t's low compression 8.5 and does bog. I'm looking for more low end torque...my mechanic says it's due to the cam.
Exactly
Rose colored glasses ignore the less than half inch lift but long duration
2.02 valves will hurt without a gear and cam change, less cam change with more compression
not saying that a a pro port and valve job can make the 202's work but not stock 202's and I would not spend the money to do more than a good valve job and pocket port x heads
We're not talking a race car here and on a half inch lift build 30 degree seats flat work
now with that cam duration 45 makes sense or more cus you are trying to band aid low lift flow and overlap
what you can't do is change the intake close point much (the 4 degree advance suggestions) without problems with intake open and killing mileage with early exhaust opening
opening exhaust late is more important on low compression motor than on an high compression motor
that said
if the 202 heads already have good seats and guides and the 1.88s are tired
do a compression check and post the results, mill the heads and do a quick head swap and see the results
your mechanic is mostly correct if you are not going to up the compression
If you are not making any changes to the short block you can shorten up the duration big time while keeping about the same lift
If you are not now up for a cam change then mill the heads , advance the cam and drive it
There are others that can do some simulations for you
remember the exhaust is the Achillies heal on the SBM
if you are keeping stock exhaust because you like your stereo or wife hates headers (my situation)
do some searches on Magnum exhausts- also the cam will be different with stock exhausts
your current cam was designed for headers
