65 Barracuda 318 Rebuild, Cam, timing, lifters maybe a kit?

nm9stheham said

BTW, OP, nice to see you are keeping things in order.

Just one gotcha to warn you about: Some manuals list the torque on the rocker shaft bolts wrong; it's no more than 15-18 ft lbs torque, not the 25-30 ft-lbs incorrectly listed in some places. Let's just head off that boo-boo at the pass!

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The factory (5/16") bolts are only a 'Grade-5' rating, which would indeed accept a torque value of no more than 20, but IF you replace with Grade-8, this would up the max. torque to 25 - - and in no way would be too excessive as to distort the rocker shaft. I have been doing this 'upgrade' for over 40 years - and sleep better to boot. :lol:

Most of you should know that the B/RB engines had same rocker setup but used larger 3/8" fasteners that easily torqued to 35.

Tip no.2 would be to use either a factory 340/360HP hydraulic cam (and new lifters) OR the equally good Summit Racing version which has .441" lift on both intakes and exhausts. I think this one also has slightly more 'overlap' than (OEM) Mopar. Very nice 'driveable' cam.
I also noticed that, since your car is mentioned as a '65 model, it would NOT have come from factory with an LA-318, but instead a 273. Better check casting number on left side of block (behind starter).