Here is a snapshot of your 273 engine with the 286cam, indicating the reason for your poor low-rpm performance; notice the VP of 82
base) Static compression ratio of 8.5:1.
Your dynamic compression ratio is 6.77:1 .
Your dynamic cranking pressure is
128.43 PSI.
V/P (Volume to Pressure Index) is
82 ....................................... 82 .
Here it is with a 99* install
Static compression ratio of 8.5:1.
Your dynamic compression ratio is 7.15:1 .
Your dynamic cranking pressure is
138.04 PSI.
V/P (Volume to Pressure Index) is
93, and 93/82=....................
plus 13%
read about VP here
V/P Index Calculation
A) If I recall correctly that 69 -318 already has closed chamber heads.and so, with the 286cam in at 99*
Static
TRUE compression ratio of 9.2:1.
Your dynamic compression ratio is 7.68:1 .
Your dynamic cranking pressure is
151.60 PSI.
V/P (Volume to Pressure Index) is
118, and 118/82= ............... plus 44%
To give you an idea of what this means, imagine your engine just got 44% more torque at about 1800 rpm. This is a huge improvement, also akin to increasing the rear gear by 44%..
Now, changing the ICA to 99* will really mess up your overlap period and wreck the whole point of having that cam, which is the 72* of overlap, which, with properly working headers, will make a nice little power boost somewhere around 5200/5400 rpm. With a 108 install, your split overlap will be 8* advanced, meaning the intake valve will now be opening at 8* sooner and the exhaust closing also 8 degrees , sooner. The net result of that is a serious loss in the power-spike, and probably a rougher lower-vacuum, idle.... IMHO it's too much.
B) however, you now have a few more cubes,318, so you could back
the 286 up to 104, and get
Static
TRUE compression ratio of 9.2:1.
Your dynamic cranking pressure is
145.95 PSI.
V/P (Volume to Pressure Index) is
110 and 110/82 is.....................
plus 34%
but before you get too excited, recall that this is with a true 9.2 Scr.
C) But that 9.2- 318 will run pretty good with a
268*FTH cam
Static compression ratio of 9.2:1.
Your dynamic compression ratio is 7.68:1 .
Your dynamic cranking pressure is
151.60 PSI.
V/P (Volume to Pressure Index) is
118 .and 118/82 is.....................
plus 44%
This cam has 52* of overlap, not even close to the 72 of that 286* cam,
BUT that 286 in at 99* only has an effective overlap of 56*anyway, so you haven't really lost anything there.
and recall that this is still at a true 9.2Scr
D) With the 318/268cam at a more likely
Static TRUE compression ratio o,f 8.8:1
Your dynamic compression ratio is 7.35:1 .
Your dynamic cranking pressure is 143.13 PSI.
V/P (Volume to Pressure Index) is 111 .This is now 111/82=............. plus 35.4%
E) But if you boost the 318/268 to ;
Static TRUE compression ratio of 9.9:1.
Your dynamic compression ratio is 8.14:1 .
Your dynamic cranking pressure is 163.52 PSI.
V/P (Volume to Pressure Index) is 125 . and 125/82=........................ plus 52*
F) And finally the 273 @.020 o/s, the 368 cam, and bumped to
Static compression ratio of 10.0:1
Your dynamic compression ratio is 8.22:1 .
Your dynamic cranking pressure is 165.61 PSI.
V/P (Volume to Pressure Index) is 111. and 111/82=.......................... plus 35.4%
G) But guess what,with the compression now up,
the 273/286cam could look like
Static compression ratio of 10.2:1.
Your dynamic compression ratio is 8.19:1 .
Your dynamic cranking pressure is 164.83 PSI.
V/P (Volume to Pressure Index) is 106, and 106/82=..................... plus 29%
H) And the 318/286 cam, at 3.94 bore
Static compression ratio of 10.1:1.
Your dynamic compression ratio is 8.11:1 .
Your dynamic cranking pressure is 162.74 PSI.
V/P (Volume to Pressure Index) is 123 and 123/82=..................... plus 50%
This is only a tiny loss from the 268, with a huge increase in peak-power,
plus you get to keep the power-spike and the nasty idle.
Now compare the H) combo here at 10.1Scr,
to the B) combo at a true 9.2.
And I get 123/110= plus 11.8 from compression alone, and recall that this is low-rpm performance only,
also compare H to E
And then is the cost;
How much for the cam kit installed, versus
a set of high compression pistons installed in either engine.