Putting a new cam in for my hubby - need advice/opinions! Help!

I am looking to put in new cams, lifters, rocker arms, push rods, springs, etc., for my husband.


I was told I needed: camshaft, lifters, springs, keepers, valve seals & guides, and caps, and roller rocker arms and push rods.

Here are the specs I got from my dad: (The truck is a '71 K20 3/4 ton) Engine: 388 stroker. Camshaft we are looking for is about a 280/290 duration. It has 600lbs of spring pressure. My dad says ideally we need 1.5 aluminum roller rocker arms. 3/8 stud on the rocker arms, and we want locking nuts. (I was told something about rods backing out, to solve, needed locking nuts)

How the truck will be driven: For the most part, hubs keeps it pretty casual. But when he does occasionally want to tromp on it, he needs the engine to keep up. So, I'm not looking for the cheapest parts possible, but this isn't a show truck/race truck. Just a family heirloom we are fixing up. Husband likes a good meaty sound to his engine as well.

I hate to pull the helpless female card, but, well, I'm a helpless female right now.

I would like something decently priced (I was recommended by a friend to check out the Lunati Camshaft and lifter kit, and it is well within the budget)

Any recommendations for brands/best websites to buy from would be GREAT for me. If you know if they offer a military discount (hub is in the army), that would be even better.

Are there kits out there that would include the majority of items needed, or is ordering them separately best? (would prefer one brand for all because husband is kind of OCD about things like that, but willing to buy different if there is a large savings involved)

Sorry to just jump in here without knowing what I'm doing, but I want this to be awesome for him, so I decided getting 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. opinons would be great. In return for your auto expertise, you can all always feel free to ask me if you need help with baking or how to get kool-aid stains off of your carpet!  

FIRST and probably most important for part longevity and reliability, because he is OCD, BUY AMERICAN. Don't go to Craig'slist or eBay unless YOU/HE really KNOW what you are looking at.

The only place that will offer everything you want is CompCams, otherwise you will have to buy some parts from other sources. ANY cam company, or every cam company will tell you what spring they recommend for their cam. All cam companies will require you use their recommended springs or they will not warranty the cam.

The cam, lifter, and springs are offered in kit form from most manufacturers. Usually spring retainers and locks come with the springs.

When you purchase the rocker arms, make sure they will live with the spring pressures you plan to run. Typically, aluminum rockers have a shorter cycle life than steel.

After all the other parts are installed you'll have to measure to get them correct pushrod length and then buy them.  

http://forums.chevyhiperformance.com/70/9172221/car-engine/push-rod-length/

Read through this thread on a sister mag's forum to see how to find the right length of pushrod.  

Your cam specs are way too big....You don't want to run 600lbs of Valve spring pressure, unless you have a full blown race car running a Solid Roller Cam Set-Up!

Just some FYI: Make sure the lower end of your engine is in excellant condition...Do a compression test before you decide to make a cam change.

I have picked a couple CompCams Kits for you.

1st choice:
CompCams P/N 12-207-2 Grind # 265DEH
RPM Range 1500-5750 .211/.221 Duration @.050 Dur. .442/.465 Max Lift
Strong Mid Range Power
Lopey Idle
Complete CamKit P/N K12-208-2

2nd Choice:
RPM Range 1200-5500  .203/.212 @ .050 Dur.  .421/.465 Max Lift
Used more for towing and pulling a trailer.
Complete Cam Kit P/N K12-207-2

Let me know when they give you Military discounts. Maybe they would give senior discounts too. Any questions. You can go to www.compcams.com You will find tose cams by either putting in the P/N or the Grind #. It's located on their web-site front page...Hope this helps. The complete kits should be what your looking for.

Bob  

Yep,
Go for the CompCams cam kit.All the parts you need are in it and matched.
Tips: Pay attention to the tech bulletins on the oil additives, and break in procedures.
   You really need to study up on cam shaft installation procedures.There are a few things a person needs to know about installing cam shafts ,and especially higher than stock lift cams.There are always a few clearances to check along the way.Failure to understand what you are doing can result in high dollar engine damage that could have easily been avoided.Before you spend one dime you really need to learn how an engine works,what a cam shaft does and how it does it.Ain't trying to scare you out of it,I think its cool.
You can find a good cam installation guide on the CompCams sit, and the technical aspects of engine workings are explained all over the web.

Another big thing I see is if your installing roller rockers you'll need to either use self guiding/aligning roller rockers,or you will need to install screw in rocker studs,pushrod guide plates,and hardened pushrods.Installing screw in studs will  require  machine work...........Unless the heads already have screw in studs.Which in this case your good to go on that note.

And Scott's already said it about checking pushrod length.It's all about geometrie ,and making sure the roller tips on the rockers are riding correctly on the valve stem.  
The older I get,the faster I was.