Cam questions

[Mattax]

My goals are to have a “spirited” car that is quick off the line and cruises nicely.

A Jenson!

Since you want 'off the line' the "milder" cam that is installed is more likely to give you the throttle response you want - all other things being stock.
Vehicle wieght and gearing of course play into it. But speaking just to the question of high hp, within a group of similar cams, the higher hp cam will be more power in rpm ranges you will not be using, and lower power in the rpm range you will be using.

 

[Wyrmrider]

aaronk what I was hinting at 9:1 in post 18
ain't no hot rod
small afb
stock manifolds
big converter
tall gears
heavy street only car
stock cam works
short lunati voodoo works better
keeps the exhaust closed longer to trap some more power
cuts down overlap by closing the really long on the close exhaust earlier