We should keep in mind that the cam that Michael Y uses with alum. GT40 heads, and that AFR said would work well with thier heads, is not likely a cam that is going to work well with ported E7's.
The cam Buddy Rawls ground me is based on a ported E7 head. A while back I was contemplating going back to totally stock E7's, Buddy said the cam would work well in that situation(not optimal) but what ever I do, don't thro aftermarket alum. heads at the cam, as it'd be all wrong.
I 'assume' the opposite would apply.
90mustangGT said:
All a cam is going to do to a stock engine is shift the powerband where the engine really can't breathe, making it slower even thought there would be a gain, the average TQ across the powerband would be lower ~ making it slower even thought there would be a gain, the average TQ across the powerband would be lower. A cam on a stock 5.0, maby a really mild one for gains, yes, but a very mild one.
Unfortunatly, most folks have no idea how to select a cam and as a result the above is the norm.
However, selecting a proper cam for the application will make more power, depending on where you want it.
To say a cam on a stocker will move the power band out of reach is not real, Ed Hohenberg runs NHRA stock, 11.9's and shifts 5600-5200rpm depending on gear being shifted. This is stock territory. But the cam was selected properly.
290rwhp and 330rwtq and 11.9's n/a with stock shortblock, untouched heads/intakes in my opinion is no mild gain.
Now, would you want to drive this car daily, likely not, but the performance certianly shows that gains are to be had on a 'stock' setup.
90mustangGT said:
Try to stay in the mid .400's in lift because the heads don't flow any more after 4.50 and the stock valve springs can't take it. Stay in the teens in durration. Such as a 212-216 on intak and 214-220 in exaust durration.
Any cam worth a look at is going to require upgraded springs.
Has less to do with lift/coil bind than it does ramp rates and bouncing valves.
A ported stock head should flow max at over 0.500, mine flow max at 0.600(only by a couple of cfm mind you). Given that. you'll likely want something that has lift in the mid 0.500's.
If 95% of the heads max flow is at 0.500... why have a cam that only goes to 0.500? If having the cam lift to 0.530-0.550 would allow a more aggressive ramp with a longer transition at the top, hanging the valve open longer where it flows the most, and going by 0.500 twice in one revolution, rather than once.
Also, a 'stock' head does not need a split durration cam.
I've seen specs on a few custom cams for stock, and ported stock heads, and none of them have had exhaust biased lift or duration specs.
So,
Fett,
Running the stock cam will have gas mileage and 500rpm-2000rpm advantages over a typical off the shelf unit.
I would definatly not run the E cam with ported stockers. The E was not designed for 'stock' applications.
My custom cam designed for ported stockers has identical lift/duration specs, in excess of 0.540 and 220... something to think about.
Seems when dealing with a restricted combo, there is inevidably(sp?) going to be trade-offs.
If you want gas mileage and off idle response, likely the stock cam is as good as it's gonna get, if you want to make a bowl of power, then something has got to give.
So...
you wanna make a litte power and give up some 500rpm-1200rpm drivability, cam it... you wanna really make some power, and give up mileage and charateeristics under 2000rpm, cam it... you wanna have a combo that makes your wife happy on her commute to the hair salon, don't cam it.
Good Luck.
I need to be careful when generalizing. Just wondering what your opinions were. 
