Camshaft Recommendation for somewhat performance 289

[Red66GT]

I decided to beef up my 289 instead of going w/ a 302 roller block conversion in my 66 Stang.

The bottom end is a stock 289 A code, I'm getting some Edelbrock Performer RPM or Trickflow Twisted Wedge heads and Tri-Y headers from www.dougsheaders.com

I'll be using my Edelbrock Performer (not RPM) intake, Edelbrock 600cfm vaccuum secondary carb, stock Rocker Arms, and new Hardened PushRods.

Along w/ that the car has a 4 spd manual tranny and 3.00 gears.

My Goals: This will be a daily driver, so I want good low end torque and throttle response. I'm willing to sacrifice HP in order to make it a good daily driver, but I do want a good amount of power.

Any recommendations for a good Cam to use? Also, should I go w/ the
Edelbrock Performer RPM or Trickflow heads?

Thanks in advance.

 

[NorCal66]

Considering the facts you want more low-end and already own a performer, which produces better low-end power, I'd go with a cam that matches the powerband of the intake, such as the edelbrock performer. The bigger the cam, the more top-end hp it will produce, and the worse it's street manners will become. I'd also go with edelbrock performer heads as apposed to the RPMs, or any other brand that will match the cam and intake powerband. It's about making the good combo, don't mix and match.

 

[Red66GT]

I'm considering the Performer camshaft, but would like to go w/ the Performer RPM heads b/c I may want to go w/ a more radical cam in the future when the car is no longer a daily driver, I see the heads as sort of a long term investment.

With that in mind, do you guys think the Performer package w/ the Performer RPM heads will suffer since it wouldn't be as good of a combo? Or do you guys think it'd still be a good combo?

 

[Red66GT]

...feel free to chime in guys...lol

 

[Doc Voodoo]

270H Magnum™ is a great cam for high performance driving in street machines. The 270H has a rough idle in small blocks and a noticeable idle in big blocks. This is the largest cam you can use with a stock torque converter. The 270H will not affect power accessories, but should be used with headers and a 4 BBL. carburetor. This is the perfect cam for cruising.


I have the roller version of this one

 

[Vinyl66]

A lot of people are going with Comp. Cams and I am one of them. I decided on the XE268H. It is a dual pattern cam with more duration and slightly more lift on the exhaust side.
224 and 230 @.050 and .509 and .512 lift
I have not installed it yet so I can not speak for it's performance. I have seen combos with a 302 using the XE266H roller cam making 400 HP. Just because the cam "sounds" small does not mean it will not perform.

 

[Jonstantine]

i did the same thing you did...
except i have stock heads... i have the performer cam, and had the performer intake...

i would recommend going with the performer rpm intake, as ive heard you will lose no low end power...
as for carbs, with my auto tranny - the 600 cfm edelbrock bogs my motor
I STRONGLY recommend you get a 500, if you must have a 600 cfm carb, you want one with vacuum secondaries (non edelbrock/carter)

but telling you what i have, if i did it over again - i would get a bigger (smaller than the rpm cam though) cam and get the performer rpm intake
and i just bought a used road demon carb yesterday - hopefully ill have it in by monday

 

[Red66GT]

Thanks for the replies guys,
I decided on a Comp Cams XE256H, which was recommended by a tech at compcams, I can't wait to have everything installed by next weekend.

 

[ashford]

speaking of which, i did something like what your describing. i did a home porting to early (63) 289 heads. headders, offenhauser intake(after some thinking decided its not a well balanced intake) valve springs and a really odball cam. a 196I 200E duration at 0.050 and a 108 lobe seperation.

the thing has excellent driveability and wide torque curve(500-5000), but the bad part was that the torque wasnt very much with horrible gas mileage. i put the cam in to replace a energizer 270 grind because i thought id improve driveability overall. low end torque improved, lost alot of top end, and actually lost gas milage????