Hey guys,

Most of you probably already know what my engine is packing for for perf. upgrades (if you want to know, ask and I will be happy to tell you). I currently am running a Edelbrock Performer-Plus cam and lifters with a Cloyes True roller set, degreed it in (straight up with the crank sprocket) and even though the motor only has about 1200 miles on it now it runs like a you know what!

I still haven't put on the Mallory Hyfire VI with the rev limiter and I am fine tuning my timing and messing with the centrifugal and different springs. I am going to pull the dist. and at least clean it up or rebuild it if it needs it. I am also messings with the 1 inch 4 hole phenolic spacer that sits on the Perf. Rpm (may just run the thick 4-hole gasket instead, whichever it seems to run better with). May put a little bigger carb on sometime too, maybe a 650 Holley, 625 or 650 Demon (currently Holley 600 Vac. Senondaries 4160 model, good carb I think). Anyway would love to do a roller hyd. cam and rockers (I am running factory type adjustable ones) but that is going to be in my future "slow" buildup and that is at least a year from getting started. Somebody suggested a "Crane" cam that has more lift and duration than mine, I believe they said a CRN 904 or 902 part number (which one is it) and was just wondering what the Rpm range was, and all the specs on it like lift, duration, etc. etc. Anyone know what I am talking about here? Anyone ran it or runs it now or used to have the Performer-Plus and switched to the Crane. Will the possible power increase be very noticable, idle lumpy or smooth, will the possible increase be worth the time and effort and $$$? Any help would be appreciated.

 

Well, it sounds to me like you are ready to start doing some research. We will certainly be able to give you opinions, but it is ultimately you that has to decide which of us, if not all, is full of crap. By the way, I'm a fairly likely candidate for that group.

My suggestion to you is to get very familiar with the cam makers web sites. Crane, Crower and Comp all have web sites that will give you detailed information about each cam they offer. You will be limited if you plan a hydraulic roller, but the info is still there. When you start to know the specs and part numbers by heart then you are in a better position to make your decisions. If you think I'm exaggerating just ask Ratsmoker (Sean), and Gtex (Greg). I'll bet you they know alot of these websites like the back of their hands, and have probably agonized trying to choose between different grinds. Just like you will have to do.

You need to determine EXACTLY what you want your next buildup to do. What RPM you want to turn, where you want your torque, what kind of mileage (or yardage, in the case of Gtex and Proeliator) you want. Then find the cam, carb, manifold, exhaust, and other components that do EXACTLY that. It gets very costly and frustrating if you don't have a clearly defined result in mind before you begin.

Sorry for the long post. I'll quit now before I change my mind and form a different opinion.

-Scouder

 

I looked up on Crane's website and the only cam with a 90-something part # is the 901, which is a MUCH smaller cam than you now have. If you're looking for more power, then just save your money for a roller. You should first invest in a bigger carb, that 600 is much too small for what you now have. A 750-800 would let your motor breathe and free-up some power.

 

Sorry Scouder, I meant a hyd. flat tappet cam for my current 402 ci. 390 (the one that is currently in my pickup. The roller cam dream is year or more away from even really thinking about and that was for a future (DREAM) engine. Somebody suggested a certain Crane grind and Im not sure which one but it seems it may have been their "truck power" cam. I basically would just like something that performs a little better than the "Performer-Plus". Don't get me wrong, I think it really is a good cam, was just wondering if there is anything out there that could maybe give me just as much or more torque, have a somewhat noticalbe idle (I have heard the Comp 268H will do this) but it is .494 intake and .494 exhaust and I seem to get the idea from some people that Comp doesn't make as good of cams for the FE as Crane and some of the others, I seem to also get the idea that the FE likes more lift on the exhaust side like my Perf.-Plus has .460 intake and .480 exhaust). So basically maybe something with just as much or more torque, lopey idle would be nice but not a necessity I guess, something with a little more of an Rpm ceiling ( I have pulled mine to 5 Grand but it seems to be pointless to go over 4800 RPM much less 5000. I have the Performer-Plus matched springs on the cam too. I know with flat tappet cams you can't really have everything you would like but just seeing if there was something out there that would optimize my combo more.
Thanks

 

I was thinking that cam you mentioned was the bigger of the two Edelbrock cams. I'm running a Crane 272 degree Energizer in a 10.5 to 1 comp ratio 390, and it's got a smooth idle also, but it's got good power up to 5500 rpms. A Comp 280H will definately have a lopey idle, I don't know if the 268H will. FE's work well with single pattern cams, they're not cursed with restricted exhaust ports as the other Ford motors are, unless you're running stock exhaust manifolds.

