Cam Help

Any upgrade in the cam department, requires an upgrade in the valve train (valve springs, retainers). Since you have stock heads, they would need to be upgraded however, adding a cam with stock heads will not provide big gains in performance.

Based on the .500" lift limit the book mentions, I would say that book is way outdated. That "limitation" is usually mentioned referring to the possibility of Piston to Valve (PtV) issues, and the assumption that stock valve springs are OK for cams with that total lift, which is wrong........ Total valve lift has nothing to do with the possibility of PtV issues + stock springs are acceptable for valve lifts of .450" max (based on the exhaust valves) only.

If aftermarket heads are not in the budget, suggest to use the stock cam and do upgrade the "tired" valve train.... maybe add a set of 1.7 ratio roller rockers. LUK

I hope to be doing the same thing very soon but I was either going to see if I can find some gt40 heads in the junk yard and rebuild them or give my stock head a little port job and rebuild those. From what I have read heads are what makes or breaks you as far as the big power.

I've always heard the Ford Racing "B303" Cam is a decent off-the-shelf choice ($180 new OR look on eBay). I had the TFS Stage 2 in my 5.0 and I didn't care for it.

I agree w/ Joel

Joel5.0 said:

Any upgrade in the cam department, requires an upgrade in the valve train (valve springs, retainers). Since you have stock heads, they would need to be upgraded however, adding a cam with stock heads will not provide big gains in performance.

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Theres a lot of options out there but on A1C pay I would say eBay is your friend! Look for some GT40 heads maybe? My brother ran GT40 irons and the B303 cam into the mid 12's (w/ EFI).