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Old 02-08-2016, 12:08 AM
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Default Original 74 GTO 350 Cam Specs

This is my first post on this site; seems like there are 74 GTO fans/owners in this forum with some excellent experience and knowledge about 74's. I've had my 74 GTO since November 1973, it has about 28,000 original miles on it and the original 350 in it. It has had very little street time in the last 35-40 years, mostly resting in the garage, until about a year ago. Anyway, mostly stock, no plans for any major machining of the engine, since it is low miles and runs pretty well for a basically stock 350.

I have undone some mods I did as a kid in the 70s. Now it has the stock Pontiac intake back on, and I rebuilt the Qjet; has light springs in the distributor, so mechanical advance is all in at about 2,800 rpm; 3.08 posi rear; TH350 with TransGo shift kit; aluminum radiator; 1.65 rockers and pushrods, old headers and dual exhaust in poor shape (that will be getting replaced).

It would be helpful to know the duration specs on the stock cam as I plan for the future. I believe the stock 74 GTO has the Pontiac 483555 cam, with 269 int. /277 exh. advertised duration. I'm curious if anyone knows the duration at .050 inch lift for the stock 74 GTO 350 cam?

Thanks in advance for any insight.

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Old 02-08-2016, 12:13 AM
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All 200 HP '74 GTO 350 engines used the 9779066 cam.

Advertised duration 273/283, .407"/.407" lift, duration @ .050" 197/206.

Nice that the factory saw fit to put a fairly decent cam in the GTO 350.

to the PY Forums.

Bart

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Old 02-08-2016, 09:02 AM
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Bart, I'm not sure that's correct. I'm showing the W-coded 483555 camshaft that the OP mentions. I'd be interested in knowing if that's wrong.

Regardless, according to the original blueprint for the 555 cam, its advertised duration is 269/277 degrees, duration at 0.050-inch is 189/202 degrees, the intake centerline is at 109 degrees, and the LSA is at 111 degrees. Valve overlap is 51 degrees and valve lift with 1.5:1 ratio rockers is 0.374/0.399".

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Old 02-08-2016, 12:40 PM
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I'm going by information from Pete McCarthy's book.

Makes sense seeing the 170 HP 4-barrel 350 with the 555 cam shown in the listing.

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Old 02-08-2016, 01:54 PM
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Bart/Rocky,

Thanks for the quick replies. The info on the 48355 duration at 0.050" lift is helpful.

After getting some interior work done (sagging headliner) and the exhaust, I might look for a mild cam for the engine. It runs strong, from 2,000 rpm to 5,000, but a bit slow coming on at WOT from a stop. It has the original 7.6 #46 heads. Not looking for any racing here with this car, just a little more on the very bottom end. Do you think something like the Summit 2800 or mild XE might be appropriate and make a difference? The car is just driven on nice days, needs dependability and pleasant street manners.

Thanks again!

Dan

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Old 02-08-2016, 03:09 PM
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I'd stick a new 066 cam in it.

The Summit 2800 is also a good match.

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Old 02-08-2016, 03:13 PM
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Welcome to the forums! I can't help with your questions, but we need to see pictures of your car!

Importsmasher

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Old 02-09-2016, 01:11 AM
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Thanks for the welcome Scott.

Here are a couple of pics.

Dan
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Old 02-09-2016, 01:22 AM
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Dan,

Let us know when you pull out the original cam from your '74 GTO.

If it has an 'N' stamped on the nose it's the 066, if not it's the 555.

That will help us to solve this mystery.

Nice GTO!

Bart

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Old 02-09-2016, 01:52 AM
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Bart,

I'll check the nose of the cam and let you know what I find when I get around to the cam. I appreciate for the cam suggestions, welcome to the forum, and the comment on my car pics.

Thanks,

Dan

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Old 02-09-2016, 08:32 PM
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Here are the docs. Rocky is correct. Don't know where the @0.050" values are published though.
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Old 02-09-2016, 10:17 PM
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I like the 2800 cam in a 350. Fun, but easily streetable. It made my 400 with 066 cam seem a bit slow.

