ROLLER OR NOT???
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 430
Likes: 0
From: Florida
ROLLER OR NOT???
Ok. I'm starting to put together a pile of parts to "wake up" my 351W. I love the sound of the cold air intake. Sounds like it's gonna suck the birds out of the trees!! I just got my hands on a set of stainless JBA headers for my 93 Bronco. I'm thinking on a cam change. Nothing too big, but just a little bit more low end torque. My question is.....is the 93 351w a "roller" motor or not. 
I've heard some are and some aren't. I thought they started putting the rollers in the trucks/Broncos in 1994. My 89 Mustang was a roller...but that's a Mustang! My other question is has anyone else put a bigger cam in a "speed density" set up. Would it work ok? I cammed up my Mustang, but again....that's a Mustang and it's a mass-air set up!!
Thanks for any input!!
I've heard some are and some aren't. I thought they started putting the rollers in the trucks/Broncos in 1994. My 89 Mustang was a roller...but that's a Mustang! My other question is has anyone else put a bigger cam in a "speed density" set up. Would it work ok? I cammed up my Mustang, but again....that's a Mustang and it's a mass-air set up!! Thanks for any input!!
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,182
Likes: 12
From: Gateway to the West
Skip the CAI. (Most of them pull air from under the hood anyway... which isn't at all cold. insulate the factory intake plumbing and try to find the core-support intake section from a truck originally equipped with an EFI 300 (4.9L) (It draws air from the area to the left of the radiator rather than from on top where the radiator warms the air before it gets into the intake plumbing).
As for the cam, yes, there are cams available that are speed-density-friendly. Just make sure you look for them or make sure your supplier understands that this is a requirement before you get your heart set on something that won't play well with the SD setup. Some folks opt to seek out so-called "RV" cams which tend to give you a bit more low-end pull simply because the grind is designed around the idea that the engine will be dragging around a heavier truck in an RV than it would otherwise. I believe you are correct about the vintage of roller engines in the Bronco. Conanski would know for certain though.
As for the cam, yes, there are cams available that are speed-density-friendly. Just make sure you look for them or make sure your supplier understands that this is a requirement before you get your heart set on something that won't play well with the SD setup. Some folks opt to seek out so-called "RV" cams which tend to give you a bit more low-end pull simply because the grind is designed around the idea that the engine will be dragging around a heavier truck in an RV than it would otherwise. I believe you are correct about the vintage of roller engines in the Bronco. Conanski would know for certain though.
The Southernmost Mod
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 6,902
Likes: 21
From: Caracas, Venezuela
That's correct on the 351, the 302 was a roller since 1989, even for the Broncos. If I remember right (and I often don't) there were some bars casted somewhere on the block that should diferentiate a roller (3 bars) from a non-roller (2 bars).
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,789
Likes: 1,753
From: Kentucky
My last two 1993 F150 Lightnings had F4TE blocks (roller ready), but were equipped with flat tappet cams. 1994 model trucks are hit or miss if they came with roller cams until mid-year. At least if you start out with a F4TE block you can more easily go roller.
The casting number is above the starter IIRC.
The casting number is above the starter IIRC.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 430
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Yea, the CAI is a K&N setup. It seals against the hood liner, (if I had one!!) and uses the factory air intake snout (above the radiator). Not sure about cams yet. Gonna do some research. Thanks for the insight!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Shernius
Small Block V8 (221, 260, 289, 5.0/302, 5.8/351W)
55
Jul 27, 2020 04:02 PM
dotcentral
Small Block V8 (221, 260, 289, 5.0/302, 5.8/351W)
18
Nov 16, 2005 05:47 PM
perryphilip
Small Block V8 (221, 260, 289, 5.0/302, 5.8/351W)
5
Jun 6, 2003 07:20 PM
