I recently came across this cam #217272-07 and wanted to know if it was any good?

318*/320* Adv, .528", 107* LSA.

I was looking at this for a project I'd like to do.

 

If those timing numbers are accurate it will idle around 1,600 rpm and feel real soft until you hit ~3,500 rpm. Maybe it should be 218/220 degrees at .050?

 

Okay, maybe not. That's a pretty hot mechanical lifter cam. If you're planning to turn 7,000+ rpm it should be okay. It wouldn't be fun if you're stuck in traffic in a heavy vehicle.

 

Thats the specs given from their website. Advertised 318*/320* ; 251*/252* @ 0.050" lift ; 0.528" Lift ; 107* LSA ; 102 ICL ; 3,000 - 7,000 RPM operating range.

I just came across this cam at work and posted my orignal post from my phone so I will go into further detail below about the project I am wanting to do.

The vehicle I dont have yet. It will be going how ever into a FFR Kitcar weighing around 2,000 - 2,500 lbs. I was looking at a TKO600 manual transmission with I believe it is a 0.56:1 overdrive gear (My parts list is put up currently) and 3.27:1 IRS out back with a Detroit TruTrac. The engine was going to be a 302 bored and stroked to 331 CID (I dont know if I will go this route still seeing as I dont need a torque monster but a HP monster for such a light vehicle). I had the aluminum Edelbrock E250 heads with 60cc chambers picked out with a static compression ratio of 9.75:1.

This vehicle would be drove on the street but wont be a daily driver so traffic would be one of those things that shouldnt happen unless I just happen to run into it. Reason I started to look at this is I would like to run the vehicle on some road course tracks in the future and thought this cam would be nice.

But the more I think about it, I think this would be a cam that would cause me more headache than providing fun. I know solid lifters have to be adjusted and checked every few months. I just dont know if its worth the extra trouble to just gain a few more ponies. The other cam I orignally settled on was a Comp Cams Xtreme Energy XE274H grind # 31-246-3 Hyd Lifter cam.

274*/286* Adv ; 230*/236* @ 0.050" Lift ; 110* LSA ; 106* ICL ; 1,800 to 6,000 RPM operating range.

I know a 110* LSA would provide a fairly agressive street idle which I am somewhat concerned with the idle quality. But I also know a LeMan`s replica ford cam would give me that 1960`s race car sound I would really like. But I keep swinging back and forth between the XE274H Comp Cam`s grind and the Howard`s Cams OE Muscle grind that I found.

I know when it comes to engines you cant expect to get everything you want and there has to be a trade off but I am willing to trade some HP/Trq if it means I could get the idle quality I am seeking as well as something that would be doable on street with a standard transmission but would also be great for running on a track. Given I probably wont get into drag racing with this since I already have a car for 1/4 mile racing. Ive been wanting to get into road course racing.

I might just have to check with Earl and see what he says, Hes been building race engines for a long time around here. Just rather do it on my own if possible to get more sastifaction out of the build.

~Update~

I also just found that Comp Cam`s has both a Solid and Hydraulic Nostalgia Plus cam`s that are based off the 271HP 289. I listened to the sound of the solid lifter one but with the LSA being 112* even with 108* ICL I dont think it would sound as choppy as it does in the video I found on youtube. I know the orignal`s came with hopped up 289`s that were turning 8,000 - 9,000 RPM so I know this 271 HP 289 cam wont sound anything near that but I am starting to think maybe I shouldnt be focused on the sound of the engine as much as the performance. Mid to Upper range HP with fairly mild low range TRQ. All I know is I think I will drive myself nuts over this trying to deside solid or hydraulic? and nostalgia cam`s that mimic 1960`s performance/race engine sounds or engine perfromance? Questions I have to ask myself I guess.

 

Yeah, no worries in a light little car like that.

Comp's Thumpr roller cams have a nice, nasty sound and pull hard. Since it's a from scratch build you should start with a roller block.

Solid lifters are cool in old school rods but like you said need valve lash adjustment periodically.

 

I was thinking roller block, I also even thought about going with the new Ford Racing Boss 302 block. But I recall the Boss 302 block uses different journal sizes. Or maybe its just the Boss 351W that I am thinking of that uses the 351C crank journal`s.

Maybe I could have comp cam`s custom grind me that cam above in a roller cam preferably hydraulic. The specs should be able to be done. Just cant go too agressive cause I was wanting to get some reproduction 289 valve covers and they dont appear to be that tall. Guess its one thing I will have to cross the bridge when I come to it.

 

Yeah, call Comp and Isky and Schneider and see what they recommend. No doubt they could grind you a custom stick that would wail in a hot rod like that.

 

Yep all I know is after seeing that cam and thinking about it, I think I would want a cam that mimics the orignal LeMans cam or at the very least sounds like the orignal and has the same power band.

I just need to deside on the engine cause now I find myself flipping not sure if I should just stick with a 302 with that cam and build it to be a screamer or build a 332 stroker to be a screamer. I know in the back of my head a 302 would live a lot longer and have a lot more miles it can handle as a screamer vs a 332 stroker. I could probably get 100k miles out of a built up 8,000 RPM redline 302 with that cam but I feel I might be lucky to get 50k miles out of a 332 stroker.

I did deside on a induction system though. I was looking at the webber down draft carb setup but they dont like cams like this so then I desided I would go with a edelbrock dual quad manifold and go with two webber side draft 4bbl carbs.

Edelbrock 5435 - Edelbrock F-28 Dual Quad Intake Manifolds - Overview - SummitRacing.com

Inglese: Four Barrel Replacement System; Dual TSD 45mm, DCOE=