What Size Cam is in a Stock Chevy 350

Last updated on January 27th, 2024

The heart of a car is the engine while the camshaft can be likened to the veins that carry blood to the heart.

The camshaft supplies fuel to the car and gives way for the expulsion of exhaust fumes.

The energy produced by the rotation of the camshaft opens up the valves and causes gasoline to enter the cylinders.

Does the size of a cam determine its efficiency? Big or small, what size of the camshaft is better? Size has nothing to do with how better a Cam will be.

You will find answers to these and many more as you read through the article.

What are the Specs of a Stock Cam 350?

A perfect camshaft will allow for improved engine performance. A costly camshaft does not define a perfect camshaft. A high-ended features camshaft does not define it too.

Instead, the RPM operating range is the most important factor in considering a perfect camshaft. The ideal range for a camshaft RPM is between 2000-6500.

The intake and the exhaust lobe’s angle should be properly set to prevent choppiness when the car isn’t moving.

107-108 degrees is the most appropriate degree lobes to be set to prevent the camshaft from messing up.

The valve lift should be approximately set between .479 to .480 to prevent a lopey idle.

The duration at .479 to .480 should stay between 279 – 297 degrees while the duration at .050″ should stay between 227 and 257 degrees.

The popular Chevy 350 was released by GM more than 50 years ago. It became popular in markets shortly after its production.

Camshaft Spec

There are two main parts in the Chevy 350 current engine. A hydraulic camshaft and a hydraulic lifter.

The intake duration and exhaust duration are at 218 seconds and 0.5rpmn each. The intake and exhaust valves have a lift capacity of 0.457 inches with a total duration of 268 seconds.

For the lobe center-line specs, the intake valve and exhaust engine valves are 105 and 110 degrees respectively.

Lastly, the ratio of rockers for the arm is 1.5.

Camshaft Size Requirement

Even the same Cam model has several variations therefore knowing the size requirement is important.

A 4-Cylinder engine will come with 4 piston rings and in the same light, a 2-Cylinder engine comes with 2 piston rings. The 2 piston rings come with a bore of 4″ and a displacement of 350 cubic inches.

One of the piston rings comes with a compression ratio of 3.9″ to 0.622″. The height of both pistons is the same, they are 1.56″ tall.

The minimum intake diameter measurement of the cylinder head is 1.94″ while the minimum exhaust diameter measurement of the cylinder head is 1.5″.

The connecting rod stroke measurement is 3.48″ with the length measuring 5.7″.

Camshaft Torque Requirements

The Torque specification needs to match the size specification. Timing is important to camshafts. Three bolts are connected to the timing chain of a camshaft.

One of the three-bolt features a 20-foot-pound torque. This bolt is on the rod that connects the pistons to the crankshaft.

The second bolt features a 45 foot-pounds torque while the last bolt features a 75-foot-pound torque.

What are the best Cam types for Chevy 350?

To ensure high performance, you can get any of the under-listed Chevy 350 Cam Spec

• COMP Cams CL-12-600-4

This Cam-type features a 2000-5800 RPM Operating range, 227/241 duration at .0.050. It can fall in the category of one of the best Cam for Chevy 350 because of its hard heating exhaust note.

• COMP Cams 12-602-4 Big Mutha

This Cam-type comes with a noticeable feature of a 9.5:1 compression ratio, more than 2800″ tall. A duration of 243/257 at 0.50 inches. An inch lift of .486/.500 and an RPM range of 2200 – 6100.

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This Cam-type comes with a noticeable feature of a 9.5:1 compression ratio, more than 2800″ tall. A duration of 243/257 at 0.50 inches. An inch lift of .486/.500 and an RPM range of 2200 – 6100.

This Cam-type falls in this category because of its high RPM ranges. With an RPM range of 2000 to 6500, it has a higher RPM range than the aforementioned two. Its lobe separation angle is 108 degrees, 282-degree duration, 227/241 duration at 0.500″ and 0.480 valve lift features.

What is the Biggest Cam for Stock 350?

The biggest Cam for Stock 350 is the COMP Cams CL-12-600-4. It is a Thumpr 227/241 hydraulic flat Cam and it is considered to fit into the biggest Cam description.

