cam and valve spring
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2005
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cam and valve spring
I am rebuilding a 302 and I don't know any of it's history. My question is how can I tell which valve springs would work best if I don't know what kind of cam is in the motor. I have the cam out, but there aren't any identifiable markings on it.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
Likes: 25
From: south louisiana
Well first you can check the lobe lift of the cam you have, then determine if you want to keep it. Then if not, figure out what cam you want to replace it with. Then have a machine shop check your springs to see if they're suitable for your cam choice. Your cam choice, if replacing it, needs to be based on what you want the engine to do, plus the actual compression ratio your piston and head combo will yeild, if the comp ratio isn't right, the wrong cam, can be just that..... wrong. Too big a cam with not enough compression and you've got a dog. Too little cam with too much compression and you can end up with an engine that wants high octane fuel and makes low octane power. When it comes to piston selection in a 289/302, pay close attention to the pin height, this varies from 1.585 to 1.610 in flat tops, they do not all yeild the same compression ratio, that .025" difference can make a half point difference in the final ratio.
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