Thought I knew Something About Cams, But Then I Decided to Get a Roller Block

[jikelly]

Can you guys recommend a good roller cam for a 351w with a wiend stealth intake and a set of the early powerheads?

I've run Comp Xtreme 268 cam on two engine combinations with great success and would get one again except it doesn't look like they have a roller cam with the same duration lift as that. I understand the rollers change things up a little, but I have no idea what I should be looking for. The Ford cams advertise equal intake and exhaust duration and lift (228/228 .484/.484) I thought you wanted more exhaust duration and lift than you had at the intake. Am I wrong? Does that change for a roller engine?

 

[D.Hearne]

With good heads, the split duration and lift isn't necessary. That was a crutch for the stock small block heads crappy exhaust ports. What do you want the engine to do? Want a lopey idle? (the Ford B303 and others will do that for you and they can be had cheap used or second hand----look in the SN classifieds) If you want a smooth idle and powerband something like the F4TE truck cam is a good choice, the specs are thus with 1.7 rockers: 256/266 (advertised duration) .445/.473 lift, 116*LSA. I have the Ford Z303 in my 331 with 1.7 rockers (228/[email protected]/.587 lift) and it has a nice lopey idle but not so bad, it idles fine at 700 rpms. I've also used the B303 in two builds with 1.7 rockers. It's got a healthy, somewhat nasty idle but makes good all around power using a dual plane intake. With Canfield heads on a 5.0 and a Vic Jr, it's power was from 3000 to 7500.

 

[iskwezm]

Can you guys recommend a good roller cam for a 351w with a wiend stealth intake and a set of the early powerheads?

I wouldnt touch anything from Powerheads if they are the same company that was in Fullerton, Ca. They ported my Edelbrocks and did more damage then good and the same happened to a freinds edelbrocks too.They told me i would get a prinout of what they would flow and they they said "oh trust me, they flow xxx cfm.I had to replace all of the springs that they claim were good up to .625 lift andthen shim the head since they didnt and the springs ate into the head.. and then Frod Performance (current engine builder)showed me what ported heads should look like.

 

[jikelly]

I guess my plan for this engine is to make it a mild build that's fine on the street since my mustang will again be my daily driver and gas prices ain't going down.

The 268 x cam I had a fairly good idle. Car shook a little but not too much loppy
I think is what you'd call it. I was planing on going the one step below that cam this time around, but the roller stuff is different so I really am no knowing what to do.

thanks for the info D.Hearne. Yeah I looked at the ford cams in my summit catalog and they are way less than anything from the aftermarket. They have a kit in which I could get the E303 (I think that's the one I'd want) with lifters and timing chain for like 200. I just wasn't sure about the cam's specs and what they would mean for the power output of the motor.

I need to get me a new copy of desktop dyno.

 

[jikelly]

I wouldnt touch anything from Powerheads if they are the same company that was in Fullerton, Ca. They ported my Edelbrocks and did more damage then good and the same happened to a freinds edelbrocks too.They told me i would get a prinout of what they would flow and they they said "oh trust me, they flow xxx cfm.I had to replace all of the springs that they claim were good up to .625 lift andthen shim the head since they didnt and the springs ate into the head.. and then Frod Performance (current engine builder)showed me what ported heads should look like.

Sorry to hear that man.

My heads have been great. I've had them on the stang since 02 and have had no problems whatsoever with them. Personally I think my old home ported heads had a lot more zip, but they also gave me nearly a 9.5:1 compression on my engine, whereas the powerhead heads dropped that mark probably to around 8 to 8.5.

 

[iskwezm]

Sorry to hear that man.

My heads have been great. I've had them on the stang since 02 and have had no problems whatsoever with them. Personally I think my old home ported heads had a lot more zip, but they also gave me nearly a 9.5:1 compression on my engine, whereas the powerhead heads dropped that mark probably to around 8 to 8.5.

