Well the first time I called comp cam I said I want to keep the stock springs and the fellow said XE256H. This time I asked for a recommendation and the fellow said XE262H, then I asked about stock springs, upon mentioning it, the fellow said no, not ever, with the use of any of the extreme energy line. Anyone know of a cost effective spring a.k.a cheap, but effective? Later

 

f100guy

I called mellings but it was after business hours, I will try and catch them tomorrow. later

 

No, mine is flat hydraulic. Some say its because I have a HV oil pump, but I don't buy that because nowhere in the install instructions did it mention it and it ran for about 9 months just fine. Now its eating a gear every week. I have a feeling it has something to do with the hardcoating. I suppose something similar to the SBC cams, they wear through the hardcoat and then eat the bottom out of the lifter.

 

i have a mellings high volume oil pump and a flat tappet and i have no worn gear teeth.

 

f100GUY

I called mellings and they give me the specs on your cam.

duration @ .050 204 intake/ 214 exhaust
advertised duration 280 intake/ 290 exhaust
lift intake .448/ exhaust .472
centerline 107/114


The fellow at mellings said that this cam is their stage 1 cam, one step above stock, for towing etc. The cams specifications, of this cam, mimics the specs of the edelbrock performer camshaft. Actually 3.55:1 gears should be about it, from what I gathered, 3.73:1 would be on the edge of too much. Should be fine with a stock stall converter.


Which brings me to a bit of head scratching, I have heard your motor and there is a definite lope (you e-mailed me a sound clip). This cam should idle smooth, did the machinist install it straight up or has he messed with the timing chain? Are you sure it is the mtf-1? Are you sure of the initial timing, as being correct? Lemme know something, later

 

Anyone use a crane cam?

I tell you one thing, if I chose a cam based solely on how the cam representative responded to my questions and provided advice then crane would be the one I went with. Maybe it was a fluke conversation, but that fellow was actually helpful and knew what the crap he was talking about, at least when it comes to ford engines. Crane recommended a truck powermax cam then he asked if I might like something with lope, I said well who wouldn't but if it is between power and lope I will take power, he recommended powermax #443942

operating range 2000-5000
duration @ .050 216/228
lift 484/512
lobe seperation 112

My gears and stock converter should be fine, unless I want more get up, according to the manufacturer. Should have a nice exhaust note to it. I figure if I have to change the springs then, I am going to get a bigger cam so I can theoretically take advantage of it should I add heads or port the stock. Any thoughts?

 

the card i have says mtf-1 and the info on the card is slightly different. lobe center Int. 108 exh. 116, sae duration is 280 int. 289 exh., valve lift is int. .450, exh. .474. i installed it straight up and i did not degree it yet because my cam card got wet and the sae timing and .050 timing got wiped off. i got it at oriely's maybe the cam got mislabeled. i had that happen when i ordered headers from oreily's. it said for 302 headers but when i opened them up they were chevy. the motor runs good but i don't think it is good for stock convertor if it lopes as hard as it does. i have the cloyes timing change and i believe it is the stock replacement. i want to get the one with 3 keyway slots. the dots match right up to each other. i built the motor myself.

 

Well I don't know what to say, sounds like the cams might have been switched or something. That thing should not idle like that, no matter how good it sounds. What is your initial timing set at? If you ever get a chance you might measure the intake and exhaust to see how much lift you are getting. That might indicate whether the cam was the right one or not. later

 

what is initial timing. is that what the chain is at or the distributor. how do i check the lift with the valve covers off. thanks

 

Bring the number one cylinder to top dead center, put a dial indicator on the rocker, inline with the pushrod. Zero the indicator, turn the engine by hand and see the maximum lift you get on the exhaust and intake. Initial timing is how much timing it has when you put the timing light on it, at idle, with the vacuum advance disconnected and plugged at the carb.

 

ok i belive it is at 8 or 10 but i did not have the vacuum disconnected

 

f100GUY

well sometime if your bored with nothing to do, you might try this. Unhook the vacuum line from the carb and plug it, and see what kinda timing you have. Another suggestion, put a vacuum gauge on the timed port (left port on your 1406 carb) where the vacuum line to the distributor was, and see how much vacuum at idle your getting. As a thought it should be zero. Just a thought, later

 

it is 0

 

whats the initial timing?

 

10 i believe. is that what you are asking for