383astro

I would like to change the cam in my 93 TA and would like to keep as much as I can stock. I want to buy a cam only, maybe springs or RR. Also I heard that you have to drop the pan to get the cover off. Is this true. I know this has been discussed but I havent been able to search for days. Thanks

dhdenney

iTrader: (53)

Dropping the pan is a yes and no thing. When I did mine, I just took out the front 4 bolts and pried it down to get the cover off. I had to silicone the hell out of the gasket though to reuse it! You will also what to replace your lifters with the cam swap. You can get a set of GM replacements for $100 and will be just fine. You don't want to exceed the limits of your bottom end either. I think I always read that 6300 is the limit on the stock bearings but I don't know that's set in stone. I never worried about it cuz I don't have stock bearings so take the 6300 rpm with a grain of salt. That being said, bigger is not always better. Comp 306 has a pretty nice sound but maybe not the best choice for stock heads. 230/244 on 112, lope comes from all that overlap. I have always read the 503 (224/230) is a much better choice for a stock head and would probably make more under the curve power. In other words, your power will come on sooner and stay longer which makes for greater driveability and probably some better ET's out of the stock headed motor. That being said, by all means get a chip burned for your tune or it will run like pure hell. Yes, even with just a cam.

dhdenney

iTrader: (53)

Oh yeah, don't skimp on injectors. Your stock 22# injectors might not provide the fuel you need for a bigger cam. 306 no way, maybe the 503. Others will chime in on that. Others may also advocate even smaller cams than the 503 but I'll let them speak for themselves. I was just giving my .02.

Javier97Z28

iTrader: (1)

With what you've just posted, just leave the thing alone until you're willing to spend a little more money on it.

Looks like your bone stock anyways, a cam is the wrong place to start.

383astro

So let me ask this, what is the largest cam before I have to change the springs, injectors, tb, etc.? I want it to sound good. I dont plan on racing it on the stock bottom end, the cam is purely for sound and to add a few hp.

383astro

I see where you are coming from on this, but there are certain circumstances that is going to lead to the timing cover coming off, so I figured hey might go ahead and throw a cam in it.

I know its not where to start, but I figured why not, as long as it will run good till I can get the RR, TB, injectors, LT, etc.

Javier97Z28

iTrader: (1)

Before you have to change springs? The stock cam is the largest cam you can go with.... sorry.

Removing the timing cover is only 1/10th of the battle when swapping the cam, so once you're actually ready to do it, it's only a drop in the bucket.

383astro

What all else is involved? Valve Covers, Intake, Lifters, Timing set, etc. Done it all before on a 2 piece sbc many times.

383astro

The cover scares me cause I have never been in one of these.

dhdenney

iTrader: (53)

Not necessarily, a small cam in a stock headed car is a nice improvement (as long as it isn't so big it's completely mismatched). The 304 (210/220) could probably go without a tune. I am guessing you could get away with stock injectors and just buy springs and lifters. Then make cold air and headers/exhaust next on the list. I think that would be a decent plan of action. If he went with the 503 and upgraded the injectors and got a tune, that would probably work too. Just my opinion folks.

Javier97Z28

iTrader: (1)

Not much else really, remove the radiator, swing the condensor out of the way.

But with what you listed, and the above, like I said, the timing cover is only a small portion of the deal.

Cover shouldn't scare you, it's not that much different than any other SBC... has an extra gear in it for the WP, no biggie.

Javier97Z28

iTrader: (1)

I'm not against putting a cam in a stock head car, I ran a cc503 on stock heads to 12.0 @ 112.81...

I'm just saying it's not a good starting point "just because" the timing cover is coming off.

dhdenney

iTrader: (53)

Same concept as SBC. Once you get in there, it's not that bad. Just be careful.

dhdenney

iTrader: (53)

It doesn't sound like he's got that far yet but what I am saying is if the supporting mods are coming soon after, the end result will still be the same. Just maybe a backwards way of going about it. If he can knock out headers, CAI, injectors, cam, lifters, springs all at once, then he can save some labor down the road and get a decent package.

383astro

I am not sure where to go to get a tune. I would probably have enough money to put Cam, springs, LTs, and maybe injectors or tb whichever would be better. Do I have to get a tune everytime I do an upgrade? What is this mail order tune I hear about? thanks

383astro

When I fix the huge oil leak in the cover I will also have the valve covers off (freshly rebuilt motor, need to adjust the rockers) and will be putting the condenser back in (guy left it off because he never wanted to run ac, said it cost too much gas). So I will have it apart somewhat. I also have a fan that locked up (not kidding, will not turn) so I will be changing that too.

Javier97Z28

iTrader: (1)

You can get a tune that will work quite well from pcmforless.

I'm still running one of their tunes on my h/c car.

383astro

pcmforless? Do you send your specs and they burn you a chip? are they online? thanks

Hot94Z28

Yes and there is madz28 also. Both are good tuners.

383astro

So I should probably do all my upgrades for now at one time so I dont have to keep sending my chip in? What would be better.
1. Cam-CAI-LT-Inj
2. CAI-LT-Inj-TB-RR