I have the small thumpr flat tappet cam in my mild 350 with rhs 1.94/1.5 vortecs. it is all the cam you can stand in a daily driver. it is even kind of a pain in the ass with my 6 spd and 3.73's because it wants to buck the car at light load cruising. it runs and sounds great, but I would not recommend the larger thumprs unless you have 400+ cubes.

How is the idle with that cam?
What do you have done to your heads? Are they completely stock?

The truck will have a 700R4, and eventually 3:73's.

the idle is pretty radical...along the lines of a 305 magnum from comp.

heads are aftermarket vortecs from racing head service in memphis. they flow a nice bit more than stock and have the correct comp springs and screw in studs/guideplates as delivered. compression is 9.5:1.

it will work fine with an auto. if you use a lock up converter, you will have to experiment with lock up points.

Anybody know of a good machine shop in SoCal, where I can have the machine work done needed to install screw-in studs, and non-beehive springs?

You can use LS6 springs and comp's 787 retainers as a cheaper alternative.

Sweet.... I will have to check that out. Maybe get some exact part numbers from you.

If that is the case, then all I will need to do is switch over to studs. I am assuming I can still use the self-aligning rockers I have.

as long as you do not use guide plates. guide plates and self aligning rockers do not mix.