 

Nope, I'm running Dynomax Jet-Hot coated headers. Comp says the 268H has a noticable idle in Big Blocks, not sure how noticable but like I said it would be nice to have somewhat of an idle but not really a necessity. I won't go with the 280H though I have a cousin who has one in his 395ci 390 with 427 (low or med. riser... can't remember but he said the heads have taller intake ports) and the matched cast iron intake and yea it has an awsome idle but with the gears I am planning to run (3.50's) I kinda wonder how torquey it would be and what kind of mileage it would get. He has 3.25 gears (2wd F-100, C-6 with shift kit) and he said he thinks he might just do some home porting and polishing on some 390 heads because they have smaller chambers than those 427 heads and would like to get some more compression for that 280H he's runnin. Sorry for going off again. Anyway, what are the specs on the cam you are runnin? intake centerline, lift, duration, etc. I have thought about sending vehicle and engine info on the web to Clay Smith Cams and getting a custom grind but not sure.

Thanks.

 

the crane energizer cam specs are:
Adv. duration 272
duration @ .050: 216
lobe seperation 110
lift .533
RPM 1800-5400

 

Well if you're worried about bottom end torque and fuel mileage, then stick with the cam you now have. The 268H wouldn't give you much of a difference to bother with ( if any) But if you want more power, then you're gonna have to give up mileage if you want a bigger cam, especially going with any of the off the shelf rollers that are now available. I've heard a 268H in a small block, and yes, it did have somewhat of a noticeable idle, but not much. In a 390 it would be much tamer. Your cousin would be better off just leaving the LR 427 heads on, the smaller chamber 390 heads only offer about a 5 cc smaller chamber, he could accomplish that with milling his heads, or switching to steel shim gaskets ( if he doesn't already have them)

 

Thanks for the specs Fordman428. I am

 

Thanks for the specs Fordman428. I am not going to run a "Roller" cam in this engine, just hyd. flat tappet. Do you guys think I should just play with various grinds on Desktop Dyno (I question how accurate that program is but it is cool to play with and plug different cams in). I was going to lool at some of the grinds from Crane like 2 of their Powermax grinds and the one Energizer. What about Lunati, Erson, and Engle, I'm not sure if the last 2 even make cams anymore. What about a custom grind from Clay Smith Cams? I guess maybe I will just find as many companies as I can that make hyd. flat tappet cams for the FE and play with them on Desktop Dyno... I just don't want to really lose very much torque and if anything I would like more but I know this gets to be a compromise but I am hoping I can find a happy medium. Thanks also for the info on my cousin's engine, he has flatops with valve reliefs and was maybe thinking about going to domes... he would like to get about 10.0:1 or 10.5:1, thinks he's more around 9.5:1 or 9.0:1

 

Oh and I almost forgot, I'm not that concerned with fuel mileage but I did like it when I got 13.9 MPG with my first 390, although I never usually get that because I don't normally drive 55 to 60, usually 65 to 80. I could get 11 to 12 with it relatively easy but I still think that with 3.50's and some real fine tuning I could have maybe hit 15, not sure what this engine will do (haven't check the mpg yet) but I guess between possible cam changes and a little bigger carb (maybe) in the future, and lots of tinkering we will see.

 

oh and by the way annihilator the crane energizer cam is only $99.99 for the cam and lifters at www.jegs.com

 

Well do you think that the there would be a considerable power increase or would I basically just be screwing around? It has quite a bit more lift than my cam I know, Isn't the exhaust port on FE heads notoriously restrictive (maybe that is just the short turn radius thing I have read about) I know that Freightrain uses this cam I think, I always got the idea that the FE liked more lift on the exhaust side than the intake...

 

It's typically reccomended to run a dual pattern with stock FE heads, to help the exhaust a bit.

I'm running a dual pattern, even with my Edelbrock heads.

 

That's what I thought. I removed the smog bumps (air injection bumps) in the roof of the exhaust and polished and smoothed that area and polished the rest of the exhaust port. I also removed a little cast iron around the exhaust valve seat and polished that and the bowl area as best as I could. I mildly polished the combustion chambers in the heads and for the most part left the intake ports and bowl area alone. The runners in the Perf. RPM intake were still smaller than the intake port in my heads so I didn't want to port match an intake that I someday plan to run on an FE with Edelbrock heads. They seemed to be about the same heighth as the intake port in the heads but narrower side to side. The only misalignment was the floor of the intake port in the heads. I took down the floor in every intake port until it lined up with the floor of the intake runner in my manifold. Other than that I guess they are stock and without a flow bench who knows if I made much of a difference, I would think I at least would have gained 20 hp from what I did if not a little more but what do you think? I think if I go for a cam I will probably go with a dual pattern still unless you guys don't think I should.