Choices...

[skywalker]

I've decided on getting a cam from comp cams. I haevn't decided which one.

I'm looking at the 270H, the 268H, XE256H or the XE268H.

I have mostly stock right now but I want to change that in the future. Only real mods i have are my edelbrock intake and 650cfm edelbrock carb. I'm going to add headers and eventually aftermarket heads though. It's a daily driver so I want something that has a civil idle (a little lopey isn't a bad thing though) but at the same time I want to see some power gains, particularly in the low and mid range. Any suggestions on which I should go with?

 

[Ronstang]

The XE (Extreme Energy) cams are great for mild street machines. I would go with the XE268 if you want to push it to the limit of the stock converter and maximize performance. If idle quality and milder performacne with good gas mileage is your concern then the XE256 might be a better choice. Either will work nice with aftermarket heads.

 

[skywalker]

I should mention I run a T-5 tranny and I have really high gears (numerically low, like 2.75 or something around there)

 

[Ronstang]

I still like the XE series of cams for the street......and your tranny is great but you could stand some more rear gear.

 

[skywalker]

I'm wanting to put in a trac-lok rear and when I do that I'll probably step the rear gears up a little bit (3.25 area) But it IS a daily driver so...the gears aren't going to far.

 

[Ronstang]

With a T-5 you could run a 4.11 rear gear with the same effective rpms in 5th the car would have run with an original C-4 in 4th gear......and my old coupe could get 24 mpg on the highway with a C-4, food for thought. I suggest 3.50s at least.

 

[skywalker]

C-4 was 3-speeds. And that's exactly what I want to avoid. No 3.25 sounds good for my uses. It's not going to be a drag car so...

 

[Ronstang]

Yeah....I was asleep when I put 4th gear for a C-4....I know it only has 3

 

[skywalker]

Don't worry, it happens to LL of us. I've made worse mistakes! haha. I was perplexed for a moment caue I was thinking "I'm the guy who is new to american cars and fords especially, of all people this guy should know!!!" It's kewl though.
I hated the C-4. Not because it was a bad transmission but because a) I don't particularly like driving an automatic, I feel a loos of control when I do. and b) gas mileage was hideous...not good for a daily driven car.

 

[D.Hearne]

With your shorter rear tires ( about 26 vs my 28's on my 89 V8 Ranger) your first gear with a T-5 and 3.25's is close to the same ratio as the Toploader 4 speed ( 2.78 1st) and 3.73 rear I'm running. This combo I have is about as low a 1st gear as you'd ever want. As soon as you nail the gas, the motor hits 5500 rpms , and I end up floating the valves before I can shift. I wouldn't go lower on your rear gear, even with the T-5's overdrive.

 

[skywalker]

3.25 is where I plan to go, I'm currently like 2.7x.

 

[Rent-A-Racer]

skywalker, did you to the T-5 swap?? How was it? Difficulty wise?