383 Cam selection

Austindarksaber · Jul 8, 2024

Just dropped a 350 off at the machine shop turning it into a 383.

Looking for a good cam, this is a daily driver 88 K1500 it's going into. I'm aiming for 400hp, streetable, but nice rumble at idle and hopefully decent on gas with power brakes

Putting an aftermarket fuel injection system on haven't decided between pro flo 4 and holley sniper 2.

Staying with the 3.42 rear diff, and rebuilt 700r4

12cc dished piston and a 185cc intake / 64cc combustion heads (looking at eddlebrok open to suggestions)

Will have true dual exhaust as well.

Any recommendations for a cam?

L31MaxExpress · Jul 8, 2024

Austindarksaber said:
Just dropped a 350 off at the machine shop turning it into a 383.

Looking for a good cam, this is a daily driver 88 K1500 it's going into. I'm aiming for 400hp, streetable, but nice rumble at idle and hopefully decent on gas with power brakes

Putting an aftermarket fuel injection system on haven't decided between pro flo 4 and holley sniper 2.

Staying with the 3.42 rear diff, and rebuilt 700r4

12cc dished piston and a 185cc intake / 64cc combustion heads (looking at eddlebrok open to suggestions)

Will have true dual exhaust as well.

Any recommendations for a cam?

I vote for neither one of those aftermarket EFI systems. Personally I would use a GM LS PCM and some kind of aftermarket port injection manifold. I can tell you the Proflow 4 ECM is absolute GARBAGE because of the lack of tunability and the tuning on it is absolutely HORRIBLE. I think the original guys that set up the system and tuning are gone from Edelbrock as well as the support they offer on it is non-existant. I am literally in the process of replacing that ECM with a GM P59 Green/Blue connector LS PCM. The Sniper systems have been plagued with ECM failure as well. Personally I would grab a Holley aluminum L31 timing cover and distributor for a cam sensor and oil pump drive, a 24x reluctor and a LS swap harness. Gain coil near plug ignition while you are changing up the setup anway. Holley makes a port fuel injected manifold/fuel rail combination that is relatively inexpensive. Get injectors that have good GM data characterization to them. Can either use an intake elbow with a LS throttle body or a 4150 style throttle body, just make sure the throttle body you pick has GM TPS, MAP and IAC provisions.

Erik the Awful · Jul 9, 2024

I have a 1st gen Sniper. You absolutely need to invest in all the brackets and extra linkages to correctly set up the TV cable and throttle cable. The Sniper's throttle arm is too short and you'll bend your throttle shaft. If you don't correct the TV cable geometry you'll absolutely burn up your transmission in just a few miles. Here's my adventure in that regard. https://www.gmt400.com/threads/700r4-tv-cable-adjustment-lies-bull-and-whats-the-truth.65963/

Drunkcanuk · Jul 9, 2024

L31MaxExpress said:
I vote for neither one of those aftermarket EFI systems. Personally I would use a GM LS PCM and some kind of aftermarket port injection manifold. I can tell you the Proflow 4 ECM is absolute GARBAGE because of the lack of tunability and the tuning on it is absolutely HORRIBLE. I think the original guys that set up the system and tuning are gone from Edelbrock as well as the support they offer on it is non-existant. I am literally in the process of replacing that ECM with a GM P59 Green/Blue connector LS PCM. The Sniper systems have been plagued with ECM failure as well. Personally I would grab a Holley aluminum L31 timing cover and distributor for a cam sensor and oil pump drive, a 24x reluctor and a LS swap harness. Gain coil near plug ignition while you are changing up the setup anway. Holley makes a port fuel injected manifold/fuel rail combination that is relatively inexpensive. Get injectors that have good GM data characterization to them. Can either use an intake elbow with a LS throttle body or a 4150 style throttle body, just make sure the throttle body you pick has GM TPS, MAP and IAC provisions.

I have been having an internal debate about aftermarket fuel injection systems for a while. And my own internal decision was pretty much the same as what you mentioned.
How in the heck can the aftermarket even possibly compare to the huge financial and engineering power of the OE? They simply can't.

They have to design for every type of weather, temperature, altitude etc AND carry a warranty for YEARS, not months.

Ya, they look cool, some anyway. But if it was my money, I'd definitely try and stick with as much OEM stuff as possible (ECM wise anyway) and tune it to the best of its capabilities.

skylark · Jul 9, 2024

Cam selection is easy. Just go to the bottom of the screen and find the biggest donkey d○ng cam that will barely slide through the cam bearings, that is the one that you want!

Just kidding! Instead consider something in the 212/224 range for duration, .500-.525 lift and 112-114 lsa. Lift and duration stay on the lower side for economy, higher side for more power. Lsa is the opposite.

An example would be (rough specs) 212/218 .500 lift 114 lsa would pick up power and be more of an "economy" cam. 220/224 .525 112lsa would be more powerful.

These are very rough generalizations. You would need the appropriate springs and retainers to do those kind of lift numbers.

Erik the Awful · Jul 10, 2024

skylark said:
Cam selection is easy. Just go to the bottom of the screen and find the biggest donkey d○ng cam that will barely slide through the cam bearings, that is the one that you want!

Shh! Quit giving away my secrets.

383 Cam selection

Austindarksaber

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L31MaxExpress

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Erik the Awful

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Drunkcanuk

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skylark

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