Cam Swap Help

[Awest623]

Howdy guys. I'm looking into doing a cam swap on my 98 350. I'll be using a ht383 cam. The engine has about 25k miles on it so I shouldn't need to replace anything with this cam. From what I've read I need an intake manifold gasket set (I'm doing a mpfi conversion which required me to replace these gaskets, Will I have to do it again?), VC gasket, oil pan gasket, timing cover, and water pump gaskets. Am I missing anything? Also, I've never done a cam swap before. Can any of y'all point me to a thread or something covering the process step by step? Thanks in advance y'all.

 

[Awest623]

Well I found a good instructional video

 

[Supercharged111]

Gotta yank the radiator and grille, unbolt AC and shove it forward some so that came can fit out. It's a bit of an archeological dig to do a cam in these trucks. I've done it twice. You'll love the cam you chose especially if you toss in some 1.6:1 roller rockers.

 

[Awest623]

Gotta yank the radiator and grille, unbolt AC and shove it forward some so that came can fit out. It's a bit of an archeological dig to do a cam in these trucks. I've done it twice. You'll love the cam you chose especially if you toss in some 1.6:1 roller rockers.

Thanks. I was thinking of those 1.6 rockers. You think they're worth it? Also, if I replace those will I have to replace the springs or any other bits?

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[Awest623]

Gotta yank the radiator and grille, unbolt AC and shove it forward some so that came can fit out. It's a bit of an archeological dig to do a cam in these trucks. I've done it twice. You'll love the cam you chose especially if you toss in some 1.6:1 roller rockers.

Would these be a good pick? https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cca-1418-16/overview/make/chevrolet

 

[L31MaxExpress]

I personally would not waste my time with that cam. I had one in my Express van with 1.7:1 roller rockers. It was still too small for my taste and caused a lot of detonation issues had to be tuned out by pulling timing.

 

[Awest623]

I personally would not waste my time with that cam. I had one in my Express van with 1.7:1 roller rockers. It was still too small for my taste and caused a lot of detonation issues had to be tuned out by pulling timing.

I've heard a lot of good things about it. What would you recommend? I won't do a lt4 hotcam. I also don't want to do any headwork. Maybe change springs and retainers for a little extra lift but that's it. I want low end grunt and will not be changing out my tc.

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[L31MaxExpress]

I've heard a lot of good things about it. What would you recommend? I won't do a lt4 hotcam. I also don't want to do any headwork. Maybe change springs and retainers for a little extra lift but that's it. I want low end grunt and will not be changing out my tc.

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I have run both of these in L31s with the stock torque converter and stock gearing. Both ran extremely well, better than the Marine cam. I had the 08-409-8 custom ground on a 1* tighter LSA in my Express van with 1.6 rockers.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cca-08-409-8/overview/make/chevrolet

I put this one in an Escalade and it ran very well too.

http://www.competitionproducts.com/...8_284-210_215/productinfo/E1136/#.W6Af3cvQaUk

 

[Awest623]

I have run both of these in L31s with the stock torque converter and stock gearing. Both ran extremely well, better than the Marine cam. I had the 08-409-8 custom ground on a 1* tighter LSA in my Express van with 1.6 rockers.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cca-08-409-8/overview/make/chevrolet

I put this one in an Escalade and it ran very well too.

http://www.competitionproducts.com/...8_284-210_215/productinfo/E1136/#.W6Af3cvQaUk

Can you describe the performance differences between them? I don't know much about cams

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[slowburb]

You'll want these rocker arms. If you can't afford them, just run the stock stamped 1.5:1 ratio rockers until you can.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/scc-scp1036/overview/make/scorpion

You should want to change the valve springs to a set of these:
https://www.alexsparts.com/valve-sp...yd-flat-tappet-110-lbs-seat-pressure-vsk4h50/


The HT383 cam is a great cam for a warmed over street/daily driver vehicle. It matches very well to the flow characteristics of the vortec heads and will yield a noticeable torque increase all throughout the rpm range.

Don't let others influence what you're doing. You have a good buildup recipe here.