Yet another cam recommendation

[Mark1911]

Looking from the folks who "have been there done that".

What I have is a 302 that was in my fox body, this engine with manual transmission and 3.88 gear was a hoot to drive and dependable, the engine has been on my shelf unused for approx 25 years and now in my Bronco. It runs great, but is now backed up with an AOD using a 2000 stall lock up converter, 4.56 gear and 285/70/17 KO2 tire
It is Fords RHO 302 from many years ago that came equipped as follows:
302 block
SVO aluminum cylinder heads
B303 roller camshaft (ok no laughing)
1.6 ratio roller rocker arms
9.1 compression (I believe)
GT40 tubular intake
A9P computer
70mm ACCUFAB throttle body
75mm Pro-M Racing calibrated for 19lb injectors
BC Broncos shorty headers
2.5" exhaust from headers to 3" "Y" collector with 3" exhaust, all stainless mandrel bent tubing
Issue I believe is the camshaft, engine runs great but kind of a dog until higher RPMS as to be expected with the B303.
So, the question is what camshaft would the been there done that experts recommend?
I have seen Comp cams 35-308-8, Comp cams 35-349-8 and Howard's cams CL221275-12S
I now am looking for more of a nice driver with good performance, I don't care anymore about rompity romp cams, too much drama with drivability.
Hopefully this provided info is enough for an educated decision.

Thank you.
Mark

 

[ntsqd]

No help on the cam choice, but I'd expect the 2x 2.5" X 3" exhaust on a 302 to have droning and resonance issues.

I will say that people almost always pick too big of a cam for what they want to do.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Years ago I called Howard's cam tech line. Had a cam in mind. Talked with them to confirm. They talked me down to a smaller cam. Followed the advise. It turned out perfect for the package I was running.

For cams the I picked on my own, one good, two that were only okay.

 

[Timmy390]

Explorer cam........low end torque....I ran it in my W for a while....then upgraded. No real reason to upgrade just throwing money in a hole lol.

Tim

 

[Mark1911]

@ntsqd. I was concerned about that also, but I am running a large walker muffler and seems to eliminate the droning, haven't driven it enough yet, too irritated with the performance. Yes, I agree with you 100% about selecting too big.


@Broncobowsher. I am totally with you, smaller is better. Go figure.


@Timmy390. That is kind of what I was thinking also. This whole Bronco thing is throwing money I a hole, but I can't seem to stop. LOL

 

[73azbronco]

B303...

Bwahahaha.

Seriously, stock explorer cam.
mid range comp towing cam.

Done

 

[ntsqd]

There's probably some are under the lift curve to be had over the OEM Explorer cam with the right aftermarket cam for the use. Whether you'd actually notice a difference I can't say. I'd base my decision on cost, If a real Ford cam can be had for less than an aftermarket cam then that's what I'd choose. Call a couple of the cam companies and get their recommendations. I'm partial to Howard's because I used to crew on the Howard's Cams Special (yes, from that song) when it was a methanol injected Boss 302 R.E.D., but any of the custom cam grinders will have valid suggestions.

 

[Mark1911]

B303...

Bwahahaha.

Seriously, stock explorer cam.
mid range comp towing cam.

Done

B303. I know right? face plant move on my part, what was I thinking? but hey it was good in a manual trans and geared fox body, also much lighter.

 

[ntsqd]

Totally different application, appropriate there. Wasn't the 'E' even rowdier?

 

[Mark1911]

Totally different application, appropriate there. Wasn't the 'E' even rowdier?

Good question on the "E" cam, Ford motorsport catalog states the "E" can be used with auto trans, whereas the "B" manual trans.
I have zero experience with the "E" cam. I am leaning more to the Howards cam CL221275-12S

 

[lars]

I ran a Comp 35-308-8 for 20 years in my slightly warmed over Exploder 5.0 with specs similar to yours.Very EFI friendly. A bit of idle lope but other than that driveability was fine. I imagine it would play well with your intake bits, heads etc. The Explorer cam would probably cost you a little at the top end comparatively but could be even more user friendly. I never ran my engine with it so I can’t comment.

 

[ntsqd]

I filled out the Howard's cam recommendation form. Waiting to see what they suggest.

 

[Timmy390]

Cam I run now.....
Comp 35-349-8/XE264HR
Advertised Duration (Int/Exh): 264/270
Duration @ .050 (Int/Exh): 212/218
Gross Valve Lift (Int/Exh): .512/.512
LSA/ICL:114/110
RPM Range: 1,500-5,500

Explorer cam
Explorer F4TE-6250-BA Hydraulic Roller
Intake at 1.6 rocker ratio .422" lift 256 duration
Exhaust at 1.6 rocker ratio .448" lift 266 duration
1.7 rockers is .449 intake and .476 Exhaust
116 lobe separation

Cam Lars mentioned above
Comp 35-308-8/266HR
Advertised Duration (Int/Exh): 266/270
Duration @ .050 (Int/Exh): 210/215
Gross Valve Lift (Int/Exh): .533/.533
LSA/ICL:114/110
RPM Range:1200-5200