Some Camshafts Examples with their Specifications

COMP Cams CL12-246-3 Xtreme Energy 230/236

• RPM Range: 1800-6000
• Lifter Type: Hydraulic Flat Tappet
• Internal Duration Advertised (Deg): 274
• Exhaust Duration @ .050 in. (Deg): 236
• Exhaust Duration Advertised (Deg): 286
• Internal Duration @ .050 in. (Deg): 230
• Lobe Separation (Deg): 110
• Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.490 int./0.490 exh.
• Advertised Duration: 274 int./286 exh.
• Duration at 050-inch Lift: 230 int./236 exh.
• Basic Operating RPM Range: 1,800-6,000
• Exhaust Valve Lift: 0.49 in (12.446 mm)
• Intake Valve Lift: 0.487 in (12.37 mm)

COMP Cams 12-601-4 Mutha

• RPM Range: 2200-6100
• Lobe Separation (Deg) : 107
• Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.489 int./0.476 exh.
• Advertised Duration: 287 int./305 exh.
• Cam Style: Hydraulic flat tappet
• Duration at 050-inch Lift: 235 int./249 exh.
• Basic Operating RPM Range: 2,200-6,100

SBC Erson Cam & Lifter Kit, Hydraulic Flat Tappet

• Brand: Erson Cams
• Cam Type: Hydraulic Flat Tappet
• Duration @ .050: 234”/244”
• Duration Advertised: 300/310
• Gross Lift: .488″/.510″
• Lobe Center: 112
• RPM Range: 2500-5600

Erson SBC Hyd Cam&Lifter 

• Style: Hydraulic Flat Tappet
• Gross Lift : .488″/.488″
• Intake: 292
• Exhaust: 300
• Intake @ .050: 232
• Exhaust @ .050: 234
• Lobe Center: 108
• RPM: 2200-5600

Elgin E-1840-P Camshaft (Performance)

• Duration @ 0.006″:258° / 264°
• Duration @ 0.050″:206° / 212°
• Max Lift w/ 1.5RR:.480″ / .487″
• Lobe Separation: 110°
• Intake Centerline: 106°
• Bore: 4.040″
• Stroke: 3.480″
• Max Torque: 413 ft*lbs @ 3700 RPM
• Max Power: 325 HP @ 4400 RPM

Elgin, Hydraulic Flat Tappet Camshaft & Lifter Set

• Part Type: Camshaft & Lifter Set
• Cam Style: Hydraulic Flat Tappet
• Basic RPM Range: 2000-4800
• Intake Duration @ .050″: 224
• Exhaust Duration @ .050″: 234
• Intake Duration (@ .006″): 298
• Exhaust Duration (@ .006″): 304
• Gross Lift: .466″/.487″
• Intake Lobe Lift: .311″
• Exhaust Lobe Lift: .325″
• Lobe Separation Angle: 114 Degrees
• Intake Centerline: 109 Degrees

Elgin, Hydraulic Flat Tappet Camshaft

• Part Type: Camshaft
• Cam Style: Hydraulic Flat Tappet
• Basic RPM Range: 2000-4800
• Intake Duration @ .050″: 224
• Exhaust Duration @ .050″: 224
• Advertised Intake Duration (@ .006″): 298
• Advertised Exhaust Duration (@ .006″): 298
• Gross Valve Lift with OE Rocker Ratio (1.50): .466″/466″
• Intake Lobe Lift: .297″
• Exhaust Lobe Lift: .297″
• Lobe Separation Angle: 114 Degrees
• Intake Centerline: 110 Degrees

Final Words

We hope that this article has been able to answer your questions as regards the Camshaft of a Stock Chevy 350 and most especially give you an answer to the “what size cam is in a stock Chevy 350” question.

Once you know what your horsepower engine requirements are, you are free to choose from one of the above-listed Camshafts.

In case, you have a larger engine or you like to make a choice based on the level of compression of your engine, you will be able to make a choice that suits your car’s needs.

Go ahead with all of the information in this article and choose for your car a suitable camshaft for it.