General CAM, DOVE HEAD help
1:
I have a 4x4 crew cab daily driver, wanted MPG and Power, don't go above 4500 RPM hardly ever, rarely tow(When I do tow it is 15000# tractor and trailer combo). I have 4 speed and am soon going to 3.54 gears. (also have granny 1st, and np205 to cut that in half)

Comp cam has recommended a 260H cam Part Number 34-225-4, Grind Number FF 260H-10, Lobe Separation 110°, Gross Valve Lift 0.484" Intake @ 0.050.484" exhaust @ 0.05, for my above requirements.

How do you guys feel about this? Don't know if MPG is even a consideration. This cam seems very mild.

2:
I have a 71 block and want to install some DOVE heads but don't know if I can reuse my existing push rods (My old heads are D3s). I have reviewed 9 pages on our ford-trucks site about this info and am still unclear here. What push rods are ok to use with this block/head combo? Also COMP CAM warns about clearance between valves pistons I heard you could check with clay? I have the standard type pistons with the dish in the center. (It looks as if some pistons have had some material remove on the side of the dish, also there is a round machined circle in the middle of the dish and each piston is numbered 1 through 8(matches cyc #))

I assume I have around 8:1 CR now and should be going to around 9:1 or 9.5:1.

3:
Porting Polishing: Can I polish my DOVE exhaust ports and cleanup/match edges on my exhaust gasket and polish my exhaust manifold (stock D5TEs) with a drimel type tool, so what grid is safe to start with and finish with? I heard just slight clean up on the intake manifold as you want to maintain turbulence. I have a stock 71 intake manifold with a stock motor craft carb.

I know this is a lot but I did not know if it was good to put in 3 separate threads to address these questions. I must have this work done in a couple of weeks (I need my truck back!)

Thanks very much for your help.
Greg

 

Well, I'll tell ya what I can. With the DOVE heads, you will need pushrods that are 8.67 inches long. These are for 69-72 429/460 engines. Be careful, there is only a few hundreds of an inch difference between 429/460 pushrods! If you order new ones, ask for this size! I beleive all but the 72s had DOVE heads. Also, if you ordered pistons specifically for the '69-'71 model year, you should have no problem running that cam. Compression with the stock "dish" was 10.5:1! If you would change to a true flat top, expect 12:1 but you would need valve reliefs in the pistons.
Next, you really didnt state whether you have a 429 or a 460. I'll assume a 460 because 429 were winding down by '71. Stock lift for a '71 460 was .443 intake/.486 exhaust. So, your gaining on the intake side, but staying the same on the exhaust. I would definitely find a cam that is a dual pattern (more lift/duration on the exhaust than the intake. Look at the Comp Dual Energy or the Extreme 4x4 Series cams. These will give you the power/gas mileage your looking for.

Stryder

 

thanks Stryder,
I have not had a lot of response to this post.

Yes I have a 460(I was told it was a 429 when I bought the unit but checking the crank it is marked a460)

I am hearing more and more about going with a 4x4 extreme cam as I have reviewed the archives. I assume I can just ask for a custom grind withe the same profile as the 4x4 extreme cam?

Greg

 

There should be several grinds already available. Go to Comps web site. Custom grinds can get expensive!

Stryder