I Have My Eye On A 400...

IF you were going to switch to the Rhoads lifters, you want to do it as soon as possible.
The more you run this engine, the less chance there will be for a successful 2nd break-in.
I use side cut-out valve covers for this - so you can see if the push rods are spinning.
If the push rods are spinning, then the lifters are most certainly spinning.
It is when they stop spinning that the camshaft and lifters fail and become a lathe.

cam lobe lifter contact.jpg cl2.jpg lifter1.jpg New cam with used lifters.PNG
 
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So, I have an update. I picked up the engine today.

I got the dyno sheet and very little more information on the engine. It seems to have NO low end.

DB31C822-044D-45FE-8557-433BC8D686DC.jpeg 3202DEEE-FD66-4E79-9434-68C27C04091C.jpeg
 
I’m definitely worried the cam is too big.

My feeling is: throw it in the car and then decide.

A small nagging voice: install cam that suits you while it’s still on a stand.
 
"throw it in the car and then decide."

is not a big deal, either way you go,
and yeah you could install a milder flat tappet cam,
or even a hydraulic roller cam either choice would make the car a bit easier to drive,
and probably give a boost in lower and mid rpm performance
but its not all that difficult to do later in the Vette either.
Ive used a crane hydraulic roller in my car for 15 plus years and like it.
crane119661.png

but a flat tappet cam like this would be far cheaper and match your goals, especially with a new set of Rhodes lifters
https://cranecams.com/powermax-hydr...lifter-kit-for-chevrolet-262-400-small-block/
 
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Thanks.

the way it’s canned right now doesn’t strike me as mild. I’m curious about my vacuum and power brakes. Not to mention headlights and wiper door.

Hmm

That recommended 38 degrees mechanical intrigues me. That seems a lot.
 
With my T5 transmission, I cruise around 1500-1800 rpm at 60-70 mph.

Would I be jeopardizing that ?
 
With the current cam, cruising around 1500-1800 rpm at 60-70 mph.
is unlikely to go very well,
you'll either change your driving style to keep the engine rpms higher or need to swap cams,
keep in mind you don,t want to totally neuter the power and your compression will require more than stock duration to bleed some cylinder pressure off at lower rpms

why not call a few cam company tech lines and get their input here?
crane (386)310-4875

crower 619.661.6477
https://www.crower.com/camshafts.html?cat=854


erson 800-641-7920
http://www.pbm-erson.com/UserFiles/Documents/Catalogs/2013 erson catalog.pdf


lunati..662-892-1500
http://www.lunatipower.com/Performance-Cams.aspx


ISKY 323.770.0930

clay smith 714-523-0530

herbert cams 714-491 -2267
 
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