Choosing the right Camshaft.........
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Little Elm TX
Choosing the right Camshaft.........
I have been debating on whether or not to buy a Vette or fix up my 65 Mustang. I have been leaning more towards the Vette, but I really want to see that Stang up and running and on the streets. Now, what I want mostly is for it to sound good and run really strong on the bottom end. It's gonna be a street beast and I want it to sound really REALLY lumpy at idle. I haven't a clue as to what ratios and lift or whatever you measure a camshaft by. Can any of you suggest a good one that I could get? I posted this on a Mustang website but I have yet to get a reply that helps me. I know you guys are very informative. Thanks for the help. :cheers:
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Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Clymer PA
Re: Choosing the right Camshaft......... (Tony W)
To be honest I really know nothing about Fords. You say you want a lumpy cam, but you want it to run strong on the bottom end? That's going to be tough to do the reason for the loping idle is the massive duration. The cam is keeping the valves open longer (with a high duration cam), a high duration cam will pay off on the mid-top end....most likely not the bottom? Your cam selection has A LOT to do with the rest of your setup (i.e. compression ratio, transmission, rear gears, heads etc...). In my opinion one of the best sounding idles in the world is a high compression engine running a high duration SOLID LIFTER cam. The high compression and solid lifter cam just give the engine a sound like no other.
So to summarize, we really need to know your entire setup before we can assist you. :cheers:
So to summarize, we really need to know your entire setup before we can assist you. :cheers:
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Little Elm TX
Re: Choosing the right Camshaft......... (bence13_33)
So to summarize, we really need to know your entire setup before we can assist you. :cheers:
Thread Starter
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From: Little Elm TX
Re: Choosing the right Camshaft......... (Tony W)
Also, I guess what I was trying to say was, I want a good sound, and have a strong bottom end. Does that make more sense? Or would I have to sacrifice one for the other.
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Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Clymer PA
Re: Choosing the right Camshaft......... (Tony W)
The rear gear ratio....they are an intricate part of your setup. You want to watch throwing a high duration cam into a smaller displacement engine. Throwing a 294 solid lifter cam into say a 468 ( :) ) is not the same as throwing a 294 solid lifter cam into a 289. The more displacement you have the tamer a cam becomes.
As for specific cam recommendations....Ganey is the man you are looking for :cool:
As for specific cam recommendations....Ganey is the man you are looking for :cool:
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,418
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Re: Choosing the right Camshaft......... (bence13_33)
Tony,
I think I am qualified enough with my limited experience with cams :rolleyes:
Would use Competition Cams HE 260 with your automatic.It does not matter which rear gear you have.The more gear the better it will run.Until you mod the motor further,this is the cam for you.
I think I am qualified enough with my limited experience with cams :rolleyes:
Would use Competition Cams HE 260 with your automatic.It does not matter which rear gear you have.The more gear the better it will run.Until you mod the motor further,this is the cam for you.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Forked River NJ
Re: Choosing the right Camshaft......... (mountainmotor)
I have driven a 65 Mustang with a 289 3 speed auto and 3.55 gears with a Comp Cams 260 Cam. It was a nice driving car. Not to lumpy of a cam but with only 289 Ci it seemed like enough. Able to light the tires from a stand still and pull very well to 5000+ rpm. Nice cam in a small motor
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 198
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From: Buffalo, NY
Re: Choosing the right Camshaft......... (Tony W)
Tony, bear in mind that there are two things that effect a cam's idle quality, its duration and the overlap, often measured by lobe separation angle. What you are looking for is a low duration cam ( I would guess 215@0.050) with tight centers. I dont know the Comp line that well, but the cam Mountain recommends is probably on a 110 lsa, most Comps are. With a 215 duration, you wont get a real choppy idle. But if you tighten that up to 106-108, you will. The downside to tight centers is that the engine has a "peaky" characteristic, while wide centers give a smoother, broader power band.
The other downside is that you are going to have a hard time finding a cam with 215 duration on a 108. Its a ford, not a chevy, selction is more limited. If you really want a choppy idle, you'll have to pay for a custom, or just use the H260 or Crane's H272-10 which is nearly identical.
The other downside is that you are going to have a hard time finding a cam with 215 duration on a 108. Its a ford, not a chevy, selction is more limited. If you really want a choppy idle, you'll have to pay for a custom, or just use the H260 or Crane's H272-10 which is nearly identical.
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