I'm assuming the cam is installed now. Do you have the old one, and why was it discarded?
The reference to "marine cam" may mean your motor is an opposite rotation to automotive standard rotation, which takes a special cam, starter, main seal, specific directional water circulating pump, and special distributor gear. If you're rebuilding a Q motor, you'll have all the right ancillary equipment, but if you start treating it like a stock SBC then you WILL have problems. Having said that, I'm not all that familiar with the Q, but they have a unique cylinder identification from all other small block Chevy motors and the timiming is different too. I have never heard a logical explanation for why they did this, so I'm assuming there isn't one.
The Q motors are great running motors, however. My Dad, now in his 80s, is running a pair of 327Q motors and they've always sounded good and run very strong.
Mark Weller has been all through one of his Q motors, and is our resident expert regarding everything about the Q motors, as well as being able to offer some great tips about how to varnish in a tuxedo too !
Regards,
Paul