Woo-hoo! Finally got my tranny rebuilt and working right and got to try out my freshly built 300 a bit today. I had barely gotten the rings seated when the E4OD died. After quite an experience with my first rebuild of on of those things, I really got to put some miles on her this afternoon (about 200 miles!) Well it still hasn't got squat right off the line but it's got 2.79s.... Anyway, everything from about 10mph on up is a big improvement. I still haven't really "nailed it" yet, but the 1/4 to 1/2 throttle power and response is awesome. It's a real interstate bomber now. Plenty of power to pass without forcing a downshift to 2nd. It can drop down from OD to 3rd and accelerate, even up a moderate grade at less than half throttle. The real power is right in the range I drive. It'll cruise at 80 at around 1/4 throttle without straining and you can tell it's got plenty of room to stretch it's legs. I really need a lower gear. The one surprising thing is that this truck ALWAYS spark knocked badly. It would lug and chug up hills and rattle like a b*!@#. That was stock timing, 87 or 89 octane, sometimes even on 93. Right now my base timing is set at 18 and I can't MAKE it knock on 87. (And my fuel pressure is still low). The other great thing is that even with 15-16 inches of vacuum at idle I have NO CODES! I'll detail what I've done below, but I am WAY happy with this thing (and happy to finally have my truck back on the road!) I can hardly wait till the weekend. (Adjustable Fuel Pressure reg., home-brew cold air intake.) And I can't hardly wait to free up the exhaust.
Build: Stock rebuild on bottom end except HV oil pump.
Crane 272/260 cam .458/.487 lift, "straight-up" Comp Cams steel timing gears, head P&P (mild - bowl area and short-side radius only) Stock valves with 3-angle job, matched crane springs. Everything else stock including computer calibration. Truck is 95 EFI Ext. cab.
So far, it looks as if this cam IS compatible with the computer.

 

Way to go, Dude! It sounds like it all came together for ya. I'm pretty fascinated that that cam didn't throw the computer for a heart attack. Good for you. Have a cold one.

 

nice build. if you get an extra thousand to throw at it someday get a header. i know what everyone says about the header vs. efi manifold debate, i spent 3 months researching headers before purchasing. i put a hooker with duals and a h-pipe on my 91 with only e-fans and msd and it was a definite SOTP difference. last weekend i put your cam in the same truck and wow what a difference. with your head, cam and fresh bottom end, you will benefit.

 

NOICE!!!!!

Let us know how it's affecting your mileage.

 

I'd have loved to go with the header on this, but I ended up spending way more than I guestimated on the build anyway. That, and I wasn't planning on the tranny laying down just yet either. I had to by torque converter, front pump, kit, etc. and I had valve body issues once I got it in. I spent a ton on trans fluid alone before it was all said and done. Long story short, I'm busted (It didn't help that my son got a chance to buy an El-Camino - which he's always wanted- not running and did an engine swap there, $300 more for a pair of tires on the wife's Exped. and an unexpected ADDITIONAL $750 this week getting him in college - whew. I'm ready for that cold one. Or two, or three...) Anyway, I'm going to have to settle for a free-flow cat and muffler for now, and that will be a few weeks itself. I want to go to 19lb. injectors, but that too will have to wait. I DID, however, get the adjustable fuel pressure regulator installed yesterday. The bad thing about that is that the front tank's pump must be about to go. I was reading 42 psi on both before. I figured that was a good indication that it was the reg. I adjusted it up to 58 PSI on the rear tank, but it drops to 42 when I switch to the front. Crap. Anyway, I expect that just that amount of opening up the exhaust will likely wake it up a bit more. Curious about your header, though. Do you have a specific number, or do they only make one for the 300? Also, as to the mileage question - yesterday it seemed like it might be better - today it seemed a little worse, but I'm having trouble keeping my foot out of it too! I just filled up, so I'll probably have some numbers on that in a couple of days.

 

6823-1 was the hooker part number, they only have one but you can get ceramic coated or just painted and spend quite a bit less. how were the comp cams gears timed? one set of dots or can you advance and retard like the cloyes?

 

Thanks for the info. The comp gears have just one set of dots, straight up (no 4 deg retard).

 

Been really busy and off the board for a bit. I've got a lot of catching up to do. Anyway, update on this build. Passed emissions test good. 170 out of an allowable 400 on HC, .57 out of (I think) and allowable 2.0 on CO. averaging 16.8 MPG (up about 1-2 from pre-build) Still no codes, but picked up a miss. Gonna change the cap and rotor first, then start looking at fuel (still planning larger injectors, but no $$$ right now). Feels good driving. Still satisfying power, tendency to overheat lessening (break - in friction?) All in all, going good.