new camshaft for 65 corvette with new hydraulic lifters

[John S.]

I want to change from solid lifters to hydraulic lifters. The car is a 65 corvette 327/365 HP manual 4 speed transmission with no air conditioning, no fuel injection and a 4 barrel carb. What would be the best camshaft to use with hydraulic lifters in this situation. I do not want to race, I just want a good driver that I do not have to adjust the lifters every 3-4 years. I would like the power range to come in between 1500 and 2000 rpms. I would like to keep it to the 365 HP as close as possible.NEED HELP!!

[Gene M.]

Re: new camshaft for 65 corvette with new hydraulic lifters

John for that low of a power range (1500 to 2000 rpm) the stock chevy 300 hp cam would work. But this car would not run like it did above that...........

[John D.]

Re: new camshaft for 65 corvette with new hydraulic lifters

What about the L79 350hp hydraulic cam ?

[Gene M.]

Re: new camshaft for 65 corvette with new hydraulic lifters

What about the L79 350hp hydraulic cam ?

There is no torque in power range (1500 to 2000 rpm) as John is looking for. More like 3 grand and up.

If it were my car I would agree with you L79 is a good compromise.

[Duke W.]

Re: new camshaft for 65 corvette with new hydraulic lifters

I recommend the L-46/82 cam to replace the L-79 cam. Why? Because it was designed four years later and has better lobe dynamics. Duration at .050" is two degrees more than the L-79 (224 vs. 222) and lift is marginally higher, which are noise level differences.

The big difference is that it is indexed four degrees later with the inlet POML at 114 deg. ATDC vs. 110 ATDC for the L-79 cam. Both have 114 deg. LSA.

Therefore, in a 327 it should be installed four degrees advanced with an adjustable timing set. The OE valve springs are okay, and it will rev to about 6000.

It won't be as strong below 2500-3000 as the 300 HP cam, but the idle behavior will be much closer to the OE 30-30 cam. With the very aggressive OE 327/365 centrifugal advance curve it will be noticeably stronger down low than the 30-30, but the curve may have to be slowed somewhat to avoid detonation. That's something that will have to be checked out and modified, if necessary, by road testing.

The Federal Mogul part number (available at NAPA) is CS1095R.

Of course, swapping out a 30-30 cam with any other will bring the cam police down on you with a vengence.

Duke