Question about T/A cam # TA 212.

I was just punching in a bunch of cam specs out of my T/A and PAW catalogs, into the desk top dyno and it looks like the TA 212 would be best. The only problem I see is that its going to make its max power at 5000 RPM, will a 350 hold up to 5000 - 5500 RPM ? Can I use my stock springs? Do I have to get adjustable push rods?What stall speed torque converter sould I go with 2200, 2600, 2800 ?

Thanks

 

I punched mine in as well, and from 5000-5500 its level. Yes a 350 will hold up at 5k. Mine has seen 5500 quite a few times, though I usually shift at 5000. Stock springs work ok, no problems here. I had a set I was going to drop in....too stiff for my liking. No adjustable push rods required, though if you still have the stock rockers in yet I recommend the TA rocker assemblies that are stamped steel.
I would go with the 2600 stall. The cam really doesn't start to make real power until about 3000. According to the dyno program a set of headers and low restriction mufflers would also gain you alot of lost power. I am still running the stock manifolds with low restriction exhaust, and even with that it runs pretty darn good.

 

Re: Re: Question about T/A cam # TA 212.

Thanks for the info!
Whats wrong with the stock rockers are they to weak?
What are you running in the 1/4 with your car?
I've all ready installed a set of hooker 1 3/4 super comp headers and a flowmaster 2.5" exhaust, They let the car breath ALOT better.

 

Re: Re: Re: Question about T/A cam # TA 212.

The stock rocker are cast and tend to wear alot on the shaft girdles. mine had 100k miles on them, so I wanted to make sure I wasn't going to have to pull everything apart twice after i got done. I had a very light tick coming from the left rear of the engine, which turned out to be a cam lobe that was wore down quite a bit. Engine is nice and quiet now under the hood.
I haven't run the thing down the 1/4 mile yet, so that I don't know. I was hoping that the Kearney, NE event would be the first time for the car to run on a track, but due to me not being able to get the car there, that may not happen. I might have to run the wife's 97 LeSabre down the track o No: :grin:

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Question about T/A cam # TA 212.

My motor was rebuilt and has less than 5000 mi. on it Im not sure if they replaced the shafts and rockers or not, but before the rebuild the car only had around 80,000 mi. on it, How do I check for wear? will a visual inspeaction be good enough?
Would I have to get new shafts too or just the rocker arms?

Thanks for the help.

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Question about T/A cam # TA 212.

You'll have to pull the rockers off to check em. Only a few bolts on each side anyways. Slide the rockers a little on the shafts and look for any type of wear on the shafts first. If there is grooving on the shaft I'd replace them. Also check the valve tip end of the rocker and also check each vale to make sure these parts are not severly worn or gouged . Part # TA 1316 is $139.00, and comes with new shafts, rockers, and retaining nylon buttons. Thats everything you need. These are for post 1969 engines, that have oiling through the pushrods.

 

:beer Allright thanks!
One last thing wich intake is better the TA manifold or the Poston intake?

 

That one I can't tell you for sure, since I never tried the Poston intake. I just went by what a friend told me that "the TA stage 1 intake is the best inatke you can get that fits under the hood".

Anyone else running a Poston SBB intake?

 

Have you looked into the Poston GS114 cam?
Its slightly more aggresive than the 212. I have it in my 350, I like it, even with the lower compression it still makes great power. Goes up to 5800 rpm, and yes the 350 can take it. The 350 is a VERY well designed block with the weakest point being the rod caps but unless you are going over 6500 I don't think they'd be a problem if installed properly.

Remember, most cars redline at 5500 rpm and several go higher, 5000 on a 350 isn't a big deal except its making so much power you better watch where you are going!!!

Most "high performance" 350 chevies have to rev over 6000 to make the kind of power our 350's do under 5000.

Dan

 

I dont have a poston catalog yet, Can you give me the specs so I can type it into the Desk top dyno? in. and ex. lifts, in. and ex. advertised duration, and the centerlines.
Thanks.

 

how DO you get a poston catalog? i've looked for a website and found nothing, have you gotta call?

 

David - Give them a quick call at 1-251-368-8577.:Comp:

Can't find a website - maybe Jim Burek will see this and post something for you.

 

Here's the website, or at least what I found. They have much more BB stuff than this link implies. http://members.aol.com/ideapage/poston/

 

Okay, I was thinking about choosing this cam (TA212) also...
This is my setup-
72 Skylark 350/350TH
2.56 Gears
Stock Stall Speed
Engine is stock.
Heads will be home ported, then shaved and valve job by a shop.
Stock manifolds, "performance" Q-jet
Dual 2 1/2 exhuast
Will be using the TA stamped rockers and TA new springs

TA's description of the cam says stock converter/gear OK. Is it really? This is a daily driver, I just want some more power, and like my 2.56 gears. Any recomendations on advanceing the cam?
When you say it doesn't make any real power until 3000, what do you mean by real power? Is it a dog until 3k, or is it good under that and pull super after 3k?
Also I'm not sure how much to shave the head yet. I want atleast 9.5:1 CR. (Has 8.4 now) How much can I shave it before having to worry about getting shorter pushrods?
Thanks
-Nick

 

It looks to me that the GS114 cam won't gain anything over the TA212 unless you want to wind your 350 past 5500rpm. Looks like you stand to lose alot of low end torque as well. The TA212 makes more HP and more torque until 5000rpm. After that the GS114 does a pretty decent job up until 6000. Looks like a 100ft lb difference at 2000.......hmmm.

 

With 2.56 gears I might be inclined to go with a converter. It runs great with the stock converter, but would really shine with a 2600-2800 unit. I am running 3.23's in mine.
It runs good from 1500-3000 then at about 3000 it pulls hard to 5000.
On the heads, I am not sure I would shave the heads to get compression. Personally, I would put some forged pistons in it instead, and keep the compression at or just below 10:1.

 

Good idea to run the Dyno program... What values did you enter for compression?

350 hp seems a LOT more than actual.

I'd wager that my car would pull 225-250 on a chassis dyno. (based on 1/4 times).

I have a 70 9:1 350.

However I do like the torque curve on the 212...
Could you run that program with 112 vs 212?

 

question - my block, heads, and i assume pistons (i found a receipt from the prev owner for a block boring, so they may be .30 overs?) are stock from a 70 GS. does that automatically make it the high comp engine? did the skylark and gs engines run different compression?

btw, great thread, i think i'll be going with the 212 and new rockers.

but what about some of the TA cams not discussed? the C110, 118, and 113? how about the 310, is it a bit too strong?

 

GS350 is the same as the plain 350. I believe any skylark or GS could have been ordered with the "hi compression" 350, which had 10.25:1 compression... right?
All other 350's had the same compression ratio in each year. Pre 71 have 9.?:1 and 71 and later had 8.4:1. I think.

Okay, I think I'm gonna go with the 212. I'll run it with my stock converter, and see where it starts pulling, and then decide if I want to up the stall speed. Thanks for the help!