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Hello, I was wanting to put a new camshaft in my 351w, to help "let it breathe", realistically I just want a little but more power as I'm doing headers and a new exhaust system.
I still have the speed density in it, so I have been wanting a computer compatible one so I don't have to swap it all over.
I was thinking about the comp cams 35-255-5 I was going to get new lifters, and bearings and a new chain and gears, what all else do you guys think I would need to swap it over.
Thanks in advance guys.
Whay year is this engine? If it's a '94+ it's already got a decent roller cam in it and I wouldn't suggest going backwards to a flat tappet cam. If it's an earlier motor inquire have a custom cam grind done based on the Crane 444232.
Its a 88, I have heard of the crane 444232, I have been looking but haven't been able to find one I heard that they went out of business. I will get new flat tappets, I thought I specified the year, but I had some technical problems and I thought my computer didn't post this thread, my computer is like my OBS F-250 only works on days that don't end in Y.
In my experience Speed Density doesn't play well with modifications. Since it uses several sensors and is programed around the original airflow characteristics of the engine. It's a dumb system and has no way of knowing you changed things. You can likely get away with headers, but I doubt there will be a noticeable power gain.
Yeah I totally agree, if I had a little bit more cash I would swap over to MAF, I just want a little bit more out of the system, and if it doesn't work I can always throw the stock cam back in it.
Yeah Crane is gone so that is why I suggested having another company make one for you. I had that cam in a 5.8EFI and worked very well. This cam was a popular upgrade for the gen1 Lightnings which were SD.
Do you have a specific company in mind Conanski? I have never had parts custom made, I will do some more digging and find some specs for the crane 444232, that way I have something to go off of. I am honored to have the legend himself to reply to my thread, I appreciate everyone's help.
Last edited by Truckbuck; Aug 27, 2023 at 03:21 PM.
Reason: Keyboard acting up
#1 Iskenderian (isky), Crower, Howard ... it is best to get a cam grinder who is close to you, Isky upgraded a few years ago to a digital cam grinder..... I don't know of anyone else out there who has that! Isky also checks every valve spring before it leaves the shop.
+1 on the 444232s being a good cam on the speed density flat tappet motors. Ran one of those for years and was very happy with the performance in a tow rig. A shame Crane is no longer in business.
Howard's is right up the road from me and they do a great job. Isky is also excellent. I might be able to find my cam card from my 444232 and get you that info for whoever you get to grind the camshaft.
Another note, if your truck has 3.55 gears, a swap to 4.10s will feel like a much larger performance boost than anything you can do to the speed density motor.
Awesome thank you all so much, I will see what the budget says I can do I will keep yall posted.
My axle tag is 25N, I don't know if that means we know the gearing in it, I was defiantly thinking about swapping over the gearing, and getting a solid front axle but the budget has been my main ceiling.
Have your stock cam reground. The stock cores are very high quality and much better than aftermarket. I'd use a single pattern or close to it cam it'll make more torque and a lower EGT. With a speed density setup the mass flow through the engine can't change all that much but what you do with that mass and how much work it gets done can be changed somewhat.
A week or two ago I reground a stock 5.0 cam for a customer from stock to 220/220 @ .050 with a .328 lobe lift. This fit on the stock core incredibly easy and nose height changed about .005. Right now most of my hydraulic roller masters are down at Steve Demos, Demos' Cams. He has some that would work great and save you a few bucks.
Dave, how did you come up with those specs as a target? Did you keep the original lobe separation? Am I correct in assuming that this reduces the base circle of the cam? I'm going to guess by about .076?
I'm reading this thread with great interest as I'm also trying to decide on a cam for an upgrade, and the numbers you presented look like almost exactly what I'm looking for. I don't want to hijack this thread, but the target engine would be a 331 stroker with AFR 165 (a little small, I'm told) and GT40 tubular with ported lower, and I want to be able to run it with a tuned MAF EEC-IV. I was looking at a Comp XE270HR-14, but their prices have almost doubled since I last bought a cam a few years ago. If I can have a stock cam reground and save a few bucks, that would be great.
This is more duration than what I would normally put in an engine of this size but the customer is rebuilding an early 90s Mustang and he had a hot rod one with a very similar cam. It was interesting in that what I took off nearly all came off of the base circle so the amount of change was almost exactly the difference in lobe height. This was a really nice core but it had some wear that I could see over the nose. Probably .003 or .004. I didn't change the lobe sep on the cam. If I had tightened it up a little bit the lobe height would have been reduced but not too much. Maybe ..025 or so.
