I need a little guidance from you guys please. I have a 1978 Bronco with a 351/C6/NP205 with 3.50 gears and 33" tires. The motor is weak and leaks oil about as fast as I can put it in, so I'm pulling her out for a rebuild. I know that I will be putting in a 400 crank and plan on picking up a set of the Badger flat-top pistons to bump the compression. I will also probably buy a Weiand 8010 intake and a 1406 carb. My main area that I need advice on is in cam selection. I am really leaning towards putting a roller cam in it. I am looking at the Comp 260HR or the Comp 270HR. The only reason that I would choose the larger of the two is if it benefits me overall because of the change in dynamic compression. I have also read here where some of you say that a Ford likes a dual pattern cam better, but Comp doesn't offer one in a retro-roller. I also saw where someone was running a Predator roller cam, but I have never heard of that brand.

What I am looking for is 1: Torque. I would like a nice flat torque curve up to around 4,500 - 5,000 RPM. 2: Decent fuel economy - which if I build a good low RPM torquey motor, it will be the best it can be for my needs anyway. 3: I would like it to run on 87 or 89 octane gas, unless it would really benefit me to make so much cylinder pressure that I would need to run 91 octane. This is my toy, not my daily driver. I live in south Arkansas and the majority of what I do in it is ease around in the woods, terrorize a few muddy roads and hills, and go pull out other people.

It already has dual exhaust. I am not sure about headers. Manifolds are simple, compact, and don't give much trouble. Headers, on the other hand, flow better and give more power, though I am not sure how much they will benefit me at low RPMs.

So, these are my two main areas that I need help with - cam and are the headers worth the hassle? Sorry to be so long winded and thanks in advance for the input.

 

i dont want to get into the cam discussion, as i am partial to solid cam and lifters. so i dont want to steer you in the wrong direction. as for headers, they help the motor breath better, so yes they will benefit you, even down low. i would definatly go with headers, but thats just me.

 

For what your doing most suggest the 255deh or 265deh comp cam. It sounds like you could go with the bigger one for what your doing. Definately go to headers unless you want to hog out the stock manifolds which Hotrod magazine did on their build but they were trying to get through emissions. I can't speak about the roller. They definately help in less friction and I guess greater ramp acceleration but is the cost difference worth it to you?

 

The cost difference may be worth it to me in terms of reliability. I have had some bad luck in the past from non-roller cams and I have never used a roller cam. I would think that a roller cam would be a little more powerful due to the ramps, more efficient due to less friction, and more reliable. Is anyone out there running a roller cam in a 400 and are you satisfied with it? In other words, if you had to do it over again, would you still spend the extra $ for the roller?