Need help in choosing cam for 351w

jruppert · Feb 22, 2009

My current cam in the 351w is too small. It is a TFS stage 1 with 1.7 roller rockers. Ideally I would like to go with a custom cam but my future plans would be to build a 393 or 408. It would be at this time that I would go custom. Anyway, the cam is too small and I want something with more grunt. It runs good from 1500 to around 4800 but seems to drop off after that. I would like something that would pull good into the high 5,000 range or low 6,000 range. I do not remember style valve reliefs are in my engine. When I purchased the engine (online), the builder told me that it would accept the z303 cam. However, with 1.7 rockers, I am unsure where to go. Any thoughts or suggestions would be great. Thanks

str8stang036 · Feb 22, 2009

I suggest going with Ed Curtis at Flow Tech Inductions. He can make a custom grind for your 351w as he did mines.

jruppert · Feb 22, 2009

I did not want to go with a custom cam right now because I plan on building another engine next year. I want a cam that will perform better then what I have now. Thanks

str8stang036 · Feb 22, 2009

I believe he will give you a credit for returning the custom one you got from him for the new one. Its something to consider.

Venom351R · Feb 22, 2009

I have a Crower 15512 Stage 2 cam I took out of my 351W when I went custom

jruppert · Feb 22, 2009

With a 1.7RR, the Crower cam appears to be .527 intake and .544 exhaust. My TFS stage 1 cam comes in at .530/.542. I am unsure where I should be according to the rest of my combo. I do know that it pulls pretty good up until 4500 or so then it falls flat. That may be partly to do with the intake though.

Venom351R · Feb 22, 2009

Could very well be, those AFR 185's are going to want more air then the Edelbrock RPM is going to give it. I had the Cobra intake on mine w/ the same heads and it was running out of steam in the higher RPM's, changed the cam and the intake and picked up 3.5MPH untuned in the 1/4 mile

jruppert · Feb 22, 2009

Thanks for the suggestions. I wouldnt mind going with a chrome style Cobra intake. I like the looks of them. I wasnt really sure how they stand up to the overall cfm flow that the AFR 185's will require. Any thoughts about the spyder intake? There are a few things I need to consider along with a cam. I understand the intake should be upgraded and probably the headers as well. I would like to go with a set of Kooks 2 inch headers with a 3 1/2 collector. Do you think this would be over kill?

Venom351R · Feb 22, 2009

jruppert said:
Thanks for the suggestions. I wouldnt mind going with a chrome style Cobra intake. I like the looks of them. I wasnt really sure how they stand up to the overall cfm flow that the AFR 185's will require. Any thoughts about the spyder intake? There are a few things I need to consider along with a cam. I understand the intake should be upgraded and probably the headers as well. I would like to go with a set of Kooks 2 inch headers with a 3 1/2 collector. Do you think this would be over kill?

The Spyder intake would be a nice upgrade, either that or the Victor JR or the Trick Flow R for the 351W. As far as the headers Im not to sure b/c that's one area I have not tackled yet.

Stopsign32v · Feb 22, 2009

I say go with the new AFM N-112 cam or their older N-111.

auto02 · Feb 23, 2009

just buy a stage 2 or 3 tfs cam for now until you ready to empty your bank account on a custom grind!

jruppert · Feb 23, 2009

Do you think the TFS stage 2 cam would be fine with 1.7 roller rockers? From what I understand, the 1.7's will bump the lift up to .576/.598. With 1.6's, the lift would be .542/.563

BlackVert · Feb 23, 2009

what block do you have? if it is not a roller block, are you using link bar lifters? with low lift cams you can get away with a hold down spider conversion, but with higher lift cams, you need link bar lifters

KamiKaziDK · Feb 24, 2009

It's not all about lift...you want to be looking at duration numbers more than anything if you're not happy with what you have, really....a stage 2 cam would be a huge increase in performance. Do a search on how camshafts make power with lift, duration, etc....

jruppert · Feb 24, 2009

Thanks for the help guys. The block is roller. I will have to look into the whole duration aspect of the cam. Thanks again

Don 95Vert · Feb 24, 2009

str8stang036 said:
I suggest going with Ed Curtis at Flow Tech Inductions. He can make a custom grind for your 351w as he did mines.

Ditto - I wouldn't waste my time getting off the shelf cams - they may be good, but there are so many choices you'll never really know if you lucked into the right one. Ed is the best and he eliminates luck as a factor in cam choice.

BlackVert · Feb 24, 2009

jruppert said:
I did not want to go with a custom cam right now because I plan on building another engine next year. I want a cam that will perform better then what I have now. Thanks

Since you want to wait until next year for your custom cam, then I say just go with the TFS stage 2 for now. It is more agressive then the stage 1 you have in there now, and it is inexpensive.

Per summitracing, it looks like you have this one: TFS-51402000

The TFS-51402001 is only $169.

BlackVert · Feb 24, 2009

jruppert said:
I would like to go with a set of Kooks 2 inch headers with a 3 1/2 collector. Do you think this would be over kill?

Is this going to be a race car or a street car? I had KOOKS and they were beautiful. the problem I had was they hung too low so they scraped on every speed bump ever made and they leaked like crazy at the collectors. If I were building a race car, they would have been fine, but mine is 100% street, so I got rid of them and got some mid lengths from accufab.

But about the sizes ... 2" primaries with 3 1/2" collectors are HUGE. Unless you are building a 427 turbo, then I'd say that is overkill.

S351Saleen77 · Feb 24, 2009

You need more duration. That's what will make it pull into the higher RPM. Also you need a good flowing intake I wouldn't run the Cobra unless it was extrude honed or cut and ported....for Way less money you could buy a Edelbrock, T/F etc.

2" headers are Way too big for 351 cubes and 185 heads.

You 185 heads are going to be too small when you stroke it to a 408. If you had a 408 with big heads and forced induction you could get away with 2" headers.

jruppert · Feb 24, 2009

Do you think the TFS 2 cam with extra duration will be good enough until I build my engine? I am really concerned about the clearance with these 1.7's. What intake would you suggest? I am already running an RPM intake with 75mm throttle. Thanks

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