Getting ready to install cam kit

[JMcTurnan]

Well man, yea I know. I have to have my truck running right now because my sisters power steering went out and her car is knocking. I'm going to put a stock melling cam in it. It's 100 bucks and I can use everything I got. I'm not sure of the cam I got, I have the book on the boat/motor, but it does not state. Let me do a search. It's a 1977 Omc 351w, 235hp version.

[JMcTurnan]

I cant find an rpm all i got is,
Lobe Lift(Intake) .260 inches, Lobe lift(exhaust) .278inches

[JMcTurnan]

Ok this is what I found, my idle is 500-600 rpm, or thats what it should be.

[DuckRyder]

I cant find an rpm all i got is,
Lobe Lift(Intake) .260 inches, Lobe lift(exhaust) .278inches

If that is the OMC cam then the performer (or summits version) wouldn't be far off.

http://static.summitracing.com/global/i ... for351.pdf

[JMcTurnan]

Alright thanks, sorry I couldnt give much more info. I have a couple books and thats all I could find.

[JMcTurnan]

So then if I get the summit cam, my engine will run about as strong as it did right? Plus i have a double roller timing gear set up off an 89 mustang 302, will that still work on it. This is the cam I was lookingfor on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... MEWAX%3AIT
Is that about he same?

[JMcTurnan]

This is that same melling on summit
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MEL-MTF-5/
Duration is slightly greater on melling, and the lobe seperation is slightly smaller on melling than the summit cam. What do those affect.
And camshaft bearings, are those pretty much standard to all 351w engines? I'm not replacing them, so would a new cam affect anything? Like would they be larger or smaller than what they should be for the cam? Or do pretty much all bearings fit all cams.

[DuckRyder]

That looks like exactly the same specs as the Edelbrock (I think perhaps summit mixed up the intake centerline and separation numbers.)

http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_new ... 0/2182.pdf (last page)

http://www.mellingengine.com/Portals/5/ ... ations.pdf (page 7)

351 cam bearings should all have the same specifications.

Separation can affect power-band and idle quality, lift flow, in this case the cams appear identical.

[JMcTurnan]

Well thank you duckryder, you have been most helpful. I saved me an extra 100 bucks. Because if i bought the edelbrock cam i woulda needed their timing set. And the guy on ebay is great because 100 bucks for that cam kit. Thanks man, you helped so much.

[JMcTurnan]

Ill pick it up today than.

[DuckRyder]

You are welcome,

The thing that bothers me about the e-bay ad is that it says he may substitute an Eglin with "similar" specs. Buyer beware in my opinion.

[JMcTurnan]

I know, elgin is an old school brand. But I contacted him, and he says he has plenty of melling in stock right now. This is also what he said behind reasong. Elgin, Melling, and Comp Cams buy their basic cams from the same place, so they are pretty much identical. But I told him, i got a melling oil pump and I want the melling cam too, he said sure thing I got many in stock.