Planning to get a cam for the 3.4. New retainers?

[CRSmith]

I'm planning to get the following cam:
Comp Cams
Chevy 173-207 60° High Energy 260H Cam
Code: 16-233-4

Most of the cam tech seems to be geared toward the 3.8L motor. Can anyone tell me what supporting parts I'll need?

Springs, Retainers, pushrods, rockers?

I'll get a timing set and lifters, but wasn't planning to change anything else if I didn't have to.

[FunkZ]

Re: Planning to get a cam for the 3.4. New retainers?

You can install the 260H cam and lifters on stock heads. If the car has any amount of miles on it (I assume so since you're changing the timing set) I'd recommend at least a fresh rebuild on the heads though. Should run $100-$150 or you can find rebuilt sets on eBay all the time in the same price range.

If you switch to 1.6 rockers then go with the recommended Comp springs, locks and retainers.

[CRSmith]

Re: Planning to get a cam for the 3.4. New retainers?

Thanks.

[auto666]

Re: Planning to get a cam for the 3.4. New retainers?

id talk to comp cams or do some research first i dont think thats much of an upgrade from stock that cam is more for the 2.8

[FunkZ]

Re: Planning to get a cam for the 3.4. New retainers?

Stock 3.4 cam
195/201 .390"/.410" 109°

If you want an upgraded cam with stock heads, the Comp Cams 260H is one of the most popular choices. It's the same cam I have, although I'm using 1.6 rockers with it.

Comp Cams 260H (16-233-4)
212/212 .440"/.440" 110°

There's also Edlebrock, Lunati or Crane.

Edelbrock 3790
204/214 .420"/.442" 112°

Lunati 06312
195/205 .405"/.427" 112°

Crane Cams H-260-2 (253902) This is the same as the GMPP 12364059 cam.
204/216 .427"/.454" 112°

The downside to the Crane/GMPP cam is it does not have the lobe for the cam sensor in the 3.4 so the SFI system can't determine TDC and will batch fire. (basically turning it into TPI/MPFI) This is not necessarily super bad, it will run a bit rich though and fuel economy might suffer.

Crane also has an H-272 shelf cam but you will definitely need an upgraded valvetrain to run that one. There are of course custom grinds also available if you want to get more extreme however the problem of tuning for the 3.4 becomes an issue at that point. Also, more aggressive cams are designed to make power at higher rpm's, and the iron heads do not provide enough cfm.

[SpeedingFirebird]

Re: Planning to get a cam for the 3.4. New retainers?

Stock 3.4 cam
195/201 .390"/.410" 109°

If you want an upgraded cam with stock heads, the Comp Cams 260H is one of the most popular choices. It's the same cam I have, although I'm using 1.6 rockers with it.

Comp Cams 260H (16-233-4)
212/212 .440"/.440" 110°

Same cam that I am running as well.

[CRSmith]

Re: Planning to get a cam for the 3.4. New retainers?

Thanks for the input. I'll be happy if I get an honest 10-15hp out of it.