1967 327/350 HP Cam

[Bill C.]

Hey --

Is there a manufacturer who has an exact (or as close as possible) cam that matches GM specs for a 1967 L79 engine?

Looks like I am going to be doing an engine rebuild.

The rebuilder wants a new cam installed - no warranty on the work otherwise.



Thanks in advance-
Bill

[Duke W.]

Re: 1967 327/350 HP Cam

Yes, Federal Mogul manufactures exact replacements for most OE cams under the Sealed Power and Speed Pro brands. The L-79 replacement is CS-118R, however, I recommend the L-46/82 (CS-1095R) cam for L-79 rebuilds because it has better lobe dynamics, but must be installed four degrees advanced on a 327 to bring the inlet POML of 114 deg. ATC back to 110.

I recommend the Cloyes C-3023K/103023 roller chain, which is an exact duplicate of the OE roller chain used on truck small blocks. If you go with the CS-1095R cam, use the Cloyes CS-3023X/103023X timing chain set. It has two additional indexing holes to allow the cam to be advanced or retarded four degrees. Just make sure you select the correct indexing hole to advance the cam four degrees. Both timing sets cost about 25 bucks and will outlive most of us.

Some install the OE replacement forged pistons, but a better choice might be the Keith Black KB157 hypereutectic. It has a 0.5 cc dome, so you can use a thin shim gasket, assuming the head and block mating surfaces are flat. The KB157s are much less expensive than the F-M L2166NR-XX (5.3 cc dome) forged OE replacements.

I recommend NOT spending any money on the con rods. Just buy a set of Eagle SIR5700 pressed pin rods (about $250) and give your second design 327 rods to someone rebuilding a base cam 283 or 327 that have the weak first design rods.

If you want "more power" massage the heads, and with proper spring height set up it will make useable power to the 67-6800 lifter pump up speed.

I have a couple of papers on engine restoration that may be of help to you and possibly save you from a machine shop disaster, which are all too common.

Contact me via the "send email" function on the TDB, and I will send them to you.

Duke