cam/heads Q's

brooksgnm · 02-18-2002, 09:22 PM

Wow, it's been a loooong time since I've been here, hi to anyone who remembers me!! Anyway, I've got some questions on cams, heads, bla bla bla. I've got a set of '70 351 (DOOE) castings, stock size valves at 1.84 and 1.54, est. 60cc chambers, a set of comp cams springs good up to .600 lift, hand porting them, going on an '85 roller cam motor. I'm looking at the E303, B303, and F303 cams, and of course I cant decide. My teacher swears up & down I should go with the F303, but I'm worried about losing all the low end power. So I'm thinking about going with the E303 or B303 with 1.7 rockers. What do you guys think would work best to keep a broad powerband, but not lose a bunch of power up top? This is really going to be a handling type car not drag race, thats the only reason I'm concerned with not going too big. Let me know what you think!

Capri306 · 02-19-2002, 03:27 AM

Hell yeah, dude, I remember ya!

Regarding cam selection, the E303 is going to be the most "stable" cam of that lineup. They do have a rough idle, IMHO. I've heard the same thing abou the F cam, all up top. If you have the money it's probably best to go with an Xtreme Energy from CompCams. The ramps on that should help out a small-valved head like what you've got there. Keep shopping around, I'm sure you'll find something with the power band you're looking for. Personally, I don't like the Crane cams because most of them have too much duration, and hence move the powerband upwards. I like a nice FLAT torque curve, and that means a mild LSA and duration, with high lift. Okay, I'm done ranting, and good to see ya again!

Unit 5302 · 02-19-2002, 08:52 PM

The XE series is very unimpressive as far as I'm concerned. If you don't want a cam, don't cam it. The XE series is extremely high lift, robbing horsepower because of the poor efficiency of lifting valvetrain to the moon under high powered valve springs that are built for very high lifts. Due to it's poor duration properties the top end will suffer as well. The XE cams are advertised to make more power than other cams with the same duration. No duh. They have very short durations (like stock or very mild choices) so it's not saying much. Also, with the XE series, say an XE266HR, you'll be running .544/.555 lift, and I don't know if the flow chart will show any improvement flowing at .550 vs .500. Personally, I don't think it will. I also have extreme doubts the ridiculous amount of exhaust favoritism on the XE line w

Bottom line, the XE series sacrifices horsepower vs other cams in order to provide a broad, lower rpm powerband. It tries to compensate for the horsepower loss by the inefficient way of increasing lift to a monsterous height. I'm not familiar enough with the 85's pistons to tell you whether or not you'll be flycutting them to fit a cam in.

I would stay to a more conventional cam, like the proven E cam: good N/A, good with blowers, broad powerband. The B303 with 1.7's is an F cam, basically. The Crane 2030 was the old miracle cam of the day, the Steeda #19 and TFS#1 are popular as well. I just don't know what you can run on the 85.

Unit 5302 · 02-19-2002, 09:01 PM

By the way, I remember you too. You came up in a conversation in the Blue Oval Lounge maybe a week or two ago.

Heh.

02-19-2002, 10:29 PM

I've got the B cam with GT40P heads and love it. The idle is enough to scare people off, noone tries to race me anymore! :-) The B cam and P heads didn't seem to help bottom end at all, but once you hit 3,500-4,000rpm hang on to your pants and be ready to shift! It almost feels like a 75hp shot of nitrous...

-Tim

Unit 5302 · 02-20-2002, 01:58 AM

The B cam isn't a low rpm cam. It's got a 224*/224* duration, and I think an LSA of 110.

02-19-2002, 03:27 AM	#2
Capri306 Moderator Join Date: Sep 1998 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA Posts: 1,001	Hell yeah, dude, I remember ya! Regarding cam selection, the E303 is going to be the most "stable" cam of that lineup. They do have a rough idle, IMHO. I've heard the same thing abou the F cam, all up top. If you have the money it's probably best to go with an Xtreme Energy from CompCams. The ramps on that should help out a small-valved head like what you've got there. Keep shopping around, I'm sure you'll find something with the power band you're looking for. Personally, I don't like the Crane cams because most of them have too much duration, and hence move the powerband upwards. I like a nice FLAT torque curve, and that means a mild LSA and duration, with high lift. Okay, I'm done ranting, and good to see ya again! __________________ Capri306, Moderator The Mustang Works Online 1979 Mercury Capri 1987 5.0L Mustang LX Notchback 1993 5.8L Eddie Bauer Bronco

02-18-2002, 09:22 PM	#1
brooksgnm Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Location: Union, Ohio, USA Posts: 582	cam/heads Q's Wow, it's been a loooong time since I've been here, hi to anyone who remembers me!! Anyway, I've got some questions on cams, heads, bla bla bla. I've got a set of '70 351 (DOOE) castings, stock size valves at 1.84 and 1.54, est. 60cc chambers, a set of comp cams springs good up to .600 lift, hand porting them, going on an '85 roller cam motor. I'm looking at the E303, B303, and F303 cams, and of course I cant decide. My teacher swears up & down I should go with the F303, but I'm worried about losing all the low end power. So I'm thinking about going with the E303 or B303 with 1.7 rockers. What do you guys think would work best to keep a broad powerband, but not lose a bunch of power up top? This is really going to be a handling type car not drag race, thats the only reason I'm concerned with not going too big. Let me know what you think! __________________ 85 GT/SVO project underway!

02-19-2002, 08:52 PM	#3
Unit 5302 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 5,246	The XE series is very unimpressive as far as I'm concerned. If you don't want a cam, don't cam it. The XE series is extremely high lift, robbing horsepower because of the poor efficiency of lifting valvetrain to the moon under high powered valve springs that are built for very high lifts. Due to it's poor duration properties the top end will suffer as well. The XE cams are advertised to make more power than other cams with the same duration. No duh. They have very short durations (like stock or very mild choices) so it's not saying much. Also, with the XE series, say an XE266HR, you'll be running .544/.555 lift, and I don't know if the flow chart will show any improvement flowing at .550 vs .500. Personally, I don't think it will. I also have extreme doubts the ridiculous amount of exhaust favoritism on the XE line w Bottom line, the XE series sacrifices horsepower vs other cams in order to provide a broad, lower rpm powerband. It tries to compensate for the horsepower loss by the inefficient way of increasing lift to a monsterous height. I'm not familiar enough with the 85's pistons to tell you whether or not you'll be flycutting them to fit a cam in. I would stay to a more conventional cam, like the proven E cam: good N/A, good with blowers, broad powerband. The B303 with 1.7's is an F cam, basically. The Crane 2030 was the old miracle cam of the day, the Steeda #19 and TFS#1 are popular as well. I just don't know what you can run on the 85.

02-19-2002, 09:01 PM	#4
Unit 5302 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 5,246	By the way, I remember you too. You came up in a conversation in the Blue Oval Lounge maybe a week or two ago. Heh.

02-19-2002, 10:29 PM	#5
1995GTS Guest Posts: n/a	I've got the B cam with GT40P heads and love it. The idle is enough to scare people off, noone tries to race me anymore! :-) The B cam and P heads didn't seem to help bottom end at all, but once you hit 3,500-4,000rpm hang on to your pants and be ready to shift! It almost feels like a 75hp shot of nitrous... -Tim

02-20-2002, 01:58 AM	#6
Unit 5302 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 5,246	The B cam isn't a low rpm cam. It's got a 224/224 duration, and I think an LSA of 110.