Engine cam 302

Mowfast64

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Mar 14, 2018
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I'm rebuilding a 302 roller all stock, but I would like a lopey sound at idle. I've been told to use a stage 1 cam. What cam can I use with all stock parts? I'm on a low budget. Thanks for any help you can give me.
 
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People buy cams and don't know what or why they are buying them. You need to know the weight, gear ratio,stick or automatic. Intake ,carb, heads, compression ratio. Desired usage ? Are you just cruising around ? A trip to the drag strip now and then. Are you going to pull a trailer ? Do you have power brakes ?
People usually buy too much cam and then have to suffer with bad gas mileage , poor low end performance.
what are the specs to a stage 1 cam ? There are a lot better cams than the Ford letter cams . Comp cams makes some awesome hyd. roller cams . Check with Anderson cams.
 
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Thanks for the reply! This engine is in a 1986 Fox Body . rear end is a 373, 5 speed, stock heads, flat top pistons. The compression should be around 1.9 . Just going to use it for cruising. The builder told my to stay around the mid .400 on the cam lift. I can use any help on choosing a cam. Thanks
 
I you have the stock E6 head and the stock pistons then you have a problem. The 86 pistons have no valve reliefs and you can't use anything over about a .440 lift.
If you have replaced the pistons with one's that have valve reliefs then you can go higher. I would not use the 86 heads as they were a one year attempt by Ford that didn't pan out and they went back to a conventional combustion chamber in 87.
If you are just cruising around and not looking for a choppy idle and good torque there is nothing wrong with a stock H.O. cam . The performance is in the heads. You can pick up plenty of power with either an aftermarket head or a set of Explorer heads.
Speedway sells a good economy aluminum head for cheap that really wakes up a 5.0.