how do I know if my truck has a cam? (see details)?

Question

ok theres obviously people on here that didnt get my last question about this, I asked how can I tell if my truck has a cam, I meant a bigger cam. IT HAS A CAM IN IT, but how can I tell if its a bigger one. idk that it matters but I got duals with broke in glass packs, 75 chevy truck 350

Answer 1

I own a shop, and I can tell you there are some cams that are higher lift that you cannot hear the difference, or see the difference with a vacuum gauge. The only true way to tell is; get a dial indicator, and measure the lift at the rocker arm. You will need a machinist, or an experience engine builder to do this. A formula must be used to come up with the actual lift of the cam, or it will have to be measured (with the intake removed) right off the cam itself. Find the base of the circle, and zero the indicator. Move the engine in the direction it runs while measuring the intake lifter. If you wish to know the duration too, then you will have to have a degree wheel to determine the duration from .050'' off base circle on both ends of the lift. OK, this gets pretty confusing I know, but this is how its done. Once you determine the maximum lift of the intake lifter, move to the exhaust lifter, and measure the same off it to get your max lift. Like I said, in order to get the duration you MUST have a degree wheel to know the degrees of the lift from bottom to bottom of the lift cycle @ .050'' off base circle on both ends.
Glad to help out, Good luck!!!

Answer 2

If you can't tell, then I'd say no. Big cams suck on the street and don't idle worth sh!t. What is your gas mileage? Stock cam would probably get around 12-16 in that year truck. A large cam would be around 8-10 mpg. Aside from the techniques mentioned by others here, you'd be better off guessing at it this way rather than disturb a non-leaking, good-running engine. If it doesn't have enough power for ya, you'd probably be replacing the cam anyway wether it's stock or not.

Answer 3

a dial indicator is the only way to measure lobe sizes without pulling the engine down even by measuring with the Dial indicator you still will not know the duration or the valve over lap

by the way can some one tell me what the hell a three quarter cam is i here a lot of ol timers say that sometimes but i ain't never seen a three quarter cam at the machine shop

Answer 4

If the engine kinda lopes at idle, there's a good chance the cam has a semi or maybe even a three-quarter grind. If the engine is smooth at idle, odds are you've got a stock cam.

If you really wanna know, a mechanic can check it out and tell you. Expect to pay for this service.

Answer 5

you will have to dismantal the top of the engine and the intake manfold and the time chain cover and the chain to take it out and see the cam and messure it to see what type of cam ..

Answer 6

Put a vacuum gage on it. If it reads below 16 and you don't have a vacuum leak you know you've got a big cam. My guess is you don't.

Answer 7

You can ask someone at a speed shop to listen to the idle. An experienced mechanic will be able to tell by the way it idles.

Answer 8

take it to a mechanic or just listen to it you should be able to tell by the sound of your engine
by the way change out your glass packs because glass packs sound like sh** when they burn out

Answer 9

If you have a degree wheel for your crankshaft and a dial indicator you can check your duration and valve lift.

Answer 10

measure valve lift at the rocker with a dial indicator. you can also check duration using these measurements along with crankshaft rotation.