Need help picking a (new) camshaft

Folks,

I need help picking out a better cam. Last time I ignored every piece of sage advice and went with something far too big and wound up with a street machine that's just a pain to drive... it wont idle below 900 and has way too much rumpity-rump. So I'm looking for suggestions. Goal is a good sleeper street machine with lotsa go when I hit the gas. Remember, this machine will likely never see the strip!! Here's the current specs:

Engine is a 351w stroked to 393.
95 351w block + scat 3.85 stroker crank
kb364s (22cc dish); for a 9.7:1 compression

Current cam:
comp cams xe 282hr hyd roller (.565/.564 lift, duration = 232/240).
Cam Style: Hydraulic roller tappet
Basic Operating RPM Range: 2,600-6,500
Intake Duration at 050 inch Lift: 232
Exhaust Duration at 050 inch Lift: 240
Duration at 050 inch Lift: 232 int./240 exh.
Advertised Intake Duration: 282
Advertised Exhaust Duration: 290
Advertised Duration: 282 int./290 exh.
Intake Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.565 in.
Exhaust Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.574 in.
Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.565 int./0.574 exh. lift
Lobe Separation (degrees): 112
Intake Valve Lash: 0.000 in.
Exhaust Valve Lash: 0.000 in.
Computer Controlled Compatible: Yes
Grind Number: FW XE282HR-12

Hydraulic Roller lifters
Scorpion roller rockers
Weiand stealth intake
AFR 185s w/uprated springs; 2.02 Intake, 1.6 exhaust PN 1388 w/58cc combustion chamber
heddman 1-5/8 swap hedders.
G-force synchro T5 kit w/steel retainer.
Holley 650 CFM double pumper. (But I'm thinking of reverting to an autolite 4100 off an old 390.)

Everything in the short block has been balanced and assembled by one of the best machine shops in town.

Any ideas or advice?
[addsig]

to me, that cam seems mild enough for a street 393...there is a chance you have tuning problem that's hurting driveability moreso than the cam.

Have you checked for a big vacuum leak? It's hard for me to believe that with those heads, dual plane intake, and small carb (for a 393) you have a low end power problem. I think there are others here who run that cam. How did you install the cam?

The listed operating range of the cam should either be for a 302 or 351w. You must remember that you have the stroke of a 460 big block ford now! That rpm range will be lower with a 393w.

Never said I had a low end power problem... I said I had poor idle and too much rumpity-rump.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: rnourse on 5/22/07 6:50am ]</font>

I'd say something with around 220/230 duration (in/exh) would be enough of a difference to smooth out your idle quite a bit without loosing significant top-end power (and probably making a lot more power under-the-curve). Even if you went as small as 210/220, it would probably still pull really well to 5500rpm or so, with gobs of off-idle torque and a very smooth 700rpm idle.
[addsig]

I once ran the comp 268 had a great idle sounded good and ran even better, BUT Im with everyone here and think you have other issues as that cam should NOT be a problem with that set up at all
[addsig]

Curious why you're considering the 4100 autolite carb?

Actually, the autolite 4100 is a great carb for the application (esp since it's stricty street).

I have a 1.12 venturi 4 BBL model off a t-bird which had a 390 in it. In truth, I've actually got about 4 of these. I've upgraded the pickup, pump and fuel line (3/8"), increased the jet size slightly and the only problem I'm having is that its running too rich all across the board.

They're dead simple. The thing takes 30 minutes to rebuild, all work can be done right on the car and it can even be run with the float bowls open. Whats even better is that they're 'set and forget'... once done theres almost never a need to go back and adjust.

The carb is trivial... I can play with that and switch back and forth in 10 minutes. The cam is gonna take some work.
[addsig]

does the holley have the four corner idle circuit?

get a custom cam ground.......a 393 is a custom engine get a custom cam. The xe282hr from what I know does idle at 900. For an off the shelf cam the xe274hr would idle much better and make great power but you can get a custom cam made that will make as much power and more down low and mid and idle at 650 smoothly for about 150.00-200.00 more than an off the shelf cam. Any type of efi even Holley TBI would smooth out you cam as well.

Read up see "wicked windsor in a box" part 1 and 2 those cam specs would be about perfect........http://www.popularhotrodding.com/eng...rd/smallblock/