John, I read your posts on the other forum to the guy who is building the 312.  I am building a 312 to go in a '55 with a FOM.  This will be a driver that I would like to leave brand X at the traffic light. I have been leaning toward the 265S cam from Mummert (265 degrees advertised  224 @ .050"  110 separation .288" lobe lift  .440" lift).  I have some questions.  1) I have a set of ECZ-C heads.  Would I be better off using 113's with the bigger intake valves?  2) Would I gain anything by porting either head?  3) The block will be "zero decked".  Should I mill anything off the heads?  If so, how much can I mill without having to cut the intake?  4) Is this a good cam, or should I look at something more aggressive?  Sorry to be so full of questions (and other stuff according to my wife) and thanks for any and all help.     Butch

Butch Lawson

Manchester,  TN

Butch:

Taking your questions in order:  Many don't agree, but I feel the C head intake valve is big enough for street use.  The exhaust side can benefit from a larger valve and opening up of the exhaust ports.  Remove most of the "hump" around the valve guide without shortening the guide itself.  Clean up both bowls, think in terms of the air flow direction and remove ledges and ridges that can obstruct flow.  Do not polish the intake ports, leave them in as-cast condition to help prevent fuel separation from the air stream.  Do not grind away the short side radius on either port.  The 113 heads won't particularly hurt you, but if you don't already have them, it would be hard to justify the expense of buying a pair for your application.  You can probably mill about .030 without milling the intake surface, mostly because the engine was designed for steel shim gaskets and you will be using composition gaskets.  The cam would be a good street cam to get a fairly heavy car moving quickly from the light.  I'm sure you know you need to take off in LO for maximum acceleration, if you leave the shifter in DR you will probably be taking off in 2nd gear.  You probably have a 3.22 rear gear, if you can find a stick shift 3.78 gear it will help a lot, and if the stick can run highway speeds with the 3.78 the automatic can.  However, if you are used to a modern car with an OD transmission, it will sound to you like it's running in 2nd.

John

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Not at all, Henry.  I just don't want to be sluggish and be the last one to be able to leave when the light changes.  I take enough ribbing because I dont want one of their small blocks.  Just want to show them that I can keep up with a Y block.  Thanks for your help John.  I'm comfortable now that the direction I want to go is the right one.

Butch Lawson

Manchester,  TN

Henry and Butch:

He asked me about making his Y Block better, not if I judged his intended use.  Butch, I did miss one point.  Do not use the '55 distributor with your new engine, get a '57 or later so you have both mechanical and vacuum advance.

John

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"