• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

Noob Cam Question

  • Thread starter Thread starter Strype
  • Start date Start date Jun 30, 2013

Strype

Cuthbert catcher
Founding Member
May 11, 1999
61
34
104
Huntsvegas, AL
Jun 30, 2013
#1
  • Jun 30, 2013
  • #1
I have no shame...

So what should a b303 feel like? What should my timing be set at?

I've read advanced all the way, I've read stock timing. It shakes the whole frikin car and backfires until warm at 14 degrees.

I've never had a cammed car before. Should it shake enough to see the motor shake, the gear shifter shake, and rattle the interior at idle? As in I can feel it in the seat. The hood moves when it's up. I need to know so I can smooth it out if it needs it. I've been searching youtube but everyone posts videos of their exhaust pipes.
 

f8tlfiveo

My wife likes my spool and blow-off valve.
Aug 8, 2007
1,585
102
64
Lancaster, PA
Jun 30, 2013
#2
  • Jun 30, 2013
  • #2
Did you replace just the cam? If so is the distributor in correctly, if it is out 180* it will still run, but not right. I would say with the timing to start at stock and move it up a couple degrees until it feels right. I have never ran my cars more than 13*
 

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
10,641
8,909
234
Birmingham, al
Jun 30, 2013
#3
  • Jun 30, 2013
  • #3
There is a difference between the way a car runs w/ a more radical cam and a car that has something not right. The cam will have a rougher idle, and you will hear the overlap at that time,.....but it wouldn't cause the car to backfire "until it's warm".

A backfire is caused by one of two things:

1.You have a vacuum leak, or 2. you (more than likely) have something wrong w/ timing. That can be either "cam" timing, or "ignition" timing. Who put the cam in? How did you/they install the timing chain?,...The distributor, Adjust the valves? Before you arbitrarily just start changing things (like your timing) let us know about the other things so somebody can give you proper advice.

I've had mechanical roller cams in street driven cars that didn't backfire when winging the throttle even after 1 minute, and the lift and duration of one of those cams would make a B303 look like a stocker.
 

1200gt

Active Member
Nov 29, 1999
357
40
39
Jun 30, 2013
#4
  • Jun 30, 2013
  • #4
I was considering running this cam too as I like the way they sound. I'm not so interested in dino points, just a street driven ride that I would enjoy a little lope in the bay.

I'd like to hear how you work out this issue, even if you made a boo-boo on the install. It will help out the next newbe...
 

mikestang63

SN Certified Technician
Aug 27, 2012
11,606
8,859
214
In the garage
Jun 30, 2013
#5
  • Jun 30, 2013
  • #5
Dwayne, please don't run an alphabet cam. They are 25 year old technology. If you want a good off the shelf cam, call up comp cams or run an Anderson cam. Personally I recommend spending an extra 100 bucks and call Ed at FTI and let him grind you a cam.
 

Strype

Cuthbert catcher
Founding Member
May 11, 1999
61
34
104
Huntsvegas, AL
Jun 30, 2013
#6
  • Jun 30, 2013
  • #6
The self test said cyl 2 is out of whack so I'll chase that down first. Put it in dot to dot. We've already been 180 out but I'll check again. Hci job gt40x heads
 
V

v8only

Active Member
Jul 3, 2003
2,378
22
49
Jun 30, 2013
#7
  • Jun 30, 2013
  • #7
nothing at all wrong with an alphabet cam..yea theyre old..but if we were looking for every last ounce of hp we wouldnt be bothering with gt40 heads...at the price of the anderson cam...ill just wait till i get real heads not gt40y heads...

my b303 has a wicked little lope...but no backfiring..what is your idle speed set at? if its too low the entire car will shake...set your idle speed to 900-950, thats what it likes..i have my timing set at 18 initial 18 total but in a carbd application and it screams

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVCc1FWBJos&feature=youtube_gdata_player


Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

G
Help with initial Microsquirt ignition setting
  • germain101
  • Nov 13, 2025
  • Digital Self-tuning Forum
Replies
3
Views
530
Digital Self-tuning Forum Nov 15, 2025
Mustang5L5
8
Engine Rough idle and aggressive sputtering when accelerating
  • 88vertible
  • Aug 13, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
4
Views
1K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Dec 13, 2025
Jarhead67
J
A
2001 Mustang GT, scorched metal smell and noise from trans/diff?
  • AndyE2255
  • Dec 1, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
4
Views
414
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Dec 28, 2025
gkomo
S
Engine Stalls when downshifting/coasting
  • Scott_S
  • Nov 5, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
11
Views
648
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Nov 6, 2025
Mustang5L5
A
Got it running!! (Gt40p top end swap with Mac LT headers and n41 cam)
  • Angelq1028
  • Jan 5, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
1
Views
323
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jan 5, 2025
AeroCoupe
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?