Just rebuilt the motor in my 93 Bronco 351w/efi. I put the 35-255-5 comp cam and Edlebrocks 60329 heads with adjustable roller rockers. I fired it up today and she didn't run right. Had a hard time getting it up to 2000 rpms to break in the cam and the headers started glowing at the collectors. I checked to make sure the timing was set, rotor points to number 1 at TDC and reads 0 deg on the balancer. Only thing I can think of is that the lifters aren't set right. When I set the lash I followed what the instructions said with the cam. Any ideas?

My old man just had this question about setting the lifters. Is there a specifc order I have to go buy to adjust these rockers/lifters. On a Chevy number 1 goes to TDC, then adjust the intakes and exhuast on certain cylinders ( we can't remember which ones), then you bring 6 to TDC and adjust the remaining cylinders. Does Ford have a sequence like this or do I just follow the cam instructions?

Thanks in advance

 

With the 289 firing order you can do it that way, but not with the 351w firing order. I just do each cylinder one at time, turning each to the compression stroke, following the firing order. Give the nuts an additional 3/4 turn after you get the pushrods down to where you can't just barely spin em with your fingers.

On edit: Some of your problems may be associated with the speed density EFI having problems with the different combonation too.

 

that cam is for sure sd friendly , and the heads shouldnt affect it either. when the cam was installed was it strait up or advanced at all? might bump timing to 12* btdc as well with spout connector removed of course

 

The glowing exhaust makes me think cam timing.

 

I installed the cam stright up. We we're thinking timing, spent most of the afternoon playing with that. Called Summit and talked to their guys. Got to thinking that I adjusted the valves to tight causing extra fuel to get dumped and was buring off in the exhuast. I just set the lifters again. Set each valve individually, followed what the guys at Summit said. Turn over until the exhuast valve just starts to open and take the intake down to where I can spin the pushrod but no up and down play then 1/2 a turn further, then take the intake valve all the way open and half way down, set exhuast. I did that on each cylinder. I had just a little side to side play in the rockers, does that sound about right? When I set the timing on this thing it's just like a standard carb motor right, just pull the spout instead of a vaccum. Is it alright to let this new cam idle while I set the timing or do I have to get it up to 2000 rpms right off the bat? Thansk for all the help guys, I'll let you know in the morn.

 

I'm just going to throw in a silly question because I've done it before on a 302 HO and had the same thing happen you're describing. What firing order are you using? Is that cam a 302 or 351 firing order?

 

its a 351w motor so would be using a 351w firing order.

the sooner you get that motor up to 2000 rpms for cam break in the better. so getting the timing close is all you need for break in

 

Thanks guys. Ended up being the lifters. Guess I had em' to tight and all that extra fuel was buring off in the exhaust. Got her running, set the timing at 8 BTDC. Took it out for a little ride, sounds good and ran good. Now as soon as I get 5-600 miles of break in I'm going Chevy huntin!! I'm startin with my brother's Blazer! Also thanks to Milo at Summit for the help on the lifters.

Hey Kem, one more thing. If I bump the timing up to 12 BTDC that should give me more bottom end right? If not then why should I bump it up?

 

Just making sure. Alot of the performance SBF cams are 302 firing order. Glad you got it running right.

Do you adjust the rocker arms like a Chevy with it running? That's how I always adjusted SBC rockers.

 

It's tuff to do it like that due to the upper intake maifoold and all the other crap that's up top. I just did it like I said above. Took a couple of tries to get it right, but it's my first engine build and my old man's first Ford(he's a Chevy guy).

 

Never had adjustable rockers on a Ford before. I'd have been in the same boat as you. The torque down rockers are nice till you change the height of the head and have to shim rockers.

I always ran 12-14* initial timing on my EFI 5.0 Mustangs. I'd think you'd be good in that area depending on your compression and the octane gas you're running. Like usual, keep tabs on the detonation.

My 351w is very low compression, stock pistons and E5 heads, carbed w/ DSII ignition. I'm running it at like 14* initial on 87 octane.

How's it run, pretty strong? I bet those heads and that cam really make a difference. Are you running a stock intake and TB?

 

Yeah, still running the stock intake and TB, funds ran short but they'll be on their way this winter as well as the exhaust. I went on a test run last night around town. Felt and sounds good. Went back out and now she seems like she's missing again so I'm on my way back out there to take a look.

 

Ok, I checked the plug wires, didn't like the 2 on 4 and 8 cylinders. They were shot from the glowing headers so I replaced em' all. Not much better. Reset the lifters on 8 and nothing, still burning rich. Below 2K rpm's she's rough, drivable but not right, above that she's silk. I know my problem's with #8 cylinder. I'm gonna let her cool and check the lifter again, I think it's still tight and letting too much fuel into the cylinder. Anything else I should check?

 

Ok it's fixed. I got to looking at the plug and it looked like oil burning off. Well I had to cut out the baffles in the valve covers to fit the roller rockers. The oil was getting sucked up into the pcv on the left side and into the number 8 intake causing that cylinder to misfire. I just got some fuel line and routed it over to the air filter with the one from the right side. Now she runs good.

 

Seems like it's always some goofey little thing. Those baffles do thier job pretty well. Glad to hear it was something minor. You using the stock valve covers? I guess that's why they make those tall ones.