[ERIC17621]

OK, here is the deal. I had the engine out of my GTO to fix an oil leak, but when I pulled off the oil pan, I found part of a piston skirt on the bottom of the pan! So, looks like I will end up rebuilding the engine. While I am at it, I plan on making at few upgrades as well.

So, my plans are basically to replace the pistons with some forged and dished pistons. Keep the Crank and Rods assuming magnaflux checks out, hopefully only a minimal amount of machine work, and I’ll get the valves done. While I am in there though, I want to replace the cam with something a little bit peppier, which is where I am hoping to get a few opinions.

My combo. Original 1965 389, stock crank and rods, Tri-power converted to progressive linkage, orig. ST-300 2 speed Transmission, 3.55 safe-t-track rear end, and 77 heads w/ 1.92/1.60 valves, and pressed in studs.

Now I know that there are better heads out there, but I do want to keep the original setup at least at this point. I plan on getting a valve job, and probably convert the pressed in studs to screw in style. Not sure about the valves though. Will a bigger valve fit, and if so, how much bigger?

Now, for the cam questions. I am thinking about a few different setups, and was wondering about a ram air IV cam (230/240 .469"/.469"), with Rhoads lifters. Obviously with the 1.76 first gear ratio of the ST-300, and 3.55 rear, stock torque converter, I need to develop some low-end power to get moving. And yeah, a ram air IV in a 389 is not the cam to develop low-end power. But I do not know how much difference the Rhoads lifters would make in the combination, or if it would be enough.

So, what do you think? If it's the wrong cam, and wrong setup, what do you think may be more suitable? Any other recommendations you can give me while I’m rebuilding??