually have the rights to reproduce GM cams).

By the way my 355 is running a crane blueprint cam, I have just run off the shelf Castrol for over 150k. I did have a problem with lifters when I first run it ( 20 years ago) and ended up using Erson lifters.

 

I am a Crane Cams guy also..they have a really neat website for selecting the right cam. Especially for SBC.

 

That cam should still be available through GM Chris, although it'd be under a new # I'm sure.

 

Good call...but I wonder if it will be 400.00?

 

Shouldn't be but you never know.

What I want next was a cam for the 302 that was billed as an off road service came by GM. I don't remember the number but it is a healthy SOB.

 

Yes, ($400) I wonder at that too.

Cal cams in Hayward used to grind Chevy cams for me, @$45.00 each, their core.
Great grind, street friendly. Torque enough to light the tires, mileage efficient, power up to around 6,000 RPM.
Alas...Chico (owner/operator) p***ed away, his successor was out of biz in a year.
Al Teague (Speed-O-Motive THEN) 1983... also reground cams, very reasonable. Different now.
Delta Cams in Spokane did some for me lately, 406 ground and parkerized, $80. Great job. Chevy grinds a 'specialty'.

 

GM parts guy to the rescue! The new GM # is 14060651. It's list price is$329.55. If you had me order one for you, it would take about 3 days to get to me and cost $216.02. Of course, shipping would cost a few bucks more but...
Or hit up your local GM dealer.

 

I wonder who Chevy buys them from?

the Crane version is about $140 at summit

 

LOLI got my L-79 Blueprint from crane for 84 bucks, plus lifters. granted that was 20 years ago but common cams for SBC back then ran 150+

 

Delta is actually in Tacoma, WA , just south of Seattle. I use them to regrind all my flathead cams and resurface lifters. I figured I'd treat myself a new cam this go-round, like @squirrel says for around 150.00 you can get a brand s****ng new one.

 

Thanks, I appreciate that! I don't see any benefit to running a "GM" brand cam however, over another manufacturer...

 

GM brand used to mean that it was made by GM...but these days, it's iffy. They sell a lot of stuff that other companies make, and add their considerable markup.

 

Exactly, even if GM themselves ground it I wouldn't pony up, I see no reason to. This is not a restoration of any sort. Just a hodge podge of parts to see if I can get that tubby old car to move a little better

 

i usually get cams from Dema Elgin. He is local and I know him. But I understand Dema has retired and new guys are running the shop. I have had a couple of Crower cams that I thought were exceptional. Last cam I bought came from Isky. Been in there a long time. Must know what they are doing.

 

LOL even if it was a restoration no one pulls the cam at the concourse.

Rich mentioned Elgin cams and Isky. Both excellent cams, well I am not so sure about Elgin any more but they were excellent cams.

 

Chris says: Ok, I am sure this has been covered, I did do a search but nothing really specific came up.

That's because no one agrees what is best.
This question comes up every two weeks .
Pick any brand & call the manufacturer.
They will steer you right.

 

i think you could call Iskenderian to ask about your cam, and with any luck, talk to Ed. That's worth doing just to say you did it. How many legends are you going to get to talk to in your lifetime?

 

If I had your number I cold talk to another one today.

 

I kind of meant a legend that somebody had heard of.

 

If I had plans to come down any time soon I could have grabbed you one, my cost is $270 in Canadian Pesos which is "only" $205 or so for you but like you say, there's better value elsewhere if you're not hung up on running an OEM camshaft.

 

Not all man of stature get told about in song my friend.

 

The stock specs for the wimpy 929 cam are:
Int (0.05) 195
Exh (0.05) 202
Int Lift .390
Exh Lift .410
LSA 112
Centerline 108/116

Enginetech ES274 €35.58 from rockauto or Sealed power CS-274 €36.99 from Summit.
Or you can pay 100bucks more for the same cam from Crane- or Comp cams.

 

I'll see if I can find out. You've peaked my curiosity.

 

I worked at a machine shop years ago and used both Enginetech and Sealed Power with decent results

 

Summit brand seems to work great for nearly everyone.

GM has ****ed up a bunch more cams than anyone else I know of. The law of averages says it should be so too but,,,,

 

if I was buying another cam id go roller cam.did some work on a zz4 sbc lately ran really smooth and quietly.expensive retro fit I know but.

 

Yeah, not really for me...I'm trying to mimic a car that a kid would have built in say 58-62...while that particular cam grind I mentioned using may not have been around (I honestly don't know), it's still an old flat tappet cam in an early chev with Ford trans and rear.

 

There's always Clay Smith Engineering in Buena Park, CA. They've ground a few cams before.

http://www.claysmithcams.com/

 

I have a Crane Cam and lifters going in my 57, 283 with 4-71 blower. I have had good luck with Crane and their tech support. 113802 H-278-2 hydraulic flat tappet. $225.10 to my door, directly from Crane.