Hi all! I have a 1976 LOPO 302. (Compression is about 8.0:1 with the stock 58cc heads). Thus far, I have a Weiand Stealth, a 600cfm carb, performance 14" air cleaner, an MSD ignition, full length 6901 headers, and 2.5" exhaust pipes with an x-pipe and magnaflows. Basically, I want more oompf (the most I can get) out of her and I do believe a cam swap is next in line. She's also a daily driver. Going to go for 3.50 gears when more cash is on hand, but the stock 2.75 will have to do for now. I've done some research, and I would require something that would yield the most dynamic cylinder pressure. Something with 112LSA for least amount of overlap and shorter duration are recommended. Question is, what cam would be best? Looking to avoid CompCams. Thanks in advance!
Before you get a new cam look to make sure your compression will support the new cam. I would jump my compression to about 9:1 or 9.5:1 with a set of new pistons. A complete rebuild with bearings and clean bores would be suggested. Then a new cam... For the street a cam that breathes better than stock but still idles smooth would be my choice (either an RV grind or just one step above an RV grind). Something that tops out with peak power at close to 5000 rpm will give you great low end torque and decent mileage. The power will increase but your overall torque will make the car a pleasure to drive.
you can pull the heads and get them surfaced to try to get more compressions. also try to find a thinner head gasket. with 8 to 1 compression your hard pressed to get some more oompf. you chould supercharge it but that seems to be byond your indicated budget.
Not to mention that super-charging would require a strengthening of the bottom end. Milling the heads can increase compression slightly but pistons is the way to get the extra 1.5 points. A can will increase your power levels but with the low compression in these smog motors you won't get much more power unless you want to put up with a lot more rpm.
Gears will make a nice seat of the pants change real easily. Also I think you could pull the heads, mill the recommended amount off of them for a small bump and while they are off do a home port and polish on them. There are all kinds of on-line tech pages on this. I did it too my 351w that I had in my f100 and could tell a difference. While you have the heads off put you a new cam in there. Next it is tuning. Spend time learning about timing and timing advance curves. People leave a lot of horse power on the table by not fine tuning their timing advance. Call crane and a couple of others. Tell them everything you can about the car and exactly what you want and follow their suggestions. I bet you would be happy with it as a daily driver. Won't be a race car but will be plenty to have fun with clint
for about the same money as a cam kit you can buy a used 87 to 95 5.0 ho engine then swap your pan and intake flywheel and you will have about the same performance as a cam swap brad
Also remeber the 76 block has a taller deck height 8.229" as opposed to the earlier 8.206" So,short of decking the block to increase compression,or the heads which allready have small chambers 58 cc.(76 heads have 64 cc chambers)You should get pistons with more compression height to compensate for the deck height and leave the heads alone if they are indeed 58 cc.Or just find a later roller 302 as suggested.Better heads/short deck and roller cam to boot.All things considered...Yeah, the roller will be better for the same money.
Decking the block is a good thing to do if you want the decks square with the crank centerline. Then choose pistons to match the end result. But then too going with a roller block is best of all.
