I had a thread awhile back about engine upgrades and towards the end of it we got to talking about camshafts. I was hoping that maybe you all can help me decide.

I am going to be putting the cam into a 1982 351w with stock heads. Edelbrock 1406 with 2181 performer intake. It also will have headers. It'll have a C6 behind it with most likely 3.55 gears on the rear axle.

What I want is a decent idle, don't mind a little lope. I want good low end torque through mid range. I will be using the truck as a town cruiser and for fun driving. Maybe a little highway driving every now and then.

I called the folks at Compcams, Lunati, Crane, Cower, Isky, and Bullet.

Their recommendations are all pretty similar. Here are the ones I have gotten responses from: I am kind of leaning towards the Compcams one or the Lunati one but am by no means eliminating the others.

Cost wise, I can get the compcam one as part of a kit that is by far the most cost effective.

 

The compcams one has the exact same specs as XE256H so I assume its the same thing.

 

If you tell them you want good low end, they give you a mild cam and I have never felt much seat-of-the-pants difference between those cams and the stock one. You will feel a big difference when you change the intake and carb and the exhaust, but I have never really been impressed with the mild aftermarket cams, it's hard to beat the stock cam for low end power.

Now if you are going to change the personality of this engine from a low end truck engine to a high revving racer, then the aftermarket is your only choice.

Also make sure to read the fine print on any aftermarket cam you put in a Ford. You may find "may require adjustable valvetrain" in fine print, which your engine does not have stock.

 

hmm, so you are saying that it really isn't worth it to get one of the cams listed above?

 

That's my own personal opinion after doing it.

 

Ok thanks. I will definitely look into keeping the current one.

Anyone else have any opinions on the cams listed or on keeping it stock?

I need to make a decision pretty soon.

 

Never knew what my 351 HO ran like with a stock cam, but it sure was a turd with a Comp 252H below 1700 RPM. I have the XE250H now and love it.

 

Why would an XE250h be better than the 252? Also, would that extend into the 256?

Everytime I settle on an answer I see something that changes my mind,haha.

 

252H has .433" lift on both intake and exhaust, and the same 206* duration @050 for both intake and exhaust. It is a single pattern cam. The XE250H is a dual pattern cam, and has 206* intake 212* exhaust duration @050 and .461" intake and .474" exhaust lift. Cam events are almost identical to both cams. They are only 1-3* degrees different from each other, been a while since I looked at the specs. The XE250H runs much better on the low end than the 252H did. MPG averages .5 MPG better over the 252H as well. If you're going to change from a factory cam during a rebuild or something. Then a XE250H would be a good replacement. An XE256H would have even more power, but slightly less torque off idle over the XE250H. Probably not hardly enough to notice, but the spec's show it.

 

Okay that makes sense I guess.

So of the two, the XE250H would be a little better off the line than the 256?

But in the mid range the 256 is a little better?

 

Yes, that's correct. The XE250H has an RPM range of 600-4800 RPM. And they're not joking with the 600 RPM either! Probably not enough to make a difference, I just really like having instant strong torque the first 1/16" of the pedal being depressed lol. The XE256H should be a good strong cam. I wouldn't hesitate to use it.

 

When replacing the cam, I am going to use new valve springs.

Do I need to get new retainers, locks, stem seals, etc?

Also, I am going to put a new timing chain/set in. Would I benefit from a double roller?

 

Probably don't need new retainers. But a new bag of locks is like $10. I used Comp springs with stock retainers just fine. Don't even bother with a timing chain if it's not a double roller. The single rollers stretch out and just don't last. Use a Cloyes street true roller double roller timing set.

 

Okay.

I am going to get the cam, lifters, valve springs, and locks from compcams and reuse the retainers.

I'll get that double roller timing chain as well.

One more question: This engine will probably not be started for another 6 months to a yr. while I save money and do other work on the truck.

I have the engine disassembled and most parts ready to put it back together.

Will it be alright sitting up for a year or so? I realize that it would've been better to do all the other work and then do the engine work, but this engine fell in my lap and the guys that help me with body work/chassis work aren't available until spring or summer.

 

Spray it down with oil, and cover it up and it'll be fine.