what is the biggest cam I can go with in stock heads for a Chevy 350 if I install different valve springs and what kind of cam should I go with and what springs should I go with I will be buying the B&M Holeshot 3000 stall speed or a torque converter of that same stall. I don’t have my heart set on B&M’s torque converter.
There’s a whole lot more info. we need to determine that, and even then it’s probably not something we’re going to be able to give you an exact number on. There’s been so many different variations of Chevy 350s it’s not like saying “what’s the biggest cam I can run on a stock LS1.”
What sort of pistons are you running (flat, dish, dome, valve reliefs or not etc.). How far in the hole are they? What heads are you running with what size valves. Have the heads or block been milled? What ratio rockers? Roller or flat tappet? Hydraulic or solid? What induction are you using?
And what is the motor used in (car weight, rear gears, what’s it used for, daily driver, etc. etc)? You say you want the “biggest” cam you can go with… what do you mean? The biggest cam by the specs? And if specs biggest lift, longest duration, tightest LSA or all? Or do you mean the biggest HP from the cam? Or biggest area under the curve? How high are you going to spin it? Do you have the valve train to support those rpms? What about the shortblock?
To be 100% honest I wouldn’t take my, or just about anybody else on the board’s word for it. I’d call some of the major cam makers (Comp, Crane, Lunati, etc.) and talk to one of their specialists. Be armed and ready w/ all the info. I asked about and more. Every last detail you can possibly provide about your combo will help. Every motor spec, chassic spec, and drivetrain spec along w/ how you’re going to use it.
-TJ
the engine is basically your old 4 bolt main out of a 74 truck when I got it had points ign. and a old shitty two barrel all I did to it was replace the with a summit cam part number (k-1104 which is a .465/.465 and a 224/224 cam)well here you go Its got flat top pistons and there only 8.5 to1 comp. ratio there stock heads with 2.02 intake and 1.60 exhaust and I think there 76cc no the heads haven’t been milled there the original 1.5 rockers but i’m probably going to upgrade to 1.6but well say i’m using the 1.5 for right now and the lifter are hydraulic.And i’m using a Holly Contender Alum. Intake its dual plane intake spreadbor and I have a holley 650 carb but I already know I’ll probably need a bigger carb.
The car is my 82 Z28 and the cars weight i’m not sure off because I took dash out and removed the heater shit all of it including the blower motor under the hood so basically there nothing under my dash. I took out all of the interior and ripped out all of the padding under that. I took off the front and rear bumper covers and removed the bumpers. the car is pretty much as light as i’m gonna get it unless I start cutting it up but I don’t think I wanna do that yet. I have 3.73 rear end gears and the car will be used as a weekend driver not daily driven.
I need to know if I can put a .520 to .530 lift in it that lopes pretty good and still be able to run the 1.6 roller rockers when I get them. maybe go as far as .550 lift and still be safe i’m not trying to go full out race. But still streetable.
I hate to say it but I think you’re going about this all wrong. Sticking a big cam in a stock head, 8.5:1 motor isn’t going to be the best route to good power. Are you sure the heads are 2.02/1.60s? What’s the casting number. A 2bbl '74 truck motor probably wouldn’t have had 2.02 heads! And even if they’re 2.02s the flow is not going to be up to the standards of a modern head and really won’t support .550 lift. The 650 carb won’t be a problem w/ those heads though. You’re going to have to go with a lot better heads and a lot higher rpm than the stock internals will support safely.
Your setup sounds like it has potential but I think you could go about it better. Think about freshning up the motor w/ some higher compresion slugs and maybe some Vortec heads (though I don’t think they’ll support the .550 lift either) or some worked factory castings. Of course some aftermarket AL. heads would be great but I imagine you’re trying not to spend that kind of money.
With the heads and compresion you have it’s going to run pretty poorly with a “big” cam.
But once agian this is all IMHO. Call up one of the Cam company tech. lines and get their opinion. They’re the experts. 
-TJ