Well i got a few questions for some of you experienced engine builders... Heres the delema i bought some new vortec heads for my new engine build and i am not sure what cam would work best with them??? And what would be the best intake for the combo the heads are bone stock vortec heads 1.94 intake & 1.5 exhaust valve .500 lift springs... i was looking on ebay for a good intake the edelbrock intakes are a little more expensive than the weiand intakes... there are those really cheap professional products intakes that are well cheap... i am kinda leaning towards the weiand intakes for price & quality but what cam???? so please tell me your thoughts and any advice will be much appreciated.... i almost forgot the block is a two bolt main so i want to stay somewhat conservative i am shooting for 300 to 330 hp as to not beat the bottom end to much...

Well if all you have so far are the heads and block, so far you are doing good. You do realise that the Vortec heads have a different bolt pattern on the intake side and needs an intake specific to them don't you? But like I said , good choices so far and the two bolt block is fine up to the 500 hp range---if you are concerned about the two bolts you can use some ARP studs for added strength---if it were me I would order a 383 rotating assembly from one of the usual places like P.A.W. or speedomotive, try to get the compression in the 9.5 -10.0 range so you can run it on pump gas easily and get a cam in the 280 degree at .050 range with about .480 lift and go play with it....probably the only thing I would do different than that would be to find a late model block with the one piece rear seal and set up for a roller cam.................Dan

I agree with the old coot on the roller cam...if the block your using has the capablity to install the spider plate go with the OEM hyd roller cam setup. You can purchase a GM Performance Parts roller cam in the 300-330 hp range your looking to achieve. Invest a few bucks and go to a Chevy dealer and pick up a GM Performance Parts catalog.

If your running stock Vortec heads, check valve stem seal to valve spring retainer clearance. That .480 lift cam is right on the verge of making contact in this area. A good idea would be to have the valve guide height machined down for extra clearance.

I have roughly the same setup you've got. I used a COMP Cams camshaft (part # 12-238-2) with .462 / .469 lift and 262 / 270 duration. Check out the Hell Camino Homepage link below for more info.

Steve thats one nice elky i wish i had the skill to do the body work & paint on mine... i was told the block came out of a 91 van with 110,000 miles on it tore the old crappy 193 castings off.. and bought some vortec heads that are already re machined and ready to bolt on... so i don't want to pay for any more machine work i am thinking about a .470 lift cam i think the block is a roller block but not sure. i did look at roller cams and they are a lot more expensive than a flat tappet i know they are better but they are a little over my budget i am in the air force and low ranking so not a whole lot of cash to play with... i am getting all new bearings & rings an going to have the block honed it don't need bored there isn't even the slightest ring in any of the cylinders my dad is going to hone the block for me so i don't have to pay for that...lol

there is also kits that i have seen that will allow .550 lift springs to be put on vortec heads without ant machine work but i haven't talked to any one that tried one of the kits so i am kinda skeptical if the kits are any good... i know the intake i will be using has a power band from idle to 5500 RPM i am just not sure what is the best cam in that power band i am kinda cam stupid....lol

Yes the 91 short block should be the roller cammed and 1 piece rear seal block so you are ok there---if it came with the flexplate you should be ok there also but if not you will need one with the smaller base cirle to match up with the tranny in your ElCamino now. If its not in yur budget to replace your roller cam with a better one, keep what you have---even a stock roller cam is far better and more reliable than a flat tappet cam---don't take a step backwards you will regret it...save up until you can get a proper replacement or stay with what you have,,,due to the loss of zinc from motor oil a large number of flat tappet cams never even make it through breakin and all those metal filings they make end up in the bearings and take the rest of the engine with it---just not worth the risk anymore................Dan