5.0/302 cam upgrade

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Apr 17, 2026 | 09:10 PM

fuelsmoke1

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5.0/302 cam upgrade

Hey gang. I'm getting ready to rebuild a 1998 5.0 from a Ford explorer. The engine is going into a 65 mustang. I want to upgrade the cam and lifters. The engine is in good shape and will be mostly stock, but I'd like a little thump out of it. It's likely going to be running a terminator X efi, although that's not set in stone. But I'm wanting this engine to idle with just a little thump and I would like it to have decent throttle response. We won't be running it up above 6000 rpm most likely under 5000 most of the time. Pretty much a daily driver with a little thump is what I am looking for.
I don't have a lot of experience using different camshafts and lifters from stock, anyone have any suggestions? Also, manual transmission. Not automatic. This engine is a 98, so it's already a roller.
Any suggestions or advice please let me know. It's not going to be a race car. Just a cruiser, but an efi emissions stock cam probably won't be that good 😂. While we're in it, want to wake it up a bit. But still have it decent for regular use.
Thank you for any ideas!

Apr 20, 2026 | 02:40 PM

DaveMcLain

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I would recommend regrinding the stock roller cam core to something different. These cores are very high quality and can be regound to just about any grind. My biggest concern would be that you want it to be able to pull high gear and not chug a lug. I'd keep the duration down around 208 to 210 on the intake and about 214 on the exhaust and pull the lobe sep in a few degrees.

Apr 22, 2026 | 06:45 AM

bwguardian

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The Ford Racing E-303 cam sounds like a good match. I have one in my 85 GT vert with a pair of the Explorer GT40p heads and love it. Pulls hard from down low up through 6k rpm with the T-5 gear box and 3:27 gear set. Mine still has the original carburetor, though it's tweaked. At regular idle you can tell it's not stock...nothing crazy...but if I turn the idle down a little it gets more of that thump.

Apr 22, 2026 | 07:36 AM

DaveMcLain

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The E303 lobe was designed with quite a bit of duration but to be mild with moderate lift so that it could be a drop in for a 5.0 and work with the stock valvetrain. I've got a master for that lobe and it has been fun to use for a few things. One that I can think of is a customer with it in a 318 Dodge and it runs surprisingly good on a 108LSA. I used it to regrind the stock factory cam because those engines don't have a lot of room for a valve spring that'll handle high lift. It worked perfectly. It could work ok in a 5.0 but a cam with less duration on a tighter LSA would be better and make more mid range torque.

Apr 22, 2026 | 08:42 AM

bwguardian

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I still have the stock cam that came out of the 85...and probably should do something with it...

Apr 22, 2026 | 10:12 AM

DaveMcLain

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Quote:

Originally Posted by bwguardian

I still have the stock cam that came out of the 85...and probably should do something with it...

I'm not sure but I think that 1985 is the change over year from flat tappet to roller at least in the cars. It could be a non HO 5.0 core. Those are cool because they are ground on a 108 LSA. The 302 cam from the late 70's until they went roller is also ground similarly and they make a nice performance cam.

Apr 22, 2026 | 11:02 AM

bwguardian

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Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveMcLain

It's a HO 5.0 roller cam given the car is a GT. This year was the first year for the roller cam, forged pistons (flat top design with 4 valve reliefs like the previous cast slugs) w/ low tension molly rings, etc. It was the last year for the carburetor amongst some other things on the car like the 7.5" rear end (mine has the 8.8" with a 3:27 gear set). The E-303 cam is ground on a 110* LSA which I like with the carburetor, but is probably why most didn't like it given they were putting it in an 86+ engine with fuel injection.