Replacing factory cam in 305

[nikwho]

Ok, I have decided to hold out on the 350 swap in my '83. I'm going to save up for some more parts and build a 383 stroker with world product heads and some other goodies. Seeing as how I am going to be buying a '64 or '65 Chevelle project next year for my 30th birthday, my 383 may find itself in a chevelle. I just read an interesting article on building a 305. http://www.superchevy.com/technical/...ild/index.html
I am looking at playing with my 305 a little bit before I just jump into another 350 for it or using my 383 in this truck. I doubt that I will go spend the money for the 305 specific trick flow heads. However, this past week I bolted up a set of Heddman Headers, MSD cap and rotor for my factory HEI, new plugs and wires, a flex-a-lite fan and a 650 cfm edelbrock carb. It really woke up the old 305! I also have an edelbrock Performer RPM intake that I have not installed as of yet. Here is my question reguarding swapping out the cam, which i'm told is the most restrictive aspect of my engine aside from the heads. Can I use a cam that I bought for a 350 that I have never used? I dont have the specific grind info but its an "RV" cam of sorts. Pretty mild. I also have a second cam kicking around that I believe is 212*/214* @.50" lift. Again, not a radical cam by any means. Can I use one of these cams in my 305 to replace the factory cam? The factory cam is a hydraulic lifter cam. These other two cams that I have are solid flat tappet cams. I just thought that if I could use one of them and see some gains, I could swap the cam out when I install the intake. I'm not wanting to spend much money on this and i'm only using/buying parts that I will be able to swap over to a 350 or possibly my 383 if/when my 305 takes a turn for the worse or I get tired of it. Thanks, Nik

[nbpro]

more reading on the 305
http://www.popularhotrodding.com/eng...cks/index.html

http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/305-...ce-100820.html

http://camaroforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1860

[nikwho]

270hp/291lb.ft. of torque seems pretty respectable considering their use of the stock heads! I was wanting to play with this 305 some without spending good money on it like replacing heads. Although, some of these guys got 367hp out of their 305's!!!! WOW! I'm going to give it a shot. Worst case, i'll throw together anoth short block and I have some vortec heads and all of my other small block parts will work nicely.

[LONGHAIR]

Originally Posted by nikwho

The factory cam is a hydraulic cam. These other two cams that I have are flat tappet cams. Thanks, Nik

Can you explain this? Seems like you are mixing terms?

All 305s were originally equipped with hydraulic lifters/cams, Chevy hasn't used solid lifters since the early '70s.
Roller cams have made their way in in the last several years, but they still have hydraulic lifters.

"Flat tappet" is just another discription of "non-roller"

[nikwho]

Originally Posted by LONGHAIR

Can you explain this? Seems like you are mixing terms?

All 305s were originally equipped with hydraulic lifters/cams, Chevy hasn't used solid lifters since the early '70s.
Roller cams have made their way in in the last several years, but they still have hydraulic lifters.

"Flat tappet" is just another discription of "non-roller"

Sorry for being unclear and uneducated. I was stating that my 305 currently has the factory, hydraulic cam/lifters. I have two other cams and sets of lifters in my garage that are solid flat tappet cams that I was asking if I could use. Basically asking if I can just swap the cams and lifters and retain the factory pushrods or if I would run into problems.

[nbpro]

What about valve springs have you thought about those?

[nikwho]

No. I'm pretty unexperienced, particularly with valve train stuff. Im curious what it would take to swap in a different cam. What problems might I run into with the valve springs?

[nikwho]

In the past I have only worked on and built engines that were older blocks with solid flat tappet cams. I know very little about anything newer. I appreciate the help guys!

[nbpro]

It's my understanding when raising the lift of your cam, you need to put stronger valve springs in to compensate. i may be wrong tho

[3r!c84]

depending on the size of cam your going to go with you may or may not have to upgrade your valve springs

[nbpro]

I would suggest put new valve springs in any time you do a cam swap over time the springs become weaker this is safe thing to do

[spike38]

Any updates on the upgrades?

Spike

[jitteryguy]

the answer your look'n for is yes, the RV cam will work fine with stock springs and lifters. as for replace'n the springs due to age/fatege thats always a good idea if the heads have a bunch of miles on em. If your try'n to see how much power you can get of it and plan on drive'n it hard you may valve spring issue's, if you just want to fresh'n it up a little and gain a little power but still drive conservitly you would be fine .
one thing to concider is the milage/condition of the engine. if you pull the intake and valve covers and theres a lot of sludge you will need to get that all clean'd out with out knock'n down in the oil pan, if the sludge ends up in the pan it will end on the oil pump pick up screen and you'll end up put'n the 383 in it sooner than ya think .

[79gmcc15]

I am putting in a comp he268 can. Ill let you know in a month or so how it is.
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