'86 H.O and B-cam question....

[Vinnietbird]

I have an '86 H.O engine in my '88 T-Bird.Explorer intake,BBK headers,off road x-pipe,warlock mufflers,ported E-7 heads with beehive springs,stock H.O cam.I have a B-303 cam that I'd like to install (after I install the mass Air).Will this cam work well with this engine?I was told by a local mechanic who does a lot of Fords that the cam is installed differently as far as the timing goes when it's placed in the engine.I have never heard of that crap.I am looking for ideas and opinions about this combo.Thanks a lot.

 

[Mr. Rustypwnz]

goes in the regular way any 302 cam goes in, watch for piston to valve clearance though, the 86 cars have flat pistons with no notches for valve clearance.

btw: thats a really good cam for the street, love mine!!

 

[Vinnietbird]

I have to go Mass Air first.I don't think Speed Density will like that cam.Thanks for responding.I'm trying to gather all the info i can before I dive into this project.

 

[Mr. Rustypwnz]

a cam swap is easy, make sure the engine is at tdc, and go from there, your common sense will take over at that point.

 

[Deleted member 87397]

If it still has the factory flat tops I don't know that you can run a B or any letter cam without valve reliefs, but if it's got E7's it may have relief's already.

 

[Hizzle]

I have E-7s on my '86, atleast that's what the guy I bought it from said. he didn't mention anything about doing anything for the relief. No problems yet and I'm doing a motor swap before I do a cam or anything else to the motor. If you need any help with the MAF conversion, let me know. Did mine and printed several articles that I followed to do it, too easy. Also have a factory MAF sensor if you want it, just cover shipping and I will send it to you.

 

[Vinnietbird]

Thanks guys.I installed the ported E-7 heads,and there are no valve reliefs.The heads seem to work fine.I'd be very interested in any info you have on the Mass Air conversion.Thanks a lot,Hizzle.

 

[maxine-70]

that mechanic may have meant the firing order. if he assumed you had a stock non-HO 5.0 in your car and were swapping cams to a FRPP cam, the firing order WOULD change, to that of the HO 5.0/ 351W firing order.

the only way to know for sure if the B cam will fit is to measure everything and see if you have clearance for the valves.

 

[andrewsg]

Definitely check piston to valve clearance and combustion chamber size (depending on heads used).

Good luck, you will not be disappointed!

 

[Hizzle]

Thanks guys.I installed the ported E-7 heads,and there are no valve reliefs.The heads seem to work fine.I'd be very interested in any info you have on the Mass Air conversion.Thanks a lot,Hizzle.

I printed all the articles out so I will take a look and get the links for them.

 

[Vinnietbird]

Thanks again Hizzle.

Again,the lower end is a stock '86 H.O engine.With the ported E-7 heads,I've had no problems with PTV clearance.

Hey,Slow95GT,with all that you are running in your car,is it the '86 engine with flat tops?My main concern is streetability,decent idle,and what results I should look for after the cam swap.

The combo would be.......'86 H.O engine,B-303 cam,ported E-7 heads with beehive springs (which I'm using now),BBK shorties,2 1/2 inch off road X-Pipe,8.8 with 3.55 gears,Explorer intake,and Warlock mufflers.

I'm still waiting for my valvebody to be finished from the tranny shop,Unfortunately,I still have the factory Thunderbird Sport torque converter.That'll have to eventually be changed.

I've wondered if the B-303 is too much cam,but I have no idea where they go from aggressive to just plain mean.I want power,but,since this car is a daily driver,I want good streetability as well,and I'm sure with the B cam,I will lose some of my gas mileage.On the highway,with the stock cam and the 2.73 gears I have in now (swapping in the 8.8 with 3.55's soon),I get 28/29 MIPG.I need to kep the car somewhat friendly,but with the ability to haul when I want it to.I was hoping the B-303 was a good cam for those needs.