Cam Selection Help???

It's been determined that I can't reuse the existing cam, I have my eye on a couple from TA Performance, wanting to get some input here.

I don't have real deep pockets, so for now I am more or less stuck with what I have:

Car will weigh in around 3500 pounds with me in it.
455 - late model, 8.5:1, but I have a second set of heads ('71 ...661 casting) I might be able to use to get a little bump up in compression.
3.42 gears
3500 stall convertor that actually stalls at 4000 with the Buick 455 torque.
Stage 1 valves.
TA single plane intake (looks to be an older version of the SP-1.)
Edelbrock 750 carb
Exhaust manifolds (I know, I know.) into dual 3" exhaust with good (knock off but similar to Flowmaster 40 series) mufflers and crossover tube
2nd gen aluminum rocker arms
aftermarket valve springs that will handle lift over .500 lift.
HD pushrods
Cloyes double roller set with 3 keyway crank sprocket
FelPro .038 head gaskets
This will be the first time I actually degree a cam rather than just dropping it in "straight up."

I want this to be somewhat streetable, it will probably only ever see the drag strip once or twice.

If I can use the higher compression heads I have (I should find out today or tomorrow), with a little milling, ballpark guess, the compression ratio should be up around 9.25-9.5:1. If not, I'm stuck with 8.5:1.

If I can use the higher compression heads, I'm looking real hard at the TA 298H "Hemi Killer." Anyone have any experience with this cam with a similar setup?

If I end up stuck with the lower compression ratio I'm thinking about something along the lines of the TA 413 or the TA 290-08H that have a little less overlap.

I think I'm barking up the right tree with these cam grinds, but any input will be very much appreciated.

Before you start looking at cams, familiarize yourself with Dynamic Compression Ratio (DCR). It's the reason that you see a static compression recommendation in the cam description. There is a calculator at the end of the article that I highly recommend you download. I keep it on my computers.

http://www.empirenet.com/pkelley2/DynamicCR.html

You will need at least 9.5:1 static compression to get the best out of any of the cams you mentioned. I can tell you that you will not be anywhere near where you need to be with the 71 heads unless you mill them a lot. Most pistons sit below the deck, further lowering the compression.

The Hemi Killer cam is a single pattern cam, same duration intake and exhaust. You need ported heads to work with that cam, ESPECIALLY if you intend to use exhaust manifolds. What you need is a cam that has at least 10* more exhaust duration than intake duration. If you can't get your compression up, you need to stay smaller on the cam. If you don't, you'll end up with an engine that sounds good, but will be a pig on the street.

You may also find some of the information in the "Reference" section interesting. Look down to 400/430/455.