Just fired my 302 up finally. This is my first performance SB Ford so I am looking for some baseline tuning guidance from the gurus. Ignition timing and other info from those with experience with this package or something similar. It's going to be a while before we actually roll. Here's what I've got: Fresh 302 with flat tops and nothing special heads. Edelbrock cam, intake and carb. Stock Duraspark and MSD coil (I should say MSD onboard MIG welder, I'm impressed), shorty Mustang headers and flowmaster 40s will be reinstalled. It's in a 53 F100 that weighs almost 4000 lbs I suppose. I will run either 3.70 or 3.25 gears with my C-4 AT. Don't wish to make any drastic changes to the aforementioned parts. Curious about base ignition timing, total timing and whether the carb will likely work well out of the box. It sounds crisp now but she's on jackstands.

'fenders

 

Hey Fendes, got to say you did an excellent job, that's one pretty truck. Most 302 were set at 6* BTDC on base timing. I'm no expert by any stretch but by my experience I would run about 10-12 BTDC. If your Duraspark has adjustable vacuum advance you can also adjust it with an 1/8" ( I think) allen wrench in the vacuum nipple. I'm in the process of tuning mine in right now. Everywhere I go I have a 1/2" wrench and an allen wrench. If it spark knocks at wide open I back off the base timing. If it knocks at part throttle I back off the vac. advance. I'm running an MSD which is easier to adjust the springs on but the Durasparks are adjustable too. They say you should shoot for 38-42 total timing all in by I think 2700 RPM's Mine would spark knock like crazy until I got an adjustable vacuum cannister.
The carb will probably run pretty good out of the box. I run a Holley and know nothing about Edelbrocks.
Hpoe this was of some use to you and not too confusing
Clint

 

Thanks Clint, I am at 12 degree base timing right now so I guess we'll stay with that until it proves wrong for me. Was not aware the vacuum advance may be adjustable. I will definitely check tonight. I am hoping the Duraspark springs will work as is. You are correct about them not being too easy to tweak.

'fenders

 

I am not that sure your truck weighs that much, you might be surprised, and use the 3.25 gears, the 3.70's would be annoying on the freeway or highway(not to mention bad for mileage). Dig up a cheap stall convertor for improved takeoff.....

 

Everyone refers to these trucks as light but I have found literature to the contrary. I will weigh it when I can. I already own both sets of gears. The 3.70s are in the truck now. They may very well leave but I just gotta leave them in long enough for a couple rips around the block. Not going racing but I will always wonder what she would have run like with a good set of gears if I don't do it now. If I am right about the weight, I may not be able to use the 3.25s with a 302. It sure sounds like it's going to run but they all do with open headers in the garage.

'fenders

 

to 71swisaqua

What model 4x4 cam are you running??

 

I am running a X-4x4 cam also, the biggest one for a windsor(270/276 duration, .519/.531 lift).....

 

226/234 at .50??

I'm thinking of running that in my new 400 h.p. 3??Don't know yet. 351w block

How does it run??

Whats the idle like

 

okay, here is the '85 conversion van engine arrangement.....
77 mexican 351 block, .040 over
Junk cast pistons wayyy down in the hole(I bought this rebuilt engine and tore off the top end to port the heads, a long rod kit is going in it in the future, with good pistons)
1970 351w heads, home brewed serious port and polish( I ruined an extra head first just to see how far I could go with it, and then ported the heads following my investigative work, around 115 hours)
screw in studs and guideplates, hardened pushrods, harland sharp 1.6 roller rockers, stock size(1.85's) stainless valves, comp cams 986-16 double springs(required)
Xtreme energy 4x4 cam, specs stated above
Performer RPM intake, with one inch open spacer to cure fuel distribution problems with this intake, adds 10 hp
Holley 750 vac. secondary, with the lightest yellow sec. spring
Rebuilt 351 points dist. , with a pertronix, and light advance springs, brings in full mechanical advance around 2400-2500
cloyes true roller duoble row chain and gears, cam installed straight up
Blaster 2 coil
red ford motorsport 9mm spiral wound plug wires
BBK 351 5.0 mustang swap headers, wrapped with header wrap(# 2 tube is really close to doghouse rubber seal, and dimpled for clearance)
A 2 1/2 off-road mustang h-pipe that has been cut apart to use for the front half of the exhaust, goes into Flowtech Afterburner(DO NOT BUY, THEY ARE EXTREMELY ANNOYING!!!) mufflers, then into a X-Pipe junction, then out and on each side in front of the rear tires.

Tranny(rebuilt it myself):'91 mustang 5.0 AOD
B&M 2400 rpm non-lockup stall convertor
Trans-go AOD HP shift kit(the $120 kit)(not too impressed)
Direct clutch mods: Alto Red Eagle powerpack, switches from 5 discs to 8, comes with red eagle frictions and kolene steels
2-inch wide(stock is 1 1/2) kevlar overdrive band
AODE reverse drum, and planetary shell
mechanical diode kit
Red Eagle forward, reverse, and intermediate frictions, and kolene steels
the intermediate clutch has a 4r70w pressure plate that enables you to run 4 friction plates instead of 3(this thing has a HARD 1-2 shift)
A 4x4 tranny pan with center pickup
Lokar AOD tv cable
And a huge stacked plate tranny cooler
It runs really good. I have 4.11 gears and a detroit locker in the rear. This van gets up and flies through 1st and second, it is easily the fastest truck I have been in. The power comes in right off of launch and pulls thru 6000 rpm. The idle is rough, but not all that lopey(the carb I have has a bad metering plate I think, I get varying idle qualities, but drives flawlessly ) but when it idles like it is supposed to, it is not too bad.
My thoughts on the engine? right engine, wrong vehicle. Get a smaller camshaft, unless you are doing high rpm blasting up hills or thru mud, this cam has the wrong power range for a truck(off idle thru 3000 is not that great). I suspect the heavy weight may have a little to do with the low end running, but this is a nasty cam for driveablility, I get the sensation I am driving an old cobrajet mustang with the way it runs.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 31-Oct-02 AT 08:54 PM (EST)]Yea It sounds just like my buildup except I'm going to run a 750 edelbrock and my heads are '71. I want it to sound pretty wild at idle but still have good power and torque. It has low gears as well.

 

If you want a rumpety-rump cam, get something else, My cam does not produce that kind of idle.......

 

is it noticable??

Can you tell it has a cam in it??

 

The idle sounds like a really healthy stocker, and it is not all that smooth. But, once again, if you are wanting something with a rumpy idle, look to a 280 magnum cam from comp cams.
Note: Cams with a lot of duration do not seem to work too well in heavy trucks, unless they are running stick shifts(then you can get the rpm up to take off). If this is an auto truck, I would actually run the cam that is a size smaller than what I currently am using. To run a big cam in a truck with an auto(unless it is a 460 engine) tranny, you need a stall convertor to help out the launch, but you cannot go too much with the stall, because the truck then becomes a slug around town unless you hammer it all of the time.

 

No, it's going in a 357w in my '84 4x4 with NP 4 speed manual. It runs 2300 rpm's at 55 with the 4.10's on 31's