Comp cams xe268h for 318

Grunchy said
I have the 318 with stock 904 (999 lockup), stock torque converter, stock 2.76:1 ratio rear, and the Comp K20-212-2 kit (268/268). It putters around "ok" and theoretical top speed at redline is like 170 mph (stock 15" tires). I kind of doubt it would actually run that fast, and there's not a chance I would try it anyway, but it cruises at 70 mph at 2,000 rpm. Green light acceleration is pretty bad. Sounds menacing at idle. Mileage is still the pits, idling creates smell of gasoline, I suspect the large overlap (plugs all read good).
Like, before the cam the compression was 150 psi all-around, but after the cam, compression only hits about 110 psi: overlap. Idles at about 8” mercury vacuum.
Stock heads, I feel like I should possibly upgrade those. RPM aluminum intake, headers. I agree with the sentiment to update the rear end, one of the latest Roadkill garage segments they put together a brand new Ford 9" underneath a Dodge & looked like a pretty nice deal for roughly $2,500. I'm not a hot rodder, I don't drag race at all, so in my particular case the stock converter works just fine (if I ever use the power it's strictly rolling into some revs). If I was doing it again I'd choose a less radical cam, but now that I've got it - I'm not swapping it back out! I'm not displeased :)

I find the above post pretty refreshing. The first 2 paragraphs are honest and show what would be expected. (The bolding is mine. And the gas smell may be helped by tuning.)

The last paragraph shows a core of the problem in these discussions..... comparative info from cam swapping by the same individual in the same use. I suspect that author of the above post is happy to have a fun running car, but has had no opportunity to learn of the improvement a better matched cam offers. That would show the reality, but too often folks who have not done any of this say "this cam is fine/great", but really don't know the difference. I would expect that if the author of the above put in a 2 step smaller cam, he would give an honest report of a sizable improvement in the negative areas mentioned. None of this is unique knowledge.

IMHO the OP would help himself to find out more on how these longer cams with low compression are actually being used by users who say they are OK (like cruise or drag race), and also figure out the preferences of the users, which enters into this more that he is aware. I'd suggest this even if he continues with his present cam selection just for knowledge and perspective.

And yes, limited funds are what they are, and I really do understand that. BTDT racing with limited funds, learned the lessons. Try a 5.7 DCR like I did years back and you will know LOL. You won't be far off with the low 6's DCR that you're heading for, but you will be far worse off since this engine will not rev to 7.7-8k like the one I did it in, and I had a manual trans and could slip the clutch like crazy at launch. (Hence the higher stall TC suggestions.)