I've discovered that my XE262H cam (218/224 @ .050", 110 LSA) in my 305 seems to run best when dialed in at 104 degrees on the intake centerline. I've tried 100 degrees and 108 degrees, and neither seems to offer a good balance of top-end and low-end torque.

I know Comp Cams recommends a 106 degree ICL, but if all things stay constant, will a given cam want more cam advance in a smaller displacement engine?

In other words, if this cam were to be installed in a 350 or a 383, would I find that it performs best at 106 or even 108 degrees on the intake centerline?

I've been running engine simulations on my 385, and the simulation sems to point that the 230/236 roller cam will peak at 110 degrees on the intake centerline. Since the 305 engine simulation seems to point to 104 degrees as optimal (confirmed through my real world tests) I tend to trust it. I'm using Desktop Dyno2000.

 

Lobe center/seperation is really one of the least understood facets of cam dynamics.
Lobe Seperation comes from averaging Ex lobe center and intake lobe center. Ie: (EXLC+INLC)/2
Without getting too technical - the longer an engines stroke the less lobe seperation it [I]tends[I] to like.
The Lobe seperation is ultimately ground into the cam, uou can effect this number by timing the cam, but you need to be conservative in that you are also effecting the duration numbers at the same time.

Obviously these numbers are effected by the rest of the combonation... but its a good general rule of thumb.