383 SBC questions

Hi
i am helping a friend get his Camaro running. He just received a crate motor 383 sbc, aluminum heads 195 runners 10 to 1 compression and the cam is Edelbrock Performer RPM Camshaft & Lifters .488/.510 - 234/244 - 117 specs. He is using a 600 cfm Edelbrock carburetor. The car is for street driving but I don't know if the cam is a good combo for street manners or highway driving? I think the carburetor will be OK as it is not a race car, just a street car.

This is what I found on the cam..
Duration at 0.006" Lift: Intake: 308° Exhaust: 318°
Duration at 0.050" Lift: Intake: 234° Exhaust: 244°
Lift at Cam: Intake: 0.325" Exhaust: 0.340"
Lift at Valve: Intake: 0.488" Exhaust: 0.510"
Timing at 0.050" lift: Open Close
Intake: 10° BTDC 44° ABDC
Exhaust: 59° BBDC 5° ATDC
Centerlines: Lobe Separation - 112° Intake Centerline - 107°

looking at the cam specs,the cam is designed to give a good power curve in the 2700rpm-6000rpm band in a 383 with about a 10:1-10.4:1 cpr and if its matched to a manual trans or if its an auto trans youll want about a 2500rpm-3000rpm stall converter and a 3.54:1-3.90:1 rear gear
a smaller cam will be easier to drive on the street with a stock auto trans but youll give up some upper rpm power

I've had that cam in my 350 when I bought the '79. Way too much for low compression and a 2200 stall..... I hate that cam with a passion....
.... while I'm sure there are better cams for that engine, in a 383 with 10:1 CR the cam might be ok...

grumpyvette said:

looking at the cam specs,the cam is designed to give a good power curve in the 2700rpm-6000rpm band in a 383 with about a 10:1-10.4:1 cpr and if its matched to a manual trans or if its an auto trans youll want about a 2500rpm-3000rpm stall converter and a 3.54:1-3.90:1 rear gear
a smaller cam will be easier to drive on the street with a stock auto trans but youll give up some upper rpm power

Click to expand...

My friend has a 4 speed stick with a 373 rear.

MYBAD79 said:

I've had that cam in my 350 when I bought the '79. Way too much for low compression and a 2200 stall..... I hate that cam with a passion....
.... while I'm sure there are better cams for that engine, in a 383 with 10:1 CR the cam might be ok...

Click to expand...

It was a creat motor and that is what the engine builder sugested to give advertised 450 HP/430TLBS.

In a 383 with a 4spd. it's probably ok.

Advertizing: the previous owner of my '79 bought the Edelbrock RPM package because it's advertized at 420HP or so.... hot cam, heads and intake and a 750Holley.... even with flat tops the CR was way too low (maybe 9.5:1) and the 2200 stall wasn't all that good of a match either...

just went aluminum

needed to get the heads changed in my car and went with sbc aluminum heads. the aluminum heads really help in prepping up the performance of the car a long way.