350 horse cam recommendations

[Steven L.]

I'll be rebuilding the 327-350 in my '66 this winter, and am looking for recommendations on what cam to use. Haven't bought a cam kit in quite a while, so I'm not sure what's out there in terms of a faithful copy of the 3863151 cam. Will be dropping compression to 10 to 1. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Steve Leunig

[Michael H.]

Re: 350 horse cam recommendations

Steve,

I would look at Comp Cams 12-671-4 or a Crane 967601 cam. I've had very good luck using Comp Cam products so that's what I would recommend.

Mike

[Gene M.]

Re: 350 horse cam recommendations

The 151 cam is a good choice. Bigger cams with more overlap will detract from "street manners". Check the interweb for replacement exact copy from major cam suppliers as there are a few.

[Duke W.]

Re: 350 horse cam recommendations

I recommend the L-46/82 cam available from Federal Mogul and manufactured to OE specs - CS1095R. It's also available as a "kit" with both cam and lifters, but I don't have the p/n handy. It has two degrees more .050" duration (224) and the same LSA (114) as the L-79 cam, so idle behavior is identical - 14-15" @ 750. The big difference is that the L-46/82 cam is indexed four degrees later - inlet point of maximum lift at 114 deg. ATDC for the longer stroke 350, so in the shorter stroke 327 install it with an adjustable timing set four degrees advanced to bring the IPOML back to 110 - same as the L-79 cam. Use the F-M adjustable OE replacement truck roller timing set, which costs about 25 bucks.

Though the inlet and exhaust .050" duration is the same, the lobes are actually different. Dynamics were adjusted to take into account the different masses of the inlet and exhaust valve, so it has better dynamics, which is why I recommend it.

Use the FM VS677 valve spring, which are the same as the 3911068 OE springs that went into production in '67. With careful valve spring setup it will rev to at least 6500 before lifter pump-up sets in.

Your engine should have the second design rods, but don't put any money into them. Either use them as is or spent $250 on a set of Eagle SIR5700 rods.

If you want more top end power in the upper end of the rev range, massage the heads.

Rebuild the distributor, install a B26 VAC and lighter springs in the distributor, which is very easy to do and really adds performance as long as the shaft bushings are okay. Search for a thread stated by my in 2012 - L-79 distributor blueprint overhaul.

10:1 CR is okay, but you can go as high as 10.25. A good replacement piston is the Keith Black KB157, which has a 0.5 cc positive "dome", and should get you into your target CR range without having to use a thick head gasket.

Duke