changing cam
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2006
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changing cam
I have a 1988 ford truck with a 302 I noticed that I can be convert it to a roller instead of flat tapped. My question is, is the crank the same from a 302 ho and a 302non ho I know the firing order changes with the cam but does a regular 302 meet the timing of the cam and what would I need to change to make this cam work on my truck.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Kiefer, Northeastern Okla
The factory roller blocks had taller lifter bores, to support the taller roller lifters. Comp Cams sells a retro-fit kit to convert from flat tappet to roller, or use link-bar rollers, which connects the lifters into pairs for guidance. One word of warning- this ain't cheap. It also requires a roller-specific cam, which has a more radical rate of lift, and specific springs to control the valvetrain with the higher ramp speeds. So right there you're looking at $600+. IMO, it would be cheaper to find a junkyard roller motor and start from there. If you can find one that's running, even better. Roller cams and lifters can usually be reused in a rebuild, they don't wear like a flat tappet.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 18,423
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From: iowa
depending on the cam you will most likely have to change the dist gear as roller cams are hardened steel instead of iron and they will take the iron gears apart on a standard dist (not hard to do just an additional issue to watch)
As to the timing I think your asking about the crank throws yes the regular 302 crank is the same as a roller crank the firing order has to match the cam is all. you can, and I have changed the timing order of older 302s by putting in a 351w cam (I happened to have one that I wanted to use and just changing the firing order was all that needed done)
As to the timing I think your asking about the crank throws yes the regular 302 crank is the same as a roller crank the firing order has to match the cam is all. you can, and I have changed the timing order of older 302s by putting in a 351w cam (I happened to have one that I wanted to use and just changing the firing order was all that needed done)
