350 HP 327 Camshaft

[Mark S. Lovejoy]

I'm building a 350HP engine for a friend's '63 and it's time to get the camshaft and pistons.

What is the recommended cam for this engine and who makes them?

Thanks,

Mark

[Michael H.]

Re: 350 HP 327 Camshaft

Mark,

If you are building the engine back to original spec's, the horsepower would be either 250-300 for hydraulic lifter motors or 340-360 for mechanical lifter motors. Because you mentioned 350 HP, I assume it's going to be either 340 or 360. If that's the case, the correct original mechanical lifter cam, part number 3736097, would be available from several aftermarket sources such as Crane cams in Florida.

Michael

[Mark S. Lovejoy]

Re: 350 HP 327 Camshaft

Thanks Michael,

'097 Camshaft for the 350HP 327? I thought that was a 283 cam.

[Scott Marzahl]

Re: 350 HP 327 Camshaft

If you want the 327/350 horse camshaft it is known as the "151 camshaft and is available from Crane and Melling.

[Michael H.]

Re: 350 HP 327 Camshaft

Mark,

As Scott mentioned, the 350 HP 327 wasn't available until the 1965 model year but it will work well if you are not concerned with keeping the car/engine original. The "151" is a hydraulic lifter cam.

The 3736097 was used in 283's from 57 to 62 and also in the 327 of 1963. Excellent street mechanical lifter cam.

[Jim T.]

Re: 350 HP 327 Camshaft

In building this engine for your friend with high performance cam and pistons. If you are going to use low compression pistons, the 300HP 327 cam should not disappoint the user. I say this because I rebuilt an engine for my brother in 1970, it was a 327 with standard pistons. Used the L79 "151" 327/350HP cam. It just did not sound the same without the 11:1 compression ratio pistons and did not have the performance.

[Duke W.]

Re: 350 HP 327 Camshaft

Assuming you are building a SHP type engine, you want to use the OE type forged pistons, and either the 3863151 hydraulic cam from the '65 -'68 L-79 or the mechanical lifter 3972178 LT-1 cam. The Duntov cam is obsolete except for 283s with small port heads. Both cams will make about the same low end and peak torque, but the LT-1 cam will make a little more top end power and has more usable revs.

Regardless of cam choice I highly recommend you have the heads pocket ported/port matched with a multiangle valve job if you want maximum power in the upper third of the rev range while maintaining the decent driveability and low end torque inherent with the OE SHP cams. Use compostion head gaskets and make all the appropriate measurements to compute actual CR and shoot for a maximum of 10.5:1 as measured.

The pistons and cams are available from Federal Mogul.

Duke

[Robert Willis]

Re: 350 HP 327 Camshaft

I used the 151 cam in my 57 with low compression pistons and it works great on the street. Actually it's a 283 2 barrel engine with the 57 dual 4s and 891 dist and Corvette valve covers. I would use it again if I needed a new cam.

Bob

http://members.kos.net/willisb/vette.html

[Mark S. Lovejoy]

Thank You Gentlemen *NM*