Where to start?
 

I have a stock lq4 with an edelbrock dual plane intake and msd 6010 box and hooker headers. Trans is a 200 4r out of an 80s monte carlo and soon to be 3.73s in the 10 bolt rear. All this is shoved into my 74 nova weighing about 3500 (just a guess). I ran a 13.60@ 101 with street tires and 3.08 gears. My goal is to get into the low 12s. What do you guys recommend to start with?. I have about 1500 in the budget right now. Was thinking about a cam swap with springs and a new torque convertor with a higher stall. Thoughts?

Yep. That ought to get you there.

What do you have for a tire on the back. Is the rear suspension stock? What kind of shocks?

255/60r 15s are the tires on it but ill pick up a set of slicks for racing. Rear suspension is stock as are the shocks for now. Speedtigger, any recommendations on a cam? Its not a dedicated race car. I mainly just run on test and tune nights.

How much stall converter are you looking to run? Are you looking for the cam to have a lumpy, hot rod idle or would you prefer the idle be smoother and mild for best drivability?

I'm fine with the lumpy or smooth idle. I do put a lot of street miles on the car every year so I don't want to lose all my drivability. Trying to stay around 3000 with the stall.

Not many LS camshafts are ideal for carbureted LS engines. So, you have to be careful to get the right cam.

If you want a smoother idle and near stock drivability, This camshaft will be happy with a 2500-3000 stall:
http://store.cammotion.com/street-slayer

If you want a lumpier performance sounding idle and a little more power, this cam will be happy with a 3000-3500 stall:
Grind# XA226/355-XA236/345-10+3 This cam is not in Cam Motions catalog yet, but if you give Danny or Kip this "grind number" and tell him Steve gave it to you he will get you set up.

Both of these units can be used with PAC beehive springs with your stock spring retainers and locks, so that will keep your cost down. Also, make sure you get some hardened pushrods as the stockers have been known to bend in performance use.

Thanks Speedtigger. Most of the cams I had seen listed by the big cam companies are for efi and I knew I needed something a little different. I'm going to contact cam motion today and order a cam. Going to go for the one with the lumpier idle because a little more power never hurt anyone. Ill also grab the pac springs and hardened pushrods like you suggested.

Looking at the lift on those cams, It looks like Ill need the pac 1518 springs. Is that correct?

I think the 1218s are good to 600 lift so, they should be fine. The 2nd grind number I gave you only has .603" lift on the intake. In the real world you will loose more that 3 thousands of your lift to deflection, so I would not worry about that. PAC has some newer part numbers that may be better. Ask Danny to be sure, Cam Motion is a PAC spring dealer so, they can make sure you get the correct springs and pushrods. They also carry the Brian Tooley dual springs which is what I have on mine. They are nice insurance, but more money of course.

Awesome Ill be calling them in the morning to order my cam!