My 302 cuts out at 6000 RPM, can I get more out of it? I have tried swithcing to points to eliminate the electronic ignition but it still cuts out at 6000. It gets there real fast but pops and bangs out the exhaust at that point. I have backup springs on the valves, and my hydrolic lifters are sold good to 7000. I feel the engine can go farther, but just isn't doing it. Any ideas are appreciated.

 

Sounds like the cam grind is too steep, and it's causing you to float valves at 6000... BTW, It doesn't have any kind of rev limiter does it? (Just wondering, cause I always miss the stupid things)

-Andrew
f250_64(No Email Addresses In Posts!), same for yahoo messenger

Nothing, and I mean nothing, stirs the soul, saying I'm a bad **** like lettin'em rip with a window shaking, fuel gulpin, carbon monoxide belchin, attention gettin, V-oh my LORD!-8!

 

Could be a lot of things but double check the obvious first:
1. What's your total timing...should be 34-36 degrees maximum
2. When you switched to points you should have gone to a "dual points" distributor to give your coil more dwell time to build spark energy especially above 6,000 RPM to keep it from misfiring
3. Is your carb to lean...can cause detonation
4. Was your cam/springs/lifters a matched set from one manufactorer? Genereraly hydraulic cams are not used above 6,200-6,500 RPM
5. How accurate is your tach? Take it to a garage and have your RPM varified with thier equipment.
6. Did you replace the timing chain and gears when you installed the new cam? If not you can be having a lot of timing variation.

Deen Hylton
Ford F250 460 C-6, K&N, Headers, Dual Exh.,Comp. Cams,Shift Kit
Pioneer CD w/Bose Speakers.
Other Passion: Blown 77 Corvette (Sorry Guys/Gals)
How I can afford to Drive the above: 93 GEO Metro

 

A properly set up dual point distributor or after market
should get you to rod thru block at 8000.
I suspect you're running stock valve spring pressure.
( 80-125 lbs with valve seated. ) With stock valve springs
you're doing good to get 6000. Sounds like valve float.
You could install valve springs that have a valve seated pressure
of 150-250 lbs. This would raise the rpm at which valve float
becomes a problem. Cam lobe and lifter bottom wear could become a problem ( more of a problem? ) with the increased pressure.
A roller lifter setup takes care of that problem though...