Why pull the intake mani and valvetrain twice? Just wait the month 'till you get the lifters, then do it all at once.

New seals are a good idea since you'll have the springs off anyways. Your stock timing gearset will work, yes, but with 102k on the clock, and the new cam, it's gonna probably be just a matter of time before it goes bad. Again, you've already got it apart for the cam, maybe you can find a good LT4 severe duty set here on the boards, or check eBay. Pulling that front cover sucks, I wouldn't want to do it twice if I could avoid it. Usually LT4 sets are in the $100-$150 range. If you break your old timing chain with your nice new high-lift cam you may hit the pistons with the valves...not good

Given the choice I would do the 305. Mileage depends more on your right foot than anything else. You'll probably find the car is so much more fun to drive, you'll be more heavy footed. Do the tune asap, it will really unlock the power potential from the cam.
Good luck!

 

I wouldn't buy any aftermarket lifter personally unless you're doing a radical setup and buying high quality ones. stock OEM replacements are fine for 95% of the applications on this board. hell it's the same ones GM puts in 500hp $80k Z06 vettes, it'll definately be up to the task in a 350hp LT1

 

You need to read more and type less. You just wasted your money bud. You dont need anything but stock lifters. A Hotcam and springs can be had for less than what you paid for that 304.

Return that cam, read for a week or two on here then go buy the cam that fits your needs. There are hundreds of cam threads on this site.

-Dustin-

 

^+1

the hotcam, for as much flak as it catches, is actually a really good cam for a daily driver with stock heads, looking to pass emissions on a budget.

 

I said it once already, but the 304 is hardly better than stock.

If I were you, do some searching on what cam works best for what you need.

 

basically he just ordered the first cam someone posted in the thread

 

no actually you dont know what im going for bud...i wanted something thats barely bigger than stock since im doing a STOCK rebuild! and i talked to comp cams and they recommended the 305 so thats what i had my 304 switched to

 

Come on guys, cut a Marine some slack

The OP first mentioned the Comp 305, and I believe he typo'd his first post and meant to say "304 or 305", not "305 or 305" that he wrote. Whatever, I understood what he was talking about. It seems fairly obvious that he wants a mild improvement over stock. The 304, 305 or the Hot Cam all fit that criteria to slightly different degrees, but all are an improvment over stock. As far as the 304 being virtually no better than stock, here are the specs:

Stock: (All specs @ .050 lift)
Lift: .447 I, .459 E
Duration: 205* I, 207* E
LSA 117*

Copm cc304 (all specs at .050 lift)
Lift: .500 I, .510 E
Duration: 210* I, 220* E
LSA 114*

On paper, it seems that the Comp 304 would be a decent improvement over stock, which I can also personally to attest to. I used that cam myself. I installed it with a set of 1.6 RR's, and had a NOTICABLE, seat of the pants improvement in power. The car was a LOT more fun! No dyno figures, but I can assure you it made a difference. I later went to the 305 with a set of ported LT1 heads, which was even better. It sounds to me like the OP wants to do some mild upgrading over time, which is pretty much what I did before going all-out with the nitroused 383 LT4 I have now. The 304 will fit his needs, but as I said before the 305 is going to be a little bit better, and if he ever goes with some ported heads I know from past experience how well that combo works. The time in my sig was done with that combo and a 100hp shot of nitrous.

 

thanks for not being an ******* Jason...btw i switched form the 304 to the 305 since there the same price.....the only thing im unsure about is can i just throw it in and start my car and drive? or do i have to get a tune right away? im also removing egr and air if that means anything