I have a solid lifter cam and wanting to rebuild the motor i was wondering what it takes to change from solid to roller. It is a crane cam i'll be using designed for 1500-5000rpm. What all does it take and how much will it cost. thanks for any advice

90 F-150 302 :-X11

 

Comp Cams sells a kit, but the lifters themselves cost over $300, and you can only use it with a Magnum Cam, which is not a dual-pattern cam, and is best suited to 2000 lb. Mustangs that hit 7000 RPM at the strip once a week, definately not for a truck. You're on the right track though, you can easily pick up 30-40 HP over flat-tappets. Your best bet if you're really set on having the hyd. rollers is to pick up a '85-'93 5.0 mustang block, they already have the longer roller lifter sleeves in the lifter valley. Plus, they were cast of a nickel-iron alloy that is unbleiveably resistant to wear, and came with forged pistons from Dearborne, so you'd be all set with a new ring job, and Comp Cams makes Xtreme Energy, Dual-Pattern, or other lines of performance cams that are much better suited to life in a truck for that engine. I'm biast towards Comp, but I know that Crane has a similar deal, where their roller-conversion package is only for drag-race suited cams. Hope this helps, stay in touch, I'd like to hear where you end up with this!

Cadet Second Lieutenant John F. Daly III
South Carolina Corps of Cadets, The Citadel
The TorqueKing

 

OK, here goes. On my '92 302 F-150 and after reading the boards, it seems that my 302 is a roller block assembly. (the same that's in my '88 mustang). While going thru a mid-life crisis with my '88 stang, I have accumulated several extra parts (most of which are stock due to upgrades).

My question is, can I use some if not all of these mustang parts on my F-150? Such as: Intake manifold, throttle body, headers? Does the F-150 untilize the E-7 heads as well?

I know the intake hooks up on the wrong side, but can it be turned (flipped). and can all this be used with out changing the computer? I figure I might as well use some of this stuff if it will give me any gains! Thanks

 

You probably have code E7TE heads, they are closed chamber heads with medium-sized valves, and they will work fine on your truck. They will raise the compression a little, simply by having the closed chambers, plus the extra power you can get from the quench principle. I'd think twice before swapping heads just for fun, though. Too much stuff can go wrong, like breaking water pump bolts (been there), or realizing that you don't have a "crankshaft sprocket installation tool", which you wouldn't need unless you were doing a cam as well. For future reference, you can actually use the harmonic balancer puller to do that job, but it isn't easy (or fun). To really see a performance benefit, you'd want to get them ported, and have larger valves installed, and get better valve seals put in while you're at it. Then to make use of the added airflow, you're gonna want a cam that can use the deeper lungs. What I'm saying is, the Mustang heads can support better power, but heads should be matched to cam profiles to be efficient. Now, the computer issue, see if you can summon Franklin2, or Lightning2fast, or SaurF100s (sorry if I butchered the name, Steve), or one of these other EFI wizards. The only computer riding with me is the microprocessor in my MSD 6A box, and my CD player uses it's brain every once in a while too (gotta Rock).

Cadet Second Lieutenant John F. Daly III
South Carolina Corps of Cadets, The Citadel
'77 F100, 302 (the aftermarket Prodigy) C4, and 2.75's (for now)
The TorqueKing

 

On my roller cam I plan on using a crane cam designed to run 1500 to 5000 rpm with a power range of 2200 to 2600 rpm. Hitting this rpm with my set up will be no problem. But would I be better in getting some crane roller lifters out of Jegs I found for a 160 or stick with the original equipment. and would a lincoln 302 block work. I found one that was in a car for $75. Car was burnt he said blocks okay but I plan a complete engine overhaul anyways.

 

New roller lifters won't work in a block that was designed for flat tappets, since the lifter sleeve isn't long enough, and the base circle of the roller cam is too large to fit. Try to find a post 1985 Ford-Lincoln-Mercury block, and then you'll be able to run OEM lifters, either aftermarket, or you can even ruse the roller lifters that came in the old block.

The TorqueKing

 

Thanks Torque King for the reply.....yea, thats what I have the E7TE heads. The thing is, that the '92 F-150 is a speed density air intake which does not accept alot of cam mods. Needs vacumm for the computer to work properly. Intake and exaust flow increases can be realitively easy to accomodate by adjusting fuel pressures. My '88 LX is the same. After '88, Ford used the mass air flow setup on their mustangs which accepts cam mods much better.

My understanding is the truck (post '92) uses the same roller block as the mustang and if the electonics are similar as well, some minor bolt on mustang mods MIGHT work and produce gains.

There is a site....50 Tech is a great source for anybody wanting speed density tech info. Later and thanks again for the help, Don