L82 Cam

[Scott Marzahl]

Re: L79 Cam

Yes on the ignition Duke, I had the distributor recurved to 34 degrees without vacumn to come in at 2,800 RPM.

[Duke W.]

Re: L82 Cam

You dont' need a "high volume oil pump" unless you build a very loose-clearanced high rev racing engine. A high volume pump will just cause excess parasitic loss and heat up the oil since most of it will be bypassed back to the inlet.

You only need a standard volume oil pump with a 45 psi spring. Beginning in late '63 the mechanical lifter engines have 60 psi springs and an 80 psi gage as do most big blocks.

Basic rule of thumb for street engines is to use a 45 psi spring if you have a 60 psi gage and a 60 psi spring if you have an 80 psi gage.

Ten to 20 psi is more than adequte idle pressure, and full pressure with hot oil should be available by 2000-3000.

Duke

[Jim Callan]

Re: L82 Cam

Barry,

What applications did you use the L79/L82 cam on ? With the TH400/3.08 I don't want to lose(much) low-end torque. Now I'm thinking of building to 9.5-10.0 cr and keeping the base(270hp) cam. My neighbor suggested I try a 'dual pattern' cam - may be an option ...

Thanks

Jim

[Barry Chappell]

Re: L82 Cam

Hi Jim,
Before I purchased my Vette in 1970, I had a 1969 Camaro SS, with a 350, 300HP.
I installed the L-79 cam, as there was this 1968 383 Road Runner that I really wanted to beat. The L-79 cam worked very well. Easily beat the Road Runner.
The engine in the Camaro was a stock 350, flat top cast 10.25 pistons, with 1.94 heads, stock Q-jet (with mods), 4-speed, 3.73...

I put a L-82 cam in a friends 1970 Chevelle, same engine as the Camaro.
Automatic, 3.55. It worked really well. Pulled really strong up to 6K.
Everyday driving was good as well.

One of the greatest improvements to a car was adding the L-82 cam to a 1974 Nova, base 4bbl engine, 8.5 Comp., 4 speed, 3.42 ?
Added L-82 cam, Torker intake, Holley 650 DP, Headers.
It became a real screamer.
The goal for the mods was to beat a modified 302 Comet. He easily beat the Comet.

The examples I gave had results that were easily recognized, as there were huge performance improvements against their competition.
Other engines that the L-79 or L-82 cam was installed also resulted in a noticeable improvement.
In my opinion it was the best performance for the dollar you could do to a stock 327 or 350.

Another example (not too relevant), was my Cousin had a 1970 Nova, 307, 2 bbl.
He added the LT-1 solid cam, 4bbl, headers.
There were very few small blocks that could keep up or pass him.

Hope this info helps.
Barry

[Duke W.]

Re: L82 Cam

The base cam IS dual pattern.

Unless you are out street racing, I would not put too much faith into street racing war stories. I don't think most of us judge our cars by "who they will beat". Good driveability and performance in normal street and higway driving is a more important criterion, and we spend 99.999 percent of our driving time below 4000 RPM.

Duke

[Dick W.]

Re: L82 Cam

Ya musta grown up on a different street than I did. My 61 was turned 5,000 + every chance I got. I was pretty good at flat shifting (or so I thought) that poor T-10. 69 L/88 got turned 6,500-7,000 rpms regularly. Car was totaled just one time before it was restored and became trailer queen. Mayflower Superbird was slightly warmed over and would turn over 7,000. I was raised on Show No Mercy street where street racing was a three or four night a week occurence. Not Woodward Ave style, but usually from seven tenths of a mile to over five miles. And I could not play with the big boys, NASCAR hemis, 427 side oilers, built L/88's. But did I enjoy watching. The Good Lord had to look after us, we did not have enough sence to walk across the street.

[Duke W.]

Re: L82 Cam

I grew up with a SWC - 340 HP, CR trans, and 3.08 axle, and I did my share of street racing. It once took me over a half mile from rolling start and a shift to 4th at 130 to dispatch a 440 Charger when he ran out of revs,

But that was 35 years ago, and my real passion was, and still is, road racing and top speed. I would never change my Corvette, but now I have come to appreciate torquey engines, smooth idling, and excellent low speed driving characteristics, which are most useful in today's driving environment.

I eschew freeways for road trips in favor of twisty two lane roads whenever they are an available alternative, but they place a premium on torque bandwidth, not top end power.

Duke

[Dick W.]

Re: L82 Cam

I kan't spall sense either