1971 351 Windsor Cam kit/ spec needed??

Yep that's a big cam for a 351. It may not be very forgiving with an automatic (at least one that uses a vacuum signal for shifting), but if you size the convertor properly it will be great for the strip. It probably won't be a lot of fun in traffic though.

I'd call Comp Cams help line or talk to one of the custom grinders that have a good reputation here. Let them steer you in the right direction based on your goals.

the comp cams 280 magnum cam should do just what you want and still be streetable.

.530 lift 282 adv duration is NOT a big cam. That's more like a middle of the road "improved" RV cam.

I'd also advise in the "reworking" of the heads to have screw in studs and guide plates installed while you're at it. And go with a high rise dual plane intake.

rpm or steath intake and screw in studs and guideplates are a must with that cam as well as upgraded rockers and matching springs. If its an AOD go a vac sec carb no bigger than 650. If you are running dished 2v pistons then go a comp 268h cam or magnum 270, the 280 magnum will be a dog off the line unless you have about 10:1 compression. On a 9.1 engine and stock everything else you will like the 268h much better many times less is more.

that's exactly right on the big cam with low compression. i'm kinda fighting that one myself right now, it lugs against the convertor at idle in gear and is kinda doggy out of the hole, it more than makes up for it in mid range and high rpm but i don't spend that much time in the mid range or high rpm though and this is with a 3.25 gear, chances are your 90 has the 2.73 rearend and that will just compound the problem.

and .530 lift 280 adv duration is a little on the big side for a 9.0 (actually it's factory rated at 8.8:1) compression and crappy stock heads, even reworked crappy stock stock heads, fortunately for you the D0OE heads used on the 71 351w are about the least crappy of the crappy stock heads.

if it was me i'd either up the compression with a set of flat top pistons or use a shorter duration cam. i'd also look for a dual pattern cam that will help with the weak exhaust ports of the stock heads, even ported stock heads.

the 280 magnum is seriously too much cam for a stock 71 351w with 8.8:1 compression (assuming these are the factory pistons and not replacement aftermarket which are even lower at around 8.0:1) and even ported stock heads, especially with a stock convertor and stock rear gears. also the 280 magnum has a very narrow LSA, like 108 degrees or something which is even worse on a low compression engine with restrictive stock heads, and i'll say it again, even ported stock heads.

i would look at something more like the comp Dual Energy 275DEH or Extreme Energy XE26H or the Extreme 4x4 X4626H that will work better with your compression, gears and crappy stock heads. all of these cams are good cams for your engine, trans and gear combo, work with stock convertors and still have a nice choppy idle, though the 4x4 cam is a little less choppy than the others but in reality is probably the best cam for your combo.

if you are bound and determined to run the 280 cam do yourself a favor and at least put some stock replacement flat tops in it. just a set of stock replacement cast flat tops will do the trick if you don't want to fork out a lot of dough. i'd suggest the Z336P from sealed power, summit has them for 20 bucks a pop

Federal Mogul Z336P - Federal Mogul Cast Pistons – SummitRacing.com

I gotta go with rbohm and the others who think that cam is too steep. You want power or just a crappy idle? Get the 280 or something like it. Remember, the 427 dual-quad engine had a fairly nice idle- leave that rough idle stuff the Chevy guys who lost a plug wire on teh way to the cruise.

D.Hearne said:

.530 lift 282 adv duration is NOT a big cam. That's more like a middle of the road "improved" RV cam.

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Oh YES it is! My cam has 282 intake, 290 exhaust. I have 50 more cubic inches, over 10:1 compression, a manual tranny and 3:70 gears. It has quite a lope and the bottom end is still a little soft. Way too big for a basically stock 351 and an automatic.

Originally Posted by D.Hearne View Post
.530 lift 282 adv duration is NOT a big cam. That's more like a middle of the road "improved" RV cam.

Click to expand...

69gmachine said:

Oh YES it is! My cam has 282 intake, 290 exhaust. I have 50 more cubic inches, over 10:1 compression, a manual tranny and 3:70 gears. It has quite a lope and the bottom end is still a little soft. Way too big for a basically stock 351 and an automatic.

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Those numbers are very similar to Ford Racing's second-highest camshaft, the X303, not something you'd want to use to get groceries, unless you're REALLY hungry.

chgovfk said:

....but I really want a choppy choppy lump lump idle ..

Cam kit w/ .530 Lift and 282 deg of adv duration ...for the choppy idle I would like .........what you guys think?.....really lost on this one ....hate to spend the $$ and be wrong.....any advice/suggestions really would be helpful and appreicated ....
Thx

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Whose cam are you looking at here? Relying on advertised durations can be iffy in choosing the cam you want. For getting what you're looking for, ignore the advertised durations and look at the @.050" durations. There are some cams with 282 adv. duration specs that are quite mild, and some that aren't.

69gmachine said:

Oh YES it is! My cam has 282 intake, 290 exhaust. I have 50 more cubic inches, over 10:1 compression, a manual tranny and 3:70 gears. It has quite a lope and the bottom end is still a little soft. Way too big for a basically stock 351 and an automatic.

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The Z303 in my 331 works quite well with a less than 2000 stall converter (.587 lift 228*@.050--290*adv duration). No soft bottom end here. Maybe you need to spend more time tuning your combination. The cam that chgovfk isn't the same cam you have in anycase.

2+2GT said:

Those numbers are very similar to Ford Racing's second-highest camshaft, the X303, not something you'd want to use to get groceries, unless you're REALLY hungry.

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I do grocery runs in my Comet with the Z cammed 331 sixpack at least several times weekly. I even ran it on a 50 mile commute three years ago while it was in my 89 ranger. Neither the X or Z cams are as radical as you've been led to believe. Might try running one instead of reading Ford Racing's advertising.