5.7 Tbi Vortec tune.

[Fast355]

I built a similar 9.7:1 Vortec TBI 357 several years ago. And I've been pretty underwhelmed with it. I've got the tune pretty well sorted, but it just doesn't seem to have the power it's supposed to. I've kinda chalked it up to the heavy 5spd.

Keith, I searched your 395 cam and I'm getting:
Duration at 050 inch Lift: 196 int./206 exh
Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.431 int./0.451 exh.
...which doesn't sound too much different than the LT1 roller cam I stuck in mine.

Fast, GMPP 357 shows:
Camshaft Lift (in.): 0.473” intake / 0.473” exhaust
Camshaft Duration (@.050 in.): 215° intake / 223° exhaust
...so a fair bit more duration and a little more lift. With my stock Vortecs it will definitely need a valvespring change.

Maybe that would be a nice upgrade to try.

BTW Keith, my wife and I vacationed in Australia last year. Brisbane and the beaches for the wife and Port Lincoln with the great whites for me. Best trip I've ever had. We're planning to hit Sydney and Perth next time around for Summernats or Powercrusie. What part are you from?

F/Y car LT1 cam makes a good bit more power than the 395' cam does. I tried just about everything with my 395' cam to tet it to perform the way I wanted but ultimately to get what I wanted I had to change the cam.

You would not need to change the springs for lift but to reach the rev and power potential of that came it would be a wise thing to do especially if you have some miles on it. Drill out the pushrod holes to 1/2", swap on some LS6 springs and Comp 787 retainers and run some self aligning 1.6 full roller rockers. Would wake it up nicely.

I was recently in my old 350 yet again. Decided to roll new rod and main bearings into it due to an oil starvation/pressure problem I was having. I changed out the oil pump for a stock volume, high pressure 454 pump and corrected my windage tray oversight from the 5 qt pan change. Added a Milodon windage tray. Will let you'll know how it runs once I get the front end rebuilt, again.

[stew86MCSS396]

F/Y car LT1 cam makes a good bit more power than the 395' cam does. I tried just about everything with my 395' cam to tet it to perform the way I wanted but ultimately to get what I wanted I had to change the cam.

You would not need to change the springs for lift but to reach the rev and power potential of that came it would be a wise thing to do especially if you have some miles on it. Drill out the pushrod holes to 1/2", swap on some LS6 springs and Comp 787 retainers and run some self aligning 1.6 full roller rockers. Would wake it up nicely.

I was recently in my old 350 yet again. Decided to roll new rod and main bearings into it due to an oil starvation/pressure problem I was having. I changed out the oil pump for a stock volume, high pressure 454 pump and corrected my windage tray oversight from the 5 qt pan change. Added a Milodon windage tray. Will let you'll know how it runs once I get the front end rebuilt, again.

@Fast355 Do you know off hand if those valve springs need to be shimmed to spec out seat pressure? I purchased a set of them springs and never installed them.