Tuning issues on the Volare

shadango

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Again, with just 8/1 Scr, Camming is critical. Just one cam size too big can break a street combo, and then you are stuck with street band-aids like big gears and TCs.
I hope you are not expecting miracles with that LC 360. It is just 13% bigger than the 318. While the 360 will really perk up the low rpm torque,(allowing about 13% less gear than those 4.30s) a stout teener can totally annihilate an LC 360. That 13% might be just 25 or 30 horsepower. The real power comes by getting the compression up,and getting the heads to flow.Then matching the cam to that.And then helping it breath with intake,headers,and a freeflowing exhaust.
IMO the thumper type cam is not a good choice for a LC engine. It will just make a bad situation worse.
For instance; that 283 cam, in at 106*, will drop the 8/1SCr to a Dcr of 6.3/116psi. Can you say disappointing?It will be a slug off the line with anything but a way-to-high-for-street,converter. Even with the 4.30s.The power won't really start until way up the rpms, Ima thinking 4000/31mph(2.45low). Off the line, the neighbor's kids will, will pull you on bicycles.OK maybe that's extreme, but you get the picture.That cam needs 10.5 Scr, to make 8.2/165; about the limit for pumpgas.There is no such thing as a performance cam, that will wake up an 8/1 LC 360.Not even a teener cam will make decent Dcr/pressure.
What that means is start saving money, cuz you are gonna have to do something about that 8/1 compression.

Oh crap, I missed the supercharger sentence, Sorry. IDK how that happened. But still same story on that 283cam. I wouldn't use it, unless somebody gave it to me. Even then, probably not.............
But you know what? That super will fit on the teener, and it already has a pretty good supercharger cam in it, and great heads for the application. Ima thinking that would be an easy 300/350 hp, just as it sits.Another 2psi might get you 400. And that will be way to much for the chassis,I bet...........

This is great stuff!

I have a 318 in my 72 barracuda.....it came to me with a purple cam -- NO IDEA as to the specs, but given the low vacuum and lump idle , its a big cam......and J heads (not sure what valves are in it). I run a 650 Eddie carb, dougs headers.....I was told it has a stock short block except for a double row timing chain. 727 with a saturday night special TC and 3.54 gears

I have done a compression check and the numbers are fairly even but not stellar. She is a lot of fun out on the highway, and not bad around town but low end isnt where I wish it were....

All the info you put out above is excellent.....and have me even more convinced that my ride would be more fun , low end wise, with the right cam/head combo......

Started thinking about doing a cam/head/pushrods/rockers swap but then the concept of a sb stroker 408 starts looking real good....have been waiting for the "right" time to redo the current engine or go stroker....like something broken. But while I have broken a couple valve springs (and replaced them all at this point), the engine seems really solid.

Just posting this to say "thanks" to you and that I feel the pain of the op.
 
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