Is anybody using an F303 cam in there car?

[stangboy]

Hey guys,
I'm about to do H/C/I upgrade to my car. I have an Edelbrock Performer intake, I'm ordering My AFR 165s next week, and I have an F303 cam that I've been having. I'm trying to find out who's running an F cam in there 94-95 to see if they're having any major issues with it. Like, will the car hold an idle at all? If the computer is going to freak out too bad when I put the f cam in my car I won't put it in. I just want to put a better cam than the stock one in the car while I have everything apart, but I don't think I'm gonna have enough money in my budget to buy another cam.....also, if I'm gonna buy another cam I'd like to get a custom cam from Ed Curtis but I KNOW I won't have enough money for that. I only have $2000 to play with and the heads are taking most of that. So, let's hear it guys, who's running the F cam? Let me know what kind of issues you're having if any at all. If you're not having any issues, let me know that too.

 

[red94fiveo]

Save your money and don't even bother until you can get an FTI cam. For an extra $150 you can have one that is custom tailored to your application. A reltively cheap cost for an important custom component in my opinion. I think a lot of people have also had idling problems with some of the letter cams. Just my $.02.

 

[HRT11]

idles do suck with the letter cams and comp cams equivalents

 

[yellow1995Cobra]

i agree with red, just wait an extra paycheck or two and get the fti cam.

 

[stangboy]

Ok, well, will it hold an idle at all? I really don't have the money to buy another cam because the left over money from the $2000 has to pay for my throttle body, gaskets, new head bolts, x-pipe, to match my longtubes that I'm gonna be putting on the car when I do the h/c/i, pushrods, maybe valve covers if my stock one don't clear my RRs, driveshaft loop, and motor and tranny mounts (I need that BAD). So, money for a cam isn't gonna be there. So, i'm trying to use everything that I have already.

 

[stangboy]

i agree with red, just wait an extra paycheck or two and get the fti cam.

The other reason I don't wanna get an FTI cam right now is because at some point in the near future i'll be stroking my motor to a 331 and I'm gonna definately get a custom cam for that, so it doesn't make sense to get a custom cam for this combo because I'm gonna upgrade again hopefully soon..... like by the end of the year. Maybe I can find somebody to trade me for a Trickflow stage 1 cam.

 

[red94fiveo]

If you plan to be going the 331 route in the future, I'd just wait and leave the stock one in there right now. If you don't want to spend anymore money for the moment I don't think you'll be happy with the idling problems associated with the letter cams.

 

[Joes95GT]

With an F or a custom cam, you are probably going to have ideling issues, so a tweecer should be in the works as well.

Joe

 

[yellow1995Cobra]

The other reason I don't wanna get an FTI cam right now is because at some point in the near future i'll be stroking my motor to a 331 and I'm gonna definately get a custom cam for that, so it doesn't make sense to get a custom cam for this combo because I'm gonna upgrade again hopefully soon..... like by the end of the year. Maybe I can find somebody to trade me for a Trickflow stage 1 cam.

Ok that makes sense. But with a 331, dont you think the 165's are going to be a bit small? I would think 185's would be on order. I would have waited for the 331 short block before buying heads/cam.

Like joe said, your gonna need a tuning device as well.. So add that to the budget.

 

[ProKiller]

i have a F cam and have no problems with it. mine is tuned, and i bought it this way, so i don't know about out of the box idle issues, but i no problems with it now. i like it, makes good power. the sound is great. i'd say use it or stay stock and wait till you stroke it.

 

[stangboy]

Ok that makes sense. But with a 331, dont you think the 165's are going to be a bit small? I would think 185's would be on order. I would have waited for the 331 short block before buying heads/cam.

Like joe said, your gonna need a tuning device as well.. So add that to the budget.

Well, when I get the 331 I'm either gonna sell the 165s and buy some 185s or I'm gonna get the 165s machined for 2.02 intake valves. That IS the only difference between the 165s and 185s, right? Or is there more CNC work done to the 185s?

I want to get the 165s right now because I'm tired of having a 14 second car. The 331 isn't guaranteed to come before the end of the year. Its just a possibility. I wanna have fun racing my boys and being able to run other people and actually having a chance of winning. Its no fun not being able to compete while most of your friends are out winning races.

 

[Joes95GT]

Well, when I get the 331 I'm either gonna sell the 165s and buy some 185s or I'm gonna get the 165s machined for 2.02 intake valves. That IS the only difference between the 165s and 185s, right? Or is there more CNC work done to the 185s?

I want to get the 165s right now because I'm tired of having a 14 second car. The 331 isn't guaranteed to come before the end of the year. Its just a possibility. I wanna have fun racing my boys and being able to run other people and actually having a chance of winning. Its no fun not being able to compete while most of your friends are out winning races.

The 185's are a whole different head. The intake runners on the 165 head are 165cc, hence the name. The intake runners on the 185's are 185cc, hence it's name. The exhaust runners maybe the same, althought it wouldn't make sense for it to be that way. Just the machine work alone for new valves, seals, and cutting to accept the 2.02 intake valve would be probably 1000 bucks. Look into it before you spend more money than you need to.

Joe

 

[stangboy]

The 185's are a whole different head. The intake runners on the 165 head are 165cc, hence the name. The intake runners on the 185's are 185cc, hence it's name. The exhaust runners maybe the same, althought it wouldn't make sense for it to be that way. Just the machine work alone for new valves, seals, and cutting to accept the 2.02 intake valve would be probably 1000 bucks. Look into it before you spend more money than you need to.

Joe

I'll find out for sure before I do anything. But I doubt i'll have a problem selling the 165s.