I have a 292 that was rebuild by previous own about 15k ago runs great but I would like to put a cam in it more for the sound at cruise night than a lot of power (I don't try and race it). It has a E intake with a holley 4160 carb 390cfm FOM and duel exhaust, but no headers.  I have been looking at 2 cams that mummert has.  A y265s and a y270s which is ok with a fom but also calls for headers.  My ? is whats the downside of using the y270 with out the headers? also the cam bearings and lifters were new 15k ago, Do I need to also replace them?

The ’57 exhaust manifolds with a free flowing exhaust system are as good as some of the two tube headers you can get.  Much depends upon your vehicle and what header design your chassis can stand.  Asking if you can reuse the lifters is a loaded question though.  While it’s not good practice to use used lifters on a new camshaft, it can be done assuming the valve spring pressures are not on the extra stiff side.  Scrutinize the camshaft you pull for any lobe damage as any lobes that don’t look good will have lifters not suitable for reuse.  And be sure to put extra lube on the new camshaft lobes and break the cam and lifters in properly (quick start, fast idle, etc.).

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)