Im not going to say i didnt notice a difference in THEIR porting, but im sure for what i spent i would have gotten a little better service/performance from other people after i had known what was going on.

 

[bnickel]

most everything i've read on the powerheads has the exhaust flowing way better than any factory and most aftermarket heads. this was a few years ago so i'm sure there are newer aftermarket heads that flow better on the exhaust side now but the general consensus with those heads is that you won't need the split duration cam any longer. personally, i think the split duration helps exhaust scavenging with any head but obviously moreso with stock factory heads.

for those heads (i'm assuming 60cc chambers) something like a b-303 or f-303 cam would be a good choice and not be too hard on gas with your tremec trans.
i would shoot for at least 9.5"1 compression though if not more like 10:1. you get such better mileage with more compression and with today's gas prices we need all the help we can get. with 10:1 you'll have to use at least mid-grade gas if not premium but the better mileage will offset the cost. aluminum heads would be better of course with higher compression but 10:1 is not too high especially with an higher lift/duration cam.

 

[66forfun]

cheap timing chain, you get what you pay for.

 

[D.Hearne]

I guess my plan for this engine is to make it a mild build that's fine on the street since my mustang will again be my daily driver and gas prices ain't going down.

The 268 x cam I had a fairly good idle. Car shook a little but not too much loppy
I think is what you'd call it. I was planing on going the one step below that cam this time around, but the roller stuff is different so I really am no knowing what to do.

thanks for the info D.Hearne. Yeah I looked at the ford cams in my summit catalog and they are way less than anything from the aftermarket. They have a kit in which I could get the E303 (I think that's the one I'd want) with lifters and timing chain for like 200. I just wasn't sure about the cam's specs and what they would mean for the power output of the motor.

I need to get me a new copy of desktop dyno.

I'd look thru the classifieds here for second hand rollers before ordering a new one. Some one here is always selling stuff they thought they wanted then changed their minds. Bought the Z303 here, new in the box 2nd hand for $115 shipped. Little used B303's go for $75. can't beat that with a stick. Use it with 1.7 rockers to up the lift to .510. Even the used HO/GT 5.0 cams are good for mild builds. These are 266/266 duration, lift with 1.6's is .445/.445. 1.7's add .030 to that. You can occasionally find the F4TE cam that was put in lots of the Ford Racing crate motors and pulled for something hotter. Some will say go spend the money for a custom cam, but I'm a cheap skate and can't see the point in spending $2-300 more for not a lot more performance.

 

[bnickel]

I'd look thru the classifieds here for second hand rollers before ordering a new one. Some one here is always selling stuff they thought they wanted then changed their minds. Bought the Z303 here, new in the box 2nd hand for $115 shipped. Little used B303's go for $75. can't beat that with a stick. Use it with 1.7 rockers to up the lift to .510. Even the used HO/GT 5.0 cams are good for mild builds. These are 266/266, duration with 1.6's is .445/.445. 17's add .030 to that. You can occasionally find the F4TE cam that was put in lots of the Ford Racing crate motors and pulled for something hotter. Some will say go spend the money for a custom cam, but I'm a cheap skate and can't see the point in spending $2-300 more for not a lot more performance.

the B-303 and F-303 cams should be pretty easy to find used.

 

[jikelly]

I think I like this trick flow cam. It's got a little more lob separation and it's only 159 from summit.

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=TFS-51402000&autoview=sku

Duration at .50 221°/225°

Lift .499/.510 with 1.6 rockers

Separation 112°

 

[bnickel]

that should be a good cam, you don't really need the split duration anymore though because of the Power heads you have, but it won't hurt anything to run that cam with them.

 

[67Dylan]

I'm not a big fan of the alphabet cam, but for your needs they can't be beat. The TFS 1 cam is a more aggressive cam and will also meet your needs. I normally say go custom, but for a DD there are many good off the shelf cams that meet your needs; plus 300$ is probably more than you want to spend.