[ronj1977]

i have been thinking about switching to the 2802 cam i currently run the 2801 in my stock bottom end '76 400 i have a 4 speed, #62 heads,headers, 3.23 rear gear if i switch to the 2802 will i need to do anything with my valve train i have been running the 2801 for about 5,000 miles great low end tourqe but gets cammed out quickly with a 4 speed i think i probably could use less tourqe and more top end ? What do you guys think would there be a noticsble difference in performance.

[David Jones]

Stock bottom end?

[ronj1977]

stock 76 chamferd pistons,crank and no overbore

[b-man]

You should be able to use the same springs with either cam, provided they have the proper specs in first place for the 2801. The valve lift increase isn't enough to require any changes to the valvetrain if already properly set up using straight 7/16" studs and polylocks.

Should be a nice combo with the cam swap, definitely will see an improvement.

[ronj1977]

when i got new cam i also got new springs sugested by summit used the stock rocker arms as well stock studs. would i need to do any thing with springs # 996 i believe

[b-man]

Springs should be okay.

However I would highly recommend upgrading to 7/16" straight studs and polylocks for the sake of reliability.

[ronj1977]

no machining of the head is required
Would this upgrade be significant you think from the 2801

[b-man]

Significant performance improvement over the 2801?

I'd say about a 25 HP gain is to be had with the 2802.

Useable RPM range should be extended by about 500.

[David Jones]

Redline? 5300-5400?

[b-man]

Originally Posted by David Jones

Redline? 5300-5400?

Sounds about right, good shift point for a stock 400 bottom end and that cam. Up to 5500 would be fine.

[ronj1977]

My current set up is fine just have a small detonation issue if I don't back off timing a pinch.currently it just blows up the tires and is all done quickly

[Blued and Painted]

If your up around 10+ to 1, i think its a good move.

[Young Pontiac Guy]

Just did this last year:
Useable RPM range moves up about 500rpm or so. Where the power comes on moves up as well. Used to come on really strong about 2200rpm and fry the tires in 1st. Will still do so but only if I make it do so. Cam comes on REALLY strong at about 2750rpm or so. This should get rid of detonation though as it bleeds off some of the dynamic compression (ask Cliff, he will explain).

I shift at like 5000rpm- I think the rev limiter is set at 5200rpm on the Pertronix. Will be bumping this up this year. Stock bottom end, all rebuilt.

Car has a 2.56 gear but in process of changing to 308 so will be very much like yours.

[Young Pontiac Guy]

In addition:
Car will pull at least beyond 5200rpm. If I had to guess where it starts leveling off: I would say around 5600rpm or so.
2801 seemed to be all done around 5000rpm or so. Could go beyond but not gaining much beyond that.
Hope this helps
Joel

[Young Pontiac Guy]

OK, seriously sucking at posting today.
670 heads on my bird, 400.

[ronj1977]

I'm running an older Saginaw 4-speed haven't really beaten it yet but it's done good so far the car would be much faster but I shift like I'm rowing a boat. Toms go up them down

[Young Pontiac Guy]

I run a Saginaw as well. 3.51 1st gear.
If you go to my Youtube channel you can see the abuse I give it.
I dont speed shift it however, which I think helps it survive.
Joel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLQeY1gttco

[PONTIAC LARRY]

If you had your valve adjustment stock on those stock studs and nuts in may have been flattening out premature at 5000 ish, you need to do the BBC style 7/16 studs and lash out at zero with Chevy nuts or poly locks the 2801 in a decent compression 400 like yours (9.5:1 or less) should pull to 5600-5700 easily. The2802 will soften up the bottom end but can pull past 6000 making power in the 400 so it will need ot rev to show the gains but with a stock block you may want to limit shifts to 5800..

[2002Z4CSS]

Originally Posted by PONTIAC LARRY

If you had your valve adjustment stock on those stock studs and nuts in may have been flattening out premature at 5000 ish, you need to do the BBC style 7/16 studs and lash out at zero with Chevy nuts or poly locks the 2801 in a decent compression 400 like yours (9.5:1 or less) should pull to 5600-5700 easily. The2802 will soften up the bottom end but can pull past 6000 making power in the 400 so it will need ot rev to show the gains but with a stock block you may want to limit shifts to 5800..

I have a Melling cam in my GT-37's 400 that is the equilivent of the Summit 2801 cam. I also had to use the Chevy rocker arm nuts since the cam base circle must be larger than the stock GM cam and at the proper torque of the rocker arm nuts it was keeping the valves a bit open and too tight.

[cttempest]

Originally Posted by Young Pontiac Guy

I run a Saginaw as well. 3.51 1st gear.
If you go to my Youtube channel you can see the abuse I give it.
I dont speed shift it however, which I think helps it survive.
Joel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLQeY1gttco

Cool car,sounds awesome