89 GT. X-303 cam

[meknized]

Hello,

I have a question that some one can answer.
I have a 89 GT that has a central coast 331 with the X-303 cam. When I was putting the motor together I noticed That the muti indexed timing chain for cam degreeing was set at 6 degrees retarded. I thought this was quite odd so I called coast up and asked them about this. I thought a couple of degrees advanced was generally optimum. When I talked to them, they said that is where it makes the most power. I left it that way because they do engines more tha I but still think this backwards. The car has done a best of 12.82 @ 108.8. Maybe there is more in with moving the cam. What do you think?

[420nitro]

Need alot more info.

The cam has 4 degrees of advance built in. When you retard 6 degrees on a multi-index cam gear it is actually 2 degrees retarded from straight-up. But any ways when you retard a cam....it brings the power in later. Basically the power band has been raise about 1,200 rpms in a typical 302-306. Your 331 makes the cam seem smaller because of the cubic inches. So actually it has a power band to close of what it would be in a regular 302-306 cubic inch motor now.
I never liked that cam plus it's really out-dated by todays standards. I would look into some other proven camshafts like the comp-cams extreme energy if not the TFS grinds. It all depends on WAY TO MANY variables. We need alot more info of the entire package of your combo.

But for a 331 to run high 12's at that mph is off unless you are in REAL HIGH elevation. ( for a motor built for racing in N/A trim.)

[tireburner163]

I agree the X-303 is outdated. If you want a good cam call up Ed Curtis and get him to custom grind you one. It's $325 for a custom cam but it will be spot on for your combo.



High 12's for a 331 IS off. What's the rest of your combo?

[meknized]

Thanks guys for replying,

I willing to try new cams. The combination I have is the aforementioned 331 with mildly ported and milled GT- 40X heads Compression @ 9.8, 1.6 FMS roller rockers, cobra intake w/ lower matched to the heads 70MM TB, MAC intake, 75MM bullet MAF, Ford's "cobra computer" XZ3 Instead of A9L, 24LB injectors, Accufab regulator set at 40psi, 255 pump, Flowtech equal lengths, MAC X-pipe, Flowmasters, ASP underdrives, deleted air pump, 3.73 gears, moser 31s axles, Auburn Pro series Diff., Tremec TR3550, Pro 5.0 shifter, Center force dual friction clutch, Boxed upper and lower control arms, cross subframes, Timing is @14, MSD 6AL and blaster coil, Accel 300+ wires, that is the main stuff. I agree that the times are off at the drags I live in Kansas so I don't live at a high elavation. Maybe I'm wrong but I think this car should pull harder for what I have. My 60ft times are in the 2.1 range. I posted here recently that my car dosen't seem to run exactly right. It did at first but not now. ANY SUGGESTIONS ARE DEFINEATLY APPRECIATED

[420nitro]

60 foot is W A Y O F F !!!
Are you hooking or are you just simply blowing the tires away?

I am willing to bet that you are blowing the tires off.
But any ways a 2.1 60 foot at that et is damn good.
Get the car to leave hard and that thing should be in the low 12's if not high 11's.

Look into a set off slicks and some suspension parts.
Your car should still "MPH' in the 110-114 range though...

[meknized]

HELLO,

I have actually used a set of slicks but they were Mickey T 26x8.5 and I kept spinning whith those. I'm not the best driver out of the hole, but Beleive me I'm trying to improve. What do you recommend on slick and rim size plus back spacing?

[420nitro]

15x8 with a 5.5 inch back spacing
26x10 et drag.

If you plan on using a power adder that will add more then 150 horsepower,.... use either a 28x9 or 28X10.5 et drag

Street / strip car?.....
Use 90/10 or 70/30 front struts
Remove the front-sway bar either all the time or at the race track.
50/50 rear shocks
battery in the trunk
sub-frame connecters
4 cylinder springs in the front
after market control arms for the rear like south-sides lift bars or mega-bite jrs. with battle boxes. You can use motorsport hd uppers if you like or steeda h/d boxed uppers.

If you do all the above....... your car should hook hard even on the street dumping the clutch at 5,000 rpms!

[fiveOguy20]

just a question but are u heating those slicks up enough.. how much life is left in them?

the reason i ask is because im using the same size slick on my 347 and am able to knock off 1.64's with stock susupention still.

[~The Jester~]

108 MPH for a 12.82 is waaaaaay outta line like Nitro420 said. You've got some issues there. Of course blowing the tires off of it in the first 60' isn't helping much, but I think you have deeper lying "problems". (Can there really be "problems" with a 12 sec Stang????)

Don't forget about Cam Motion if you're thinking custom ground cam. They even have an online "thingy" that you plug in all your engine's variables, and they tell you what you should run. Check 'em out at http://www.cammotion.com

28X11.5 will fit with MINOR fenderwell lip modification. Then throw some 4.30 gears under there.......

[meknized]

Hello, been awhile on vacation.

To answer you guys, I think I'm doing a okay burnout, I get white haze, and I have had the slicks for about two years, but they seem to be in good shape. The depth holes are about an 1/8 deep still. any suggestions aprreciated.
Yes, The car is way off. I posted a message about the problems awhile back but no bites. With the mods I have, I was totally expecting Low 12's at the least. I have a NX 150 shot I have yet to use, so I was hoping low 11's with good hook. I haven't used the spray beacuse the car is not running like it should. Don't want a BOOM.

[88fivepointoh]

The x-cam is outdated I think, I am not one to talk cause i run the f-cam, but my buddy went with a trick flow stage one, and it sounds and runs great.. windes up fast... there is another guy on here with the same issues... I am not a fan of the adjustable cam timings. I like straight up apps. where is your timing set at with the spout off?

[meknized]

I have the timing set @ 14 initial with spout off.

What is the size of this cam? Do you know roughly how much it costs?

[fiveOguy20]

well ike 420 nitro mentioned ur 60's are not at all where they should be, i personally dont think the problem is the cam... even tho it may not be cutting edge it still makes decent power when matched properaly. again as nitro brought out, u no doubt will be low 12's once u get that power to ground, look into some suspension for sure

[Dark_5.0]

I read your mod list and figured it out. Get rid of the cobra computer ASAP the cobra computer pulls timing between shifts and just all around sucks. Put an A9L in there and I bet you go a couple tenths faster.

[88fivepointoh]

Yep bounce the A9L...

[meknized]

Thanks guys,

I think I have a guy who has one from a 90 lx. I try to get that one and see how it works. If the cobra cpu pulls timing and all that, what good is it? That's probably why I haven't heard of too many people using it.