OK Guys

Here is a tough one (at least for me).....

I have a 1989 F-150 4x4 with 302, Headers and computer chip.
I am close to install my new cam recomended by Crane experts.

Cam especifications are:
Specifications:
* Advertised duration: 252 intake/260 exhaust
* Duration at .050 in. cam lift: 190 intake/198 exhaust
* Gross valve lift: .416 in. intake/.432 in. exhaust
* Lobe separation: 109 degrees
* RPM range: 1,000 to 4,000

I need to know if it would be a major problem or lack of driveability to replace also rockets for a roller rockets at a time and if you think a 1.6 ratio roller rockets can be used with this cam and no problem wit the computer.

Any sugestion will be higly appreciated.

Regards
Ray

 

You should not have a prob with drivability, the cam they reccomend has almost the same figures as the stock cam. 1.6 roller rockers would be a good improvement also. Personally I would go with a slightly larger cam, i dont think the one they reccomend would make that much of a difference for all the trouble you would have to go through to swap the cam. Just my suggestion there, ask around and see what others reccomend.

 

This cam has slightly better lift then the stock one, so if you use 1.6 rockers (rockers-not rockets) check for valve to piston clearance.

 

I agree with the above post, for all that labor you will not notice much of a difference. I installed that same "Compucam 364112" along with Energizer 1.7 roller rockers (the stock ones are 1.6) about 5 years ago in the same vehicle. The engine is not as mechanically noisy but as for power output it "feels" about the same.

Look at Comp Cams website. Go to the online catalog. They have a speed density friendly cam on the 3rd Ford V8 page. It is the XE250H grind on 114 degree lobe centers, a bit more lift and duration. I just purchased a custom grind from them, it is the XE256H on 112 degree lobe centers. Look at thier "Xtreme Energy" line of cams on the 1st Ford V8 page. They can grind those lobe profiles on 112-114 degree lobe centers to keep the speed density system happy. Call and speak to thier tech. line, they are quite knowledgable. I have not installed the new cam yet but plan on installing it along with new heads this spring. Hopefully this will improve the power output.
Mark

 

I'll second Mark's input here, I actually used that XE250 cam in my 302, and it really was a major difference. I used it on a carbed engine, but it ended up making more vacuum than even the stock cam did, so you'll have no problem running that with speed density. The out-of-the-box XE250 is ground on a 110 LSA, which is very good for acceleration, and will really give you a whole lot more torque to command at every engine speed, most noticably off-idle. For what it's worth, I even passed the new car emissions standards with that cam installed, and a 4 barrel carb! Mark says you can get them with wider LSA's, but I don't even think that'd be worth your time to mess with, it makes very good vacuum, and I got about the same fuel milage as stock, with a huge power/torque boost. The one thing that might cause a hassle is that you'll need to run aftermarket valvesprings, the Xtreme Energy cams are pretty violent profiles, but they'll last as long as stock cams will, and you'll be happy with the performance so long as you install the springs that Comp recommends, otherwise you'll probably end up with wicked valve float at around 3000 RPM.

That Crane Cam is very mild, and since a cam change is such a time-consuming and expensive task, I'd hate for you to go through all that and not get much out of it.

'77 F100, 100% Aftermarket 302 w/C4 cruisin' through 2.75's
John F. Daly III, E.I.T.
The TorqueKing

 

Just to have a reference

What the specificatrions are for the standard cam on my truck?

Regards
Ray

 

I don't know what the duration is but the lobe lift is:
Intake 0.2375
Exhaust 0.2474
Multiply these numbers by 1.6, the rocker arm ratio, to get the lift at the valve.

Torqueking,
I am installing Edelbrock P/N 6037 heads along with above mentioned Comp Cam XE256H with 112 degree lobe sep. angle. The heads have 1.9" intake and 1.6" exhaust valves. Chambers are 60cc. Intake volume is 170cc. exhaust volume is 60cc. It's a 302 V8 in an 89 F150 4X4 with shorty headers, freeflow cat, single 2 1/2" exhaust with a Hooker Aerochamber muffler. Also MAF. I've read some of your past posts using an engine dyno program. You seem knowledgable in this area. What can I expect with this setup? From your experience with a similar cam what did you gain over stock? Did it noticeably improve low end torque? With 35" tires, 4.10 gears and an AOD auto I need more low-mid torque.
Thanks
Mark

 

With the specs you gave me, I had to assume somewhere between 9-9.5:1 compression ratio, and approximately 1000 cfm injectors. Fuel injectors are actually rated by lbs/hr, but I wrote a program that can convert it, so if you know the actuall output of your fuel injectors, let me know so I can re-run the program. Also, I can give you a better idea if you post your actual static compression ratio. That being said, Dyno 2000 reports:

300 HP @ 5000 RPM
365 ft*lbs @ 3800 RPM

this will give you a good idea of where the peak numbers will be, though the actual figures may be off, the cam profile, which I referenced from the Comp Cams catalogue, will determine most of the characteristics of the motor.

'77 F100, 100% Aftermarket 302 w/C4 cruisin' through 2.75's
John F. Daly III, E.I.T.
The TorqueKing

 

Thanks for the info, Torqueking. The compression will be close to 9.5:1. I do not know the injector rate, they are stock, probably 19lb/hr. I am hoping this cam will improve low to mid rpm torque over my present cam. I am sure it will improve upper rpm power, especially with the new heads, what do you think?
Thanks again.

EXOPAR,
Have you decided what to do yet? Sounds like one of the Comp Cams may be good for you as well.
Mark

 

The XE256H would be a little nastier if you got the one with a 110 LSA, it makes more torque and HP all around, about 10 more HP and only slightly more torque, but the average would be up just a bit. It might give you a bit of that "lopey" sound, with a little less idle vacuum. I ran a cam with a 110 LSA, and it made even better vacuum than stock. You'll really enjoy the pickup in midrange torque too. TK

'77 F100, 100% Aftermarket 302 w/C4 cruisin' through 2.75's
John F. Daly III, E.I.T.
The TorqueKing

 

Well

Unfortunatelly this time mail has been too fast for me, yesterday I received the Crane-Cam and returnig it to the distributor can be a major task since I am not in USA.

According whith what stated before, I should no expect major improvement with this cam however I should expect for some impovement right?

Now I need to know if I can use this cam with a 1.7 rockers? I am close to win an auction for a set of 1.7 roller rockers but need to know if they will work with this cam prior to end of auction therefore I really need your advise.

At the very begining of this post I placed the especifications on the Comp-Cam 364-112.

Just to let you know guys, I am not looking for a major improvement since petrol quality in my country is not that good I know some good cams have problems due to petrol therefore I prefer to be very conservative so far.

Aside I am working on porting and polishing a set of heads (hope will not screw it) that should help having slightly better performance.

So the final pacage should be:

Crane Cam 364-112
Poring, Polishing and multiangle valve job
1.7 roller rockers (to be defined)
Hardened pushrods
Hig vol, hig press oil pump.

According to the Chiltons especifications this truck is rated 150+/- hp, any rought idea how many ponies I can get out of all this modifications?

Regards
Ray