what rpms is a stock vortec 350 good for?

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shownshine55

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What is the rpm range on a stock vortec 350? I know that the black box won't let you go past 6000rpms, but a stock 350 vortec isn't making power up there either. So what kind of rpms would a stock 350 with a 3.42 rear gear be turning cruising along at 30 mph? I'm looking at cams in the 1000-5000rpm and 1200-5200rpm range. Of course I want a big cam, but if its not going to do me any good from a stop to 30 mph or so I'm going with the smaller cam. I have upgraded valve springs, cai, headers, exhaust, torque converter, and willbe getting a tune.
 

VorTecxas

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The black box actually stops you in the mid-5000 range, I don't remember exactly where.
65 MPH is 1800 RPM in OD with 3.42s and stock tires (235/75R15), what size do you have? 30 MPH on stock tires is about 850 RPM in OD, 1200 RPM if OD isn't engaged.
If you're going to pay for a tune, you should do the 0411 swap. It's worth it, MUCH more tuneable than the black box and very easy to repin. Opens up many more options than the BB
 
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shownshine55

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I forget the actual diameter of my rear tires. I'm thinking around 28". It is a 255/55/18 BFG KDW. I had suggested doing the 411 swap to the tuner I am going with and with a few others who seem to know alot about these sort of things. All said the same thing, that because I am doing such a mild build, the blackbox can be tuned to work with my combination. Another thing with this truck is that it willbe put up for sale once I have completed it (it is apart for body work). All the parts going into this truck are parts that I had including a fresh 355 just sitting in the garage. I do not have a 411 pcm handy so if the tuner says I do not have to have it, I'll try running it without the swap. I am going to go ahead and put a little cam in though to replace the lt1 cam that is in it. I thought that I may drive it for a little while with that for sale sign in it so i had better give it a little get up and go to make it fun. Getn back to the cam selection, does the lsa of a cam affect the tune? I thought it would. One of the cams i am considering had a 108* lsa. It was in the 1000-5000 rpm range and cam company said it gave a noticable idle. Not a big cam at all, but with the lumpier idle maybe the tuner would change his mind about the 411 swap. I'll run it by him. If the 108*lsa dosen't work, there were also cams listed with a 110*,112*, & 114* lsa and all were close in size with the rpm ranges listed above. They also had cams listed with the same duration and lift numbers but with the different lsas. I really would like to have that noticable lumpy idle though.
 

92GMC

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daily driver? i would recomend somewhere around 110-114 lobe seperation. low to mid 200s duration and mid to high 400s for lift. youll be happy unless your wanting to make tons of power
 

shownshine55

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not really a daily driver, but once it is sold it could be for someone else. good info to know 92GMC, I was looking for some advice like that!
 
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