I run SN95 EFI and it didn't play like stepping up from the Explorer cam to the Comp. I had to add a Idle Air Bypass to achieve stable idle.
https://lmr.com/item/LRS-9939A/1986-93-Mustang-50L-58L-Idle-Air-Control-Iac-Adjuster

Tim

 

[gnpenning]

Cam I run now.....
Comp 35-349-8/XE264HR
Advertised Duration (Int/Exh): 264/270
Duration @ .050 (Int/Exh): 212/218
Gross Valve Lift (Int/Exh): .512/.512
LSA/ICL:114/110
RPM Range: 1,500-5,500

Explorer cam
Explorer F4TE-6250-BA Hydraulic Roller
Intake at 1.6 rocker ratio .422" lift 256 duration
Exhaust at 1.6 rocker ratio .448" lift 266 duration
1.7 rockers is .449 intake and .476 Exhaust
116 lobe separation

Cam Lars mentioned above
Comp 35-308-8/266HR
Advertised Duration (Int/Exh): 266/270
Duration @ .050 (Int/Exh): 210/215
Gross Valve Lift (Int/Exh): .533/.533
LSA/ICL:114/110
RPM Range:1200-5200

I run SN95 EFI and it didn't play like stepping up from the Explorer cam to the Comp. I had to add a Idle Air Bypass to achieve stable idle.
https://lmr.com/item/LRS-9939A/1986-93-Mustang-50L-58L-Idle-Air-Control-Iac-Adjuster

Tim

Aren't you running a 351 now or was that cam in a different motor?

Good breakdown of specs.

 

[Timmy390]

Aren't you running a 351 now or was that cam in a different motor?

Good breakdown of specs.

Yes, running a 351w. Ran the Explorer cam for a bit (my 351w came out of a 1996 E350 which had the Explorer cam stock). It ran great....LONG story short, I had a cracked head that took me and the machine shop months to figure out (long thread on it). I ditched the E7 heads and went GT40P and while I was at it......threw more money in the hole and upgraded to the Comp 35-349-8/XE264HR. Figured while the engine was apart upgrade.

Tim

 

[Mark1911]

Good afternoon gentlemen. Thank you for all of the replies and input, al the recommendations sound really good, especially since you guys have hands on experience with the said cams
Spoke to a custom Ford cam grinder/builder for a recommendation, (Cam Research Corporation), the person I spoke with was extremely helpful, he recommended:
266 duration on intake
272 duration on exhaust
480 lift
112 LSA
somewhat close to the Explorer cam.
Waiting on Howards to get back to me, filled out their cam recommendation card just as ntsqd did.
The more I research this the more conflicted I get. Yes, I am way over thinking this.......
Botton line, good quality cam and lifter set that will last for many years.

 

[ntsqd]

Howard's suggested this cam: 220235-12 for use with these details: 33's, 4.11's, 302/5.0, 1000-5000 RPM operating range, AOD, ~4500 lbs vehicle used for towing (they don't have an off-road option)

Basic RPM Range: 1000 to 5000
Valve Lift Intake: .517
Valve Lift Exhaust: .517
Duration Intake: 266
Duration Exhaust: 272
Duration at 050 Intake: 213
Duration at 050 Exhaust: 219
Lobe Separation: 112
Intake Centerline: 108

 

[Timmy390]

Howard's suggested this cam: 220235-12 for use with these details: 33's, 4.11's, 302/5.0, 1000-5000 RPM operating range, AOD, ~4500 lbs vehicle used for towing (they don't have an off-road option)

Basic RPM Range: 1000 to 5000
Valve Lift Intake: .517
Valve Lift Exhaust: .517
Duration Intake: 266
Duration Exhaust: 272
Duration at 050 Intake: 213
Duration at 050 Exhaust: 219
Lobe Separation: 112
Intake Centerline: 108

That's REALLY close to my Cam....Guess I did something right

Tim

 

[DirtDonk]

The more I research this the more conflicted I get. Yes, I am way over thinking this...

Not sure if you are overthinking it actually. There are just so many choices, with so many different ideas of what is best, with so many other ideas of how to get there. Not to mention so many interpretations of how to achieve it.
Then add the other layer of so many people who might interpret your needs and wants differently.
It’s hard to overthink a cam choice.
But if you are expecting any kind of consensus, you are expecting the wrong thing.

What you do is take all the data you’ve glearned (scientific terminology) from others, all the data you’ve heard from the manufacturers that you’ve inquired of, and put it all together in your own head.
And there is your consensus.

Botton line, good quality cam and lifter set that will last for many years.

I hate to say that this goal does not exist anymore. So I won’t…
But it’s hard to ignore all the reports of lifter, failures, and cam failures anymore. Especially with the flat tappet kind, but even with rollers.
Even with small percentages, it’s still an epidemic when it comes to a part that used to be stone reliable, and the only time you had a failure was when you screwed something up yourself.

So good luck with all of it!

 

[73azbronco]

I really wish they never went down the rabbit hole with camshaft design.

You need a hi rpm cam, low rpm torque cam, a few in between based on weight. Everything else is a different shade of grey.