Welcome! I'm not a Ventura guy, but I'm a fan of people who run 350's. Stumbled across this thread.

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Old 02-09-2016, 11:18 PM
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Helpful input about the 2800 in a 350 and great to see positive comment about 350's; it may not have tons of displacement, but still a Pontiac blue-blood (or is that blue-paint? )

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Old 02-09-2016, 11:19 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Held for Ransom View Post
Here are the docs. Rocky is correct. Don't know where the @0.050" values are published though.
I appreciate those docs, I haven't seen the two docs with the 1974 250 vs. 350 cams. Also liked the pic with the W-coded cam.

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Old 02-10-2016, 10:27 AM
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Red,
If you decide to go with the 2800 you will like the bottom end. It is a smooth take low end power cam. I run it in a 455 with 1.65 rockers and I really like it.
I was also suggest the Crower cam saver lifters due to the pitiful oil off the self's these days. They run when I purchased mine a little over a hundred bucks from Summit Racing but well worth it.
Laters
Terry
link:: http://www.summitracing.com/search/m...aver%20lifters
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Old 02-11-2016, 01:10 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by a95toy View Post
Red,
If you decide to go with the 2800 you will like the bottom end. It is a smooth take low end power cam. I run it in a 455 with 1.65 rockers and I really like it.
I was also suggest the Crower cam saver lifters due to the pitiful oil off the self's these days. They run when I purchased mine a little over a hundred bucks from Summit Racing but well worth it.
Laters
Terry
link:: http://www.summitracing.com/search/m...aver%20lifters
Terry,
Appreciate hearing your experience with the 2800 and the suggestion about the Crower cam saver lifters, never heard that suggestion before.

Dan

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Old 02-11-2016, 01:36 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Red74Goat View Post
Helpful input about the 2800 in a 350 and great to see positive comment about 350's; it may not have tons of displacement, but still a Pontiac blue-blood (or is that blue-paint? )
And the lift is sedate enough that you can run it with press in rocker studs with little fear that you will start pulling one out. I buzzed my .030 over 350 with stock bottom end and press in studs to 5k rpm shift points. I had 25+ quarter mile blasts and a few thousand street miles before parking that engine and moving to a hotter setup. It was most definitely low dollar fun.

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Old 02-11-2016, 02:37 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Squidward View Post
And the lift is sedate enough that you can run it with press in rocker studs with little fear that you will start pulling one out. I buzzed my .030 over 350 with stock bottom end and press in studs to 5k rpm shift points. I had 25+ quarter mile blasts and a few thousand street miles before parking that engine and moving to a hotter setup. It was most definitely low dollar fun.
Squid,
That's good to hear about the performance increase you experienced. The good thing about the 74 GTO 350 with the #46 heads, is they come with screwed in studs.

Dan

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Old 02-11-2016, 09:31 AM
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Dan,
I just wanted to pass along that info since there are a few people out there today that really don't know about today's motor oil. I have ran both the summit cams with the normal flat tappet lifters and the Crower cam savers.
There is a distinct difference in wear between the 2 lifters. We 74 GTO owners have to stick together there isn't much out there for our rides unless you convert a few items to the Nova. The thing is our GTO's even came with different size tie rods which today are getting hard to find and expensive when you do find them.... I hope that info helps on the cams and do pay attention to the oil today. Even the Shell Rotella has removed alot of the additives for flat tappet cams due to the more strengent rules of the EPA... Of course in July If SEMA isn't able to block they are banning converting orginal highway driven cars with full emissions into race cars with modified or removed emssion equipment..
If they have their way our good old days of racing will be in the past!!!!
laters
Terry

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Old 10-01-2018, 09:12 AM
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Digging up an old thread.

I'd like to change the cam in my own 74 GTO 350. Understand they have pistons without valve reliefs. Given that, how much lift can one safely run?

Thanks,

Stuart

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