to stroke or not to stroke?

Will
You are, of course, stuck, in race mode. Thats ok, I was too, for years.
I said for a street brawler.
I was so stuck on hp, that the first iteration of my 366 was with a 292/509 cam. I set it up with a Scr of 11.0, net Dcr of 8/1 . That engine flew, from 5500 on. But it was sadly lacking down low. It needed 4.30s and a 3.09 low(13.29Starter gear) to get off the line, and I was forever shifting like a Mustang trying to find some power. Let me tell you that sucked on the street.The first guy that offered me cash for that cam, got it. And good riddance.
The next cam was a Hughes HE2430 . IIRC that was 270*advertised. Now you are talking.I set it up with a 10.7Scr and netted about 8.7 Dcr . With that wee little cam, I could run 3.91s and a 2.66low(10.4starter gear) and it pulled right off the line, like from idle! Well the 3.91s gave up in a hurry, so in went the 3.55s and a 3.09low(10.97starter).It still pulled like a champ. That was the funnest 2 summers ever. Right up until the day two lobes fell into the pan.
The next summer found me with a Hughes HE3037. IIRC this is a 276* intake.With no change in the Scr, this cam dropped the Dcr a bit, to 8.5ish. This cam makes quite a bit less on the bottom than the 270, and a bit less on the top than the 292. But its a good trade. Its got a big fat mid range,and more than the tires/chassis can handle on the bottom, and I dont care how many mph it pulls in the qtr, nor how quick it is.This car was built as a streeter. I sometimes miss the 270.But it was definitely shy on the top.
The 276cam is NOT shy. I dont think it makes a whole lot of power, But the power band is huge. It seems to start a hair under 5400, and goes forever(streeter,remember).I pull the stick between 7000 and 7200, not because I can feel it nose over. no-no.I shift cause I want an engine left for tomorrow.Cause this ear-to-ear grin is better than.........
I say seems to start at 5400, not because the hammer falls there, but it does seem to pull a bit harder after 5000 for sure. But the midrange is so fat. Its like a tractor. After 3500 or so Just stomp it. But really the torque curve starts down low, and just goes and goes and goes. It has such a sweet torque curve,that to get moving, I just blip the throttle and dump the clutch, we are gone. Short shift into second, and power up to 2400 rpm,cruising speed of 28mph. Sweeeet
So to recap, I've had 3 cams in the same engine; a292, a 270, and a 276. The 292 was a fail on the street. The 270 was an awesome stump puller. The 276 is my favorite.I think its been in there for 10 years now. If this one dies, Im ordering a custom grind.