89 hatchback, 4.30 gears, 5 speed, 302 with fresh bottom end, trick flow 190 heads, trick flow upper/lower intake. what off the shelf cam to use? was thinking about the stage 3 tfs cam but i'm interested in other options. car will not be run on the street, looking to get deep in the 11's on motor and in the 10's with a shot of nitrous. not looking for a nitrous cam, want it to run strongest on motor alone.
trick flow 190 heads, what cam
- Thread starter dmc919
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liljoe07
5 Year Member
You'll need something that doesn't have a lot of duration, but with good lift. Lots of guys over cam their engines. Then they complain about it being a dog in the lower rpm's. Then you have guys saying that the heads or intake are too big because if this. Thats totally inaccurate. Its the fact that the combination as a whole is screwed up because of a miss match cam. A cam with a lot of duration is not what you need with a set of heads like the TFS 190 on a 302/6. But, lift is your friend! And a cam with 225+ intake duration is probably way too much for this combo. I wouldn't use the TFS 3 unless you feel like reving this thing pretty high to make any power. My custom cam has about 214 on the intake duration. If that tells you anything.
Sounds like you are balls deep financially already, why no just spend a few more bucks and get a custom cam? Not from the comp guys either, get the specs from an engine builder.
Another good reason to go custom is that 190's are probably a bit much for a 302.
Another good reason to go custom is that 190's are probably a bit much for a 302.
joel5.0
New Member
.... 190's are not "a bit much for a 302"....... they simply do not require such an aggressive camshaft on the intake to perform more efficiently. Or are 260cc heads a bit much for OEM 376 CI engines used in '07+ trucks and SUV's by GM?
You aren't really comparing a 6.2l gm truck engine with variable timing to a stock 302 are you?
By your theory everyone with a 302 should start out with afr 185's, or TFS 190's. Guess all these companies are just wasting their time making heads with 165 or 170 runners.
Ever seen an original boss 302 setup? Heads are enormous, what's worse is that it makes 200rwhp.
To the OP, since the car is a race car, you can probably make it work pretty well since you won't need any low end to get your around on the street or in parking lots, but seriously consider an expert for cam choice.
joel5.0
New Member
Yes I am, or is the variable cam timing concept not the same as installing the correct valve events? Obviously the Windsor/Cleveland setups do lack that technology and capability however, haven't you heard of the concept "middle ground"? And yes..... everyone with a 302 would be better off setting an efficient intake setup that doesn't require the use of an aggressive camshaft. Or is a 306 with Victor Jr. 210 cc heads, 9.75 CR, street setup, with all its accessories (A/C included), single plane intake and 650 DP Holley, giving 20+mpg and running 11.3 ET's @118 MPH 100% N/A, too strange to understand? Intake duration @.050" of the cam?... 210° on a 114° LSA.
And no..... I have not seen an original Boss 302, I worked on two 289 clevor setups moons ago. Guess which camshaft setup available then, provided the best performance AND driveability to everyone's surprise, myself included? IOW..... no, it is not a theory. It is something that has been proven empirically, and the OEM's are now using along with other technologies in their emissions/CAFE compliant SUV's and trucks..... not racing setups. Welcome to the new millennium.
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