2.76 open to 3.55 Sure Grip...expectations too high?

@Righty Tighty Glad you find it helpful. I don’t think it is totally the cam. While small, it fits your description above for a snappy daily driver getting groceries.

Not knowing your actual compression ratio, a possible problem, but a small one since it adds efficiency and power everywhere, I made self self would have gone about the build a little differently using that cam.

A better cam would have had a narrower LSA. That would lead to a much more racier idle. I do t know if the heads are stock or not, but stock 302’s are best on stock mileage getter engines. Once ported out for a maximum power return, there really a good head with upgraded valve sizes. However the drawback to that is expense paid vs the power return gain against aluminum heads.

You can build a kick *** all iron. 318. However, the added pluses of aluminum parts on top of a stout short block will hit home runs over just adding good parts on top of a stock short block even if it is in good condition to start with.

It’s a cruddy balancing act.

Don’t blame the cam so fast. While it isn’t what I would use (but have done so ...) it is capable with the right tune behind it. I used a similar Crane Hyd (272/284-@050-218/224??? On a 112, I’ll leave a link...) that did Eventually power the car to the high 14’s. Stock tire traction is a huge issue.....

A friend had the same cam in his drag only Duster that ran 12’s. The car was seriously lightened. But he didn’t go nuts doing so.

My fun tool around project I did t get to Pursue very far. It had to go when things go a bit tight. All well, there’s always another MoPar to play with somewhere.

The goal of this sick around project was just to see how far I could take a junk low compression (‘79) 318 with basic bolt on parts and a cam. It was fun. Enjoy the read and my wasting money to keep busy thread... LMAO!

rumblefish's Duster project