[Speargun]

I need to make a correction to my statements above.

The cam I have is the 702 and NOT a 703.
They say something is the first to go as you get older, but I can't remember what it is....

On another note: I installed the TCI 2400 converter last week & it seems to be a good match. No hard clunking into gear or surging sitting at a light. (Idles around 800 rpm)
Foot braking like I was staging @ the starting line will over power the 4 wheel disks & push the car forward around 1500 rpm.
Vacuum is 14" @ idle in gear & 20"+ at cruise.

[Burningbird]

The 389 is finally alive! Breaking in the cam went fine even with 135lbs seat pressure. The idle is a little rough at 800rpm but not extreme. Rpm in gear is 550rpm and vacuum is 14in/hg in Neutral/Park. The cam works fine and pulls great between 2500-5000+rpm. Works good from 1500rpm but dosen't like to bog down below 1100pm in 4th gear. Initial timing is 12° haven't checked total timing yet. The exhaust was a little to loud for my taste with ported logs (2.2" outlets), Pypes 2.5" downpipes, 2.5" Cherry Bomb Vortex and 2" tail pipes. I have a few issues to work out before I take her out for a longer test drive but I'm pleased so far!

[Steve C.]

For interest consider removing a few springs and measure the amount of loss from the initial run in.



.

[Burningbird]

After some more testing, adjusting the carb and backed of the timing some I don't know if this cam will work with the old Hydramatic transmission. To get smooth engagement when shifting to drive or reverse the idle in park/neutral needs to be below 800rpm. The idle in gear then gets below 500rpm with the engine running rough with only 6" of vacuum (14" in neutral @800rpm). With a TH350 and 2500 stall converter this would not be a problem but the converter in the Hydramatic is really tight. I don't know how much Rhoads lifters would help? I really like the Voodoo 703 but I should probably have gone with the 702 or Crower 60916 with this transmission.

[Burningbird]

Originally Posted by Steve C.

For interest consider removing a few springs and measure the amount of loss from the initial run in.



.

Steve, if I end up with changing the cam I will remove a couple of springs and measure the spring pressure.

[Jay S]

You have made a lot of progress.

500 rpm is a pretty low idle in a 389 with the 703. That would take some pretty good tuning to make it responsive. A set of Rhoads vmax or vpro the 500 rpm should not be an issue if you set them right. We have made bigger cams than the 703 idle like 2 bbl cams with Vmax Rhoads. An original Rhoads may do it too, but they do not have any adjustment.