Your wife will probably want to shoot me for recommending that you get a mild hydraulic roller cam, maybe 220°-ish intake duration at 0.050". But it'll be more likely to survive with most current oil formulations (and might actually end up being cheaper in the long run vs wiping a lobe on a flat-tappet cam and having to go through the whole business a third or fourth time). It'll give you a wider powerband - a little better top end for any given amount of low end torque.


Norm

 

Regarding the gaskets, couldn't agree more..I went with mid-range Felpro on the rebuild last winter and will pop for top of the line this time around...With respect to to the roller cam, that too I agree as I thought I wiped a lobe this time, based on some of the symptoms I was having...Need to budget for that one as well...Though she's only a 289, I'm looking for 325-375 HP with an agressive sound..I knew I wouldn't get those HP #'S from my current configuration, but I did expect more...