A RA III is alot of cam for a 350 with 2.56's and an auto. If I recall correctly pontiac used those in stick cars with larger displacement and probably higher compression. You can run what you brung and it will run but from what I have read so far about what you want, I'd look at a smaller cam. It's just going to be lazy with the 2.56 gear until it's rev'ed up. I think cruising will just be more fun with more throttle response at your cars typical rpm with a better matched cam.
Here's an update on where I'm at now I managed to do a swap with my 2000 B&M Holeshot TC for a 3000 B&M Holeshot so as money is tight I decided to stick with the H cam for now.
I went ahead last week with the motor swap took the 326 out as a complete unit and set it aside. I left the TH350 in and swapped the TC supported the TH350 on a jack and dropped the 350 short block in lined up the dowels. I left the headers out because I was waiting for my header wrap to come from the USA. I also left the motor mount bolts out as I wanted to lift the motor a inch or so to put the headers back in from under the car.
I marked the Dizzy before I removed it from the 326 with it set on No 1 at TDC and I scribed a line down the dizzy and onto the block noting where the vacuum canistor was pointing and I labelled all the spark plug wires. I transfered this marked to the 350 block and put the dizzy back in so I was close to a running postion for timing.
I put the heads on torqued them down, set the rockers for zero valve lash plus 1/4 turn. put the rad back in and then bolted up the power steering and alternator! This is whan I hit a snag as none of the pulleys lined up! The 350 water pump is longer than a 326 and my buddy did not give me the water pump pulley so I was using the 326 one. Anyway after a quick check on here I found out I had to swap the timing cover and use all the 326 pulleys harmonic balancer and alternator bracket so everything lined up.
I got my header wrap to cut down under hood temps and wrapped them before putting them back in. I had to order nuts and bolts to fix the TC to the flexiplate as there was no captive nut on the 3000 TC.
Once the intake was back on and all the hoses and cables back on I filled the oil and water/antifreeze. I was then ready for start up but the starter would not engage so I shimmed it until it did.
The motor fired up second turn of the key, it took a while for the lifters to stop clattering but once they had it sounded fine oil pressure was 60 psi cold and about 45-50 hot water temp was fine about 180 ish. I topped up the tranny fluid and went for a short drive round the block.
I set the timing which was about 14 BTC to 10 BTC and she's running fine. After I went to my American car meet I tried a little start line action not giving it full throttle but enough for all hell to break loose! This baby gets up and goes now it feels like I gained a hundred Hp over the 326!
In reality it probably only about 50 HP but man does it feel like a different car it spins the wheels about half throttle form a take off. Now I need to get a posi axle for sure as all the wheel spin is on the passenger side only. It gets away well as long as you feed the power in gently.
I have the Hot Rod Drags car meet at my local drag strip in a few weeks so no time to sort the axle before then so I will give it a try as is for now. I not expecting quick times my mate was running low 15's with a very slack timing chain in there and a posi axle so now it has a new crane cams roller timing chain if I can get low 15's I will be happy for now
I only have one question what should the timing be for a 1971 350 Firebird motor with a H cam and a vacuum advance dizzzy.
67 Firebird 350, TH350 auto Convertible, B&M 3000 TC, 4bbl Edelbrock Performer carb and intake Black Jack headers,disc brake conversion. 10 bolt chevy axle with 3.73's and B&M Rachet shifter.
