A lot of people on this forum remember all the issues I had getting my timing and carburetion sorted out last year. Well, after about 4 months of really getting to drive the car without all the issues, I am still under whelmed by the performance of my engine.
What I don't like: vacuum is still low, there is no improvement in power off the line, and the idle has to be kept high enough that with the tranny in gear with the brakes engaged, I am about at my torque converters stall speed so I am fighting the C4 at stop lights.
What did I like: the top fuel lope the car has at idle. When I show up at cruises, I love the looks I get as I creep the car by the other cars. They hear the lope of an outrageous big block with the higher tone of our sixes and they don't know what to think.
The problem is the other issues have finally outweighed the one good thing.
I am simply running too much cam. It is at least a Clifford 272 single pattern with 110* (although it may be their 280. I always remembered my dad ordering the 272 but the machine shop paperwork from the rebuild a couple years ago clearly says 280 - I'm stumped since I can't find any of the original paperwork). Also, the first rebuild was with Rhodes lifters and the second rebuild was with stock lifters.
I am going to bite the bullet and replace the cam. It also gives me an excuse to replace my slipped balancer. While I am at it, I am considering Mike's dual timing set (even though the gears and chain were replaced with stock replacements two years ago).
Based on people’s experiences here, I am wondering what to go with. Remember, this is an automatic with the 2.73 rear-end. I would like to finally feel some power, still have some lope to turn heads, but without the current headaches.
In particular, I would like to hear from people with similar builds.
At first glance, I am leaning toward the 264/274 (110*) Hydraulic Dual Pattern.
What I don't like: vacuum is still low, there is no improvement in power off the line, and the idle has to be kept high enough that with the tranny in gear with the brakes engaged, I am about at my torque converters stall speed so I am fighting the C4 at stop lights.
What did I like: the top fuel lope the car has at idle. When I show up at cruises, I love the looks I get as I creep the car by the other cars. They hear the lope of an outrageous big block with the higher tone of our sixes and they don't know what to think.
The problem is the other issues have finally outweighed the one good thing.
I am simply running too much cam. It is at least a Clifford 272 single pattern with 110* (although it may be their 280. I always remembered my dad ordering the 272 but the machine shop paperwork from the rebuild a couple years ago clearly says 280 - I'm stumped since I can't find any of the original paperwork). Also, the first rebuild was with Rhodes lifters and the second rebuild was with stock lifters.
I am going to bite the bullet and replace the cam. It also gives me an excuse to replace my slipped balancer. While I am at it, I am considering Mike's dual timing set (even though the gears and chain were replaced with stock replacements two years ago).
Based on people’s experiences here, I am wondering what to go with. Remember, this is an automatic with the 2.73 rear-end. I would like to finally feel some power, still have some lope to turn heads, but without the current headaches.
In particular, I would like to hear from people with similar builds.
At first glance, I am leaning toward the 264/274 (110*) Hydraulic Dual Pattern.
If your cam is a 280 and 110* most cam compaines reccomend 3:55 rear gears or lower. You stated you love the engine lope you now have, I have the 264/274 @ 112* their is almost no lope! If you have a 8" rear end just change the whole pumkin you can still find 8" pumkins at some wrecking yards, the 3:55 gears are a little harder to find, I just got new 3:80 gears off ebay auction for $51.00 my local shop will set them up in a extra pumkin I have for $150.00 this is much easier than pulling the engine and installing a new cam, besides your cam is fine you just don't have the correct gears for running an automatic Trans.....I vote keep the cam and get lower gears.....If you still have a 7.25 rear end you can still find these lowered reing and pinion gear sets on ebay form time to time!
