What kind of horsepower will I gain with high lift cam?
Does anyone have any experience with installing a high lift cam in a tow vehicle? I have a 76' F250 with a 460 it has 9.2:1 compression with stock DOVE heads and stock exhaust with 625 carb, and i use it to tow and am looking for more horsepower and wondering what kind of gain I should expect if I put in a high lift cam? Thanks for the help.
Before you start tearing the front of the engine apart, what type of gear ratio do you have, and what size tire are you running?
You will probably get a better return on your investment by creating a better mechanical advantage with a gear better suited for towing.
Many folks cause a de-crease in low end power by over doing it with cam shafts.
RV style, ot towing style cams could be of a benifit, but you will realy get more bang for your buck with gears.
Well, I have 4.11 and the np435 4-speed and a 31" tall tire, and I feel it would be nice with another 50 or 60 horses(mabye 750 carb and cam?), so it can hold 55 mph a little better in the hills cause once you drop into third as everyone knows your stuck there for awhile.
Thats respectable. I also believe that your expecations might be a little high with a 50 to 60 HP gain.
Might want to consider taking the heads off and doing a little port work, and offer a little help to the combustion chambers. These big guys need to breathe, and they are a little restricted. A larger cam will help, but keep in mnd that going too large will move torque higher into the rpm range, and will be counter productive. I am not implying that this is a bad idea, but lift figures, lobe centerline, duration, and overlap are going to be very important, but many gains are obtained with proper combos, and a conservative cam, combined with a decent intake, and a good flowing exhaust will probably net the figures you are looking for. A complete package will produce greater results the first time.
You wil also find decent gains by losing some friction, and this friction is on the rockers. Rollers are great for reducing friction.
Roller cams can also be a real treat,,,,,,maybe getting a little carried away now, but it is a thought. (That will require a little extra work for a 460, but it is worth it)
