Like the title says, who has used this cam? Did you like it and how well did it work with your combination? I have one and wonder if it's worth putting in a stock 71 350. After looking at the specs, I figure it would work better with a little more compression than a 71 has. Thanks Brent
I used it in my 82 chevy lwb. It was good for daily. I could make it lope with the idle set right. It would idle at 350 rpm no issue and that was with the ac running. Loved it for what ot was. Torquey 17mpg was a blast. https://photos.app.goo.gl/vuS3mEQRVX6zsQDC9
I used it in a low comp 72 350 way back when. You are correct it needs more compression. The low end was mushy, it liked rpms. The car was a 15s quarter mile car with 3.73 gears. Were I to consider using that cam again I would do everything I could to maximize my compression. If you arent going for hi compression, I respectfully suggest a nitrous kit will be the best Bang for the buck. 50-125 shot will really wake up a lo comp 350.
Did either of you guys change the valve springs? There seems to be mixed opinions on whether it's necessary or not. Thanks Brent
I did. I dont think its necessary from a lift point of view, but it seemed prudent to change them rather than force a sudden change of movement on 40 year old stockers. I used Comp springs. In fact I believe I used the complete comp 268 K kit. Cam lifters springs pushrod timing set.
I used this cam in 1984 added headers and that was it everything else was stock back then you just lined up the dots and off you go. The cam ran good and once it got up to 2500 it ran strong. I later went from stock rear to a 373 gear i ran a 14.89 best with it. I was using a 650 spread bore double pumper with it. At that time the Q-jet was **** and no one wanted to use it. i actually ran a 600 square bore with vac secondary but later change to the 650 DP. spread bore (Q-jet replacement) ran stock intake. Could have used a 2200 stall, and maybe the cam could have been advanced a couple more degrees on the set up and that would have helped out of the hole. I still busted up a lot of people on the street i got beat out of the hole but when 2nd gear came it was by by. Could go 100 in second gear with that 256 gear in the beginning. I think the 212 cam would be a better choice as it has the lifts different on intake and exhaust, but I got to say the the 268 was a lot of fun. Also had a nice lope to it. You really won't be disapointed just need to do all the other things suggested here. One other thing I think I had about 120 thou on the odo when I did this and no I didn't Do anything to the springs or heads
Here's the back story. I have a great running 350 that was originally in the AWD car and I have an "extra" 71 Skylark. So, I stuck the 350 with a 4 speed in the car and threw it together enough to drive with spare parts I have lying around. I got the 268H cam and lifters in a pile of parts I picked up years ago and I was planning on changing the timing chain in the 350 if I actually got it road worthy. I was thinking, if the timing chain is off, I might as well throw that cam in, right, lol. Like I a need another project, but a ratty 4 speed Skylark too cruise around would be fun. Thanks Brent
Being a 4 speed would help get the 350 into the cams range! I would do it, also headers and 3” magnaflow would help!
I did not. My builder and comp stated the cam will work with the stock springs. If you want you could swap them though.
Well said. I do agree the cam could be degreed to get more power in lower. Go qjet. I had an edelbrock on at first, but the qjet "woke" the engine up down low and throughout the power band.
I get it. The parts in hand. Every build doesnt have to be perfectly planned and executed. From that perspective, yes throw em in there and have fun. Itll be fine and you will like it.
I used the 268H in a 215 back in '89, installed in my MGB with a T-50 gearbox, the stock 3.9 gears and 24" tires. Engine had 10-1/4 CR, 650 Holley on the stock 4bbl intake and equal length 1-5/8 x 32 primary headers. Used CC's springs. It was amazing to drive. Loved to rev and I often hit 7 grand with it before eventually cracking a piston (stock cast) and wiping out a rod bearing after about 20-30K miles of hard life. Idle never was anything to get excited about, mileage was never great, and I had to tread lightly on the go pedal until the revs came up a bit but once they did, it was "Katie bar the door!" Loved that engine. Later used that grind in an I-H 392 with about 9-1/2 CR and liked it fine. Big truck, good gears, surprised a lot of other drivers. If you have it on hand I wouldn't be too hesitant to use it, especially if you can do anything to bump up the CR. Headers and a free flowing exhaust will help a lot. Jim
i used one. ran low 15s in an otherwise at the time bone stock 85 regal with a 1200 stall and 2.41 open diff. Qjet, rebuilder under 8:1 pistons. it was a tire frier for sure but it definitely could have used 2-3 more points and headers+intake as others have said.
