i need some help on picking the right cam for my build. the rig is a 89 ramcharger motor is a 77 360 all stock from what i can tell, runs good, i plan to run headers, duel exhaust, alum 4bbl intake. gears will be 373s or 410s the biggest tire i will run will be a 35s.. truck will be a 4spd manual.. truck will be used for wheeling/town driving.. i was looking at the XE268H or 268H cam an was told thats to much an would need custom pushrods, rocker arms ect, i was also lookin at the comp XE262 cam.. i want a little noticeable idle... any recommendations would be great.. im on a budget any help thanks guys an gals

What altitude will it be driven at mostly? Can you and will you degree the new cam? I helped a freind of mine years ago who had a 1976 or 1977 short box 360 4x4 pickup with 34 inch tires on it, it came with 3.07 gears front and rear and he ended up changing them to 3.91 at first and ended up with 4.10 finally after bending the rear 8 3/4 rear he had he put in it . It had headers and a Thermoquad we worked on a little, he loved whupping the BB Chevy and Fords 4x4 in the river bottoms in pull offs and sand dragging them and on the hills with his truck

Leave the stock cam in there. If you're on a budget, you're not going to see any gains with a mild cam like that.

When I was looking for a cam for my 360 powered, stick shift Diplomat I narrowed it down to either the XE268 or the XE262. I went with the 262 and yes it was noticeable over the stock cam. Your setup with 35's and 3.73 gears will be close to my setup with 27's and 2.94's. Other than valve springs you do not NEED the rest of the stuff mentioned. If you want to dial it in to a polished turd finish then yeah you need it.

As side from the supposed needed extras to put the 268 cam in, I'd go with the 262 if I was choosing, more grunt down low.

i live in montana so what ever the altitude lol.. what cam did you run?? and if i can get a cam wheel but if not no i will not

ya thats what im after is load end, was there a noticable idle with the XE262??

Not really, but the 87 Diplomat has three cats and a muffler so I doubt you'd hear it anyway.

My philosophy when I build cars is "can my wife jump in it and drive it anywhere". If the answer is no, then it (usually) doesn't get built. She refuses to learn to drive a stick, but I have built a couple of stick cars anyway.

well i built my wife a jeep so i can build this any way i want lol.. but the ramcharger its a factory 4spd but if i cant get the trans for it i will be running a 727 with the stock converter.. have you heard any thing about the performer cam from edelbrock?? i think im leaning towards the EX262 like you said or this performer carb, im after the low end an these 2 cams seem to have what i want.. which would you pick? the 262 or the performer?? i love the sound of the EX268 but i got some saying i need new pushrods ect an not into that.. changing springs is fine..

I picked the 262, the Performer cam, imo, isn't worth it.

When done, dial in the dist subsystems IN ORDER. with as low of DCR as you have you will be able to run an aggressive curve

Are you using the stock pistons/heads? If you are use the smaller cam.
If you are increasing the compression, use the larger cam.

I don't know the history of that motor before my freind bought it, I'll assume it was stock He put headers on it and then a air cleaner, tires and wheels and then front and rear end gea ratio changes. Do you live in Libby Monatana?Thier website says it is 2066 ft above sea level I didn't think that anywhere in Montana would be below 4500 ft. let alone 2000 ft. above sea level, live and learn Buy yourself a decent, not the best, degree wheel and dial indicator and magnetic stand so you can degree the cam in off of the lifters and then check the lift and lobe seperation angles on both the intake and exhaust retainers