351 lightning engine
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351 lightning engine
I have abouht a 50,000 mile 95 lightning engine to use in a 85 crown vic I run on A 1/4 mile dirt track I will be using 410 gears running the aod tranny in 2nd which will put me around 5200 or so rpms at the end of the straight a aways Does any one recomend a better than factory cam I have to pull 16 inches of vacum at 850 rpms and run a 500 holley 2 barrell carb. Also can I bolt an older timming cover and fuel pump eccentric to run a manual pump even with the roller cam Are the gt 40 heads a good perfromance choice any tips to get more power out of this thing would be appreciated
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Lets see.. the Gen1 lightning motor(5.8) doesn't have a roller cam, it's a flat tappet. You can run a mechanical fuel pump but you need to change the timing cover to an earlier version, the EFI cover has no mounting point or even a hole for the mechanical pump. Port the blazes out of the GT40 heads and you'll start to get close to decent airflow for this motor, add a 270-280 duration cam and you should be well into the 300+ horsepower range. The big problem will be the exhaust, if you have to run manifolds you
are in trouble, none of the stock logs flow that great.
are in trouble, none of the stock logs flow that great.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Earth
Rhodes lifters are built to bleed down at low rpm so you will pull more vacuum, then pump up at speed so you're not losing any duration. I hear a lot of racers in your situation use them to meet/skirt vacuum rules.
For a flat tappet, the Comp XE cams are the best you'll get outside of a custom grind. I'd call them and see if they can give you a line on which cam will give you the vacuum you've got to pull. Or buy three and try them...
FWIW, the Magnum 292h cam in my Mustang pulls 9-10 lbs at ~1,000rpm. Of course, there's more to vacuum than just the cam - heads, exhaust, intake, etc.. To make the most power you'd have to put the engine on a dyno and try different combos.
If you have to run unported Ford cast iron heads the GT40's are about the best you're going to do. If there's no rule on heads, a pair of AFR165's will give you 75+hp over the GT40's.
A C4 will hold up to racing better than an AOD. A Crown Vic is heavy, find an old Futura or other two door car. And use a 9" rear end.
For a flat tappet, the Comp XE cams are the best you'll get outside of a custom grind. I'd call them and see if they can give you a line on which cam will give you the vacuum you've got to pull. Or buy three and try them...
FWIW, the Magnum 292h cam in my Mustang pulls 9-10 lbs at ~1,000rpm. Of course, there's more to vacuum than just the cam - heads, exhaust, intake, etc.. To make the most power you'd have to put the engine on a dyno and try different combos.
If you have to run unported Ford cast iron heads the GT40's are about the best you're going to do. If there's no rule on heads, a pair of AFR165's will give you 75+hp over the GT40's.
A C4 will hold up to racing better than an AOD. A Crown Vic is heavy, find an old Futura or other two door car. And use a 9" rear end.
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rules say strictly stock no porting I fouund our today I have a 96 motor but stil lnot sure if it is a roller or not surprisingly the crowns vics seem to do well several guys are running them already and I bought one race ready pretty cheap it has an 8.8 rear but I may upgrade it later if I have problems
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2007
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From: British Columbia
Manifolds
If you do need to use cast iron exhaust manifolds try to find early 351W ones. I don't know about later years, but the 1969 ones have a very good free flowing left side and large log right side.
Also the Hipo 289 manifolds are very free flowing but expensive.
Also the Hipo 289 manifolds are very free flowing but expensive.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
If you have an F4TE block it is roller ready, look for these casting numbers at the rear lower area on one side or the other. The Lighning motors definitely did not come with roller cams however.. even though all the other 5.8 truck motors were using them from '94 on.
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