I am looking for wisedom for cam selection for the following setup, or if I am derailing quickly. This is my first engine build so any advice is great


Parts I already have:
*351 f4te roller block from a 97 F-250 (completely stock 45K miles, lifters included).
*Edelbrock Performer RPM heads with roller rockers installed the heads are supposed to be ported (not sure of the roller arm size 1.6 or 1.7, not sure if they are the 1.9 or 2.02 exhaust valve model)
*Edelbrock Performer Intake (The perfromer rpm would be nice but can't justify the cost)
*Holley vaccum second carb (have not checked the size but I assume stock replacement)

This will be going into an 85 bronco that is a factory 351 with c-6 (<1k miles since rebuild) and 3:50 rearend gears. I bought the roller cam dizzy with the roller block. Now I need a cam. I was thinking the FRPP B303 or E303, but I thought I read these are for 5.0 only. I would change the valve springs to match the cam. The Comp Cam Xtreme Energy 35-421-8 looks good, but maybe too much . I am trying to stay under 0.500 for net valve lift so I don't loose streetability.

The bronco will be used for street driving and pulling an occasional open car trailer. I am looking for better than stock performance, be able to pull any trailer the suspension and brakes can handle, and know that when I turn the key the engine will fire and drive where ever I want it to. Most of my driving is highways, 70 mph.

 

leave the cam thats in there its actually a great cam for the type of driving you are going to be using it for. you might also consider going with the stealth weind intake vs the edelbrock unit. the Weind is a great intake and complements how you plan to use the bronco. what size carb are you planning to run? i would not go any more then 650cfm.

what size tires are you running?

 

I am running 31" by 10.5" wide Bridgestone Duelers. I was going to reuse the Holley carb that is on my existing 351. I would imagine the carb is near to 650 cfm. Any ideas for valve springs or rod length? I was thinking about a higher flow oil pump but I am not sure what would work well or if I really need one.

 

run a standard oil pump. keeping the upper valvetrain stock will help with reliability and drive ability.

I would consider running either shorty or long tube headers, getting a custome y pipe built, hi flow cat converter and single 3" exhaust thru your muffler of choice.

 

I was not keeping the upper valve train stock, I am using Edelbrock performer RPM heads. As for the exhaust, it is hedman long tubes to about 2.5" exhaust to a Flowmaster muffler. The pipes are seperate the whole length of the truck, except where they join together at the single flowmaster muffler (muffler has two pipes and two pipes out). Currently I have cats but they will be going away when I get the new engine running.

The stock cam seemed a little weenie, I wasconsidering comp cams 35-420-8 cam. After more research I think I will give up on the FRPP cams, they don;t seem to have enough low end for what I am looking to do unless I put in a stall converter. I know you said the stock cam would work but I think the comp cam would really help the heads breath. Thoughts from anyone?

 

1.7 rockers and the stock cam would do the same also. your choice.

I highly recommend you put an h or x pipe in your exhaust. this helps with scavenging the exhaust out.

 

The pro-comp truck cam is a great cam, but I have stock heads on mine, and a stock motorcraft intake. It lopes a little, and I have more than enough power with 33x12.50s. The x pipe or y pipe is not going to get you much if your using a dual in-out muffler (they do the same thing) Sounds like youll have an awesome set up. Id ditch the holley vac. secondary and go with a smaller carb and(i cant think of the words I need here...damn alcohol) but the OPPOSITE of vacuum secondary, like an edelbrock 1406. That was the icing on the cake for my bronco.

 

Update, I have the crane 1.6 roller rocker arms on the 1.90 Edelbrock RPM heads. Due to cost of a Comp Cam I am an considering swapping in a 91 Mustang GT cam, I heard the GT cam is a little better torque cam than the stock truck cam. I installed a Melling standard flow oil pump and will be using a 600 cfm Holley vaccumm second carb. I am going with the vaccumm second for gas mileage reasons. I have ordered but not yet install and windage tray. The rod sizes the local machine shop reccomended were 7.7". The rods are hardened since I am running guide plates. I am waiting on the Mustang cam and the windage tray to arrive then it is engine building time.

 

The FRPP E cam works pretty well in a 351, fwiw. I see them on craigslist all the time for $100 or less. Advance it 4 degrees if you want more on the bottom.

With those heads the RPM or Stealth manifold would definitely be worth the money.