Time to pick a cam for the 390!
 

I am pulling the parts together for my 390 build, and am in need of some help in selecting a cam.

My mods include
-600/700 cfm Holley (I have a choice between the two and I'm still deciding)
-E'brock Performer intake
-Fresh stock heads with home port/polish
-Cam/lifters
-Headers directly into cherry bombs with dumps

I'll mostly be using the truck to cruise and romp around the street, with VERY occasional race car towing to be done. Possibly a camper in the bed every now and then, but that is highly debatable.

I'm running a stock converter in a C6 and I would really rather not have to get a new one hahaha

The kid in me really wants a rumpity cam with that nice choppy idle, but practical me thinks about driveability with that stock converter. So, I'm more or less hunting for a middle ground.

I have no particular preference in manufacturers, but would prefer a name brand so I know it was made well

If your in the 9:1 to 10.5: to 1 cr, look up the specs on a 69 or 70 428cj cam. That would give you a good middle grade cam in my op. No lope but good power band.

Just as a general rule, keep it under 270* advertised duration if you want to keep your stock converter. Not written in stone, but a good guideline.

Also keep in mind that a Comp Cams 270H for SBF is 224* @ .050, an Edelbrock Performer for SBF is advertised at like 272* intake and .050 is around 200*.

My truck had the Edel cam when I got it, decent, but I wouldn't have chosen it. I've been looking at Comp Cams from 268 to 270 advertised duration. Even some of the Xtreme cams starting as low as the XE258 would be okay, probably outperform my Edel cam on the top end and low end.

i am a fan of Lunati
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/lun-10330702

I purchased the Lunati 10330201 with lifters. The cam hasn't arrived yet, so we'll see if it was a wise choice.

I like Mikes pick of the 702. The one you picked will fall off around 4k It will still pull 4500 don't get me wrong. But his 702 makes for more of a wide power curve and "fun" time. I have a custom grind made by someone very close to that for guys I build for. My typical budget 390 around that is

Lunati 702
9.5CR
Dual plane RPM/C4 Cast iron
750 CFM
Headers 2.5" duals
3.25-3.50 gears
Optional small stall

Makes a great combo :-X22