302 BUILD CAM SUGGESTIONS

289 - 351 cid Small Block Performance
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BST'65
Posts: 57
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2017 8:10 pm
Location: Hawthorne, CA

302 BUILD CAM SUGGESTIONS

Post by BST'65 »

I'm building a mild 302 to put in my '65 and I'm looking for some cam suggestions. Seems there are tons of opinions and I'd like to get few more. I'll start a build thread on my '65 once things get a little more exciting.

Engine Build:
-Late 80s 302 roller block, bored 30 over
-stock crank and rods
-flat top pistons with valve reliefs
-TFS 11r 190cc heads, milled to 60cc combustion chamber
-intake undecided (suggestions also welcome)
-carb also undecided, thinking Holley 650cfm
- cam looking at the comp 284HR, anyone have any experience with this cam?
-Morel hyd. roller lifters (dog bone style)

I'm running a wide ratio 4spd toploader and a 8in outback with posi and 3.40 gears.

Like I said I'll start a build thread soon when there's shiny stuff to look at!! Haha

Thanks in advance,
Ben

Rocket989
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Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 2:53 pm
Location: Kansas City Metro

Re: 302 BUILD CAM SUGGESTIONS

Post by Rocket989 »

So the heads started out as the 66cc combustion chamber version?? Was the block decked and/ or do you know the compression height of the replacement pistons? What head gaskets are you planning to use?

The only Comp "284HR" cam I know of is an EFI boost cam. If you're confident static compression is at least 9:1 I hear'd use a Howards cam 221145-10S or Comp 35-440-8 with a big preference for the Howards part. In my experience they make great stuff and things like the pin hole are the RIGHT size.

A Weiand Stealth intake and the 650DP (nod to QuickFuel or Holley HP) on a 1-inch spacer will work great (hood clearance might be a bit SNUG!).

With the Top Loader/ z-bar in a Comet, Dougs Headers are one of the better options (1-5/8 primary tri-y) or something from FPA maybe.

Should run good! :D :D :lol: :lol: :mrgreen:
'cause Johno says you gotta have a sig pic! :)
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BST'65
Posts: 57
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2017 8:10 pm
Location: Hawthorne, CA

Re: 302 BUILD CAM SUGGESTIONS

Post by BST'65 »

Rocket989,

Thanks for the reply!

Yes that is correct I have not purchased the heads yet but was convinced to buy the 11Rs. I picked the pistons based on a 60cc combustion chamber shooting for around 9.5-10:1 static compression ratio. What's your opinion on the 190cc intake as opposed to 165/170?

That's correct the cam I'm talking about. I know choosing a cam is like a black art and I by no means am an engine master. I came to that answer based on comp tech help, that's why I'm coming here for more real life opinions.

Planning on running a hydro throw out bearing.

Rocket989
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Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 2:53 pm
Location: Kansas City Metro

Re: 302 BUILD CAM SUGGESTIONS

Post by Rocket989 »

It's hard to build compression on short stroke motors. If you haven't ordered the heads yet, get the 56cc chamber version. Even using a 1.6xx CH flat-top piston @ zero deck clearance it'll be tough to get much more than 9.5:1 with the 56cc. The Mr. Gasket Ultra Seal head gaskets are .038 (IIRC) and a good alternative to the Fel Pro 9333 & 8548 (which I believe are .047-8) for getting a good quench number.

No idea why Comp would recommend an EFI boost cam using 114LS for an NA carb combo... :roll:

The Howard's cam I noted above would work well on either the 110LS or 112...I'd go 110 to get the torque curve a little lower...power range should be just fine with the 11r heads. The 190 head is definitely not too big!! I've got a buddy building a very similar combo right now (stock bore 302). He's using a custom cam with specs pretty darn close to the Howard's cam.
'cause Johno says you gotta have a sig pic! :)
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BST'65
Posts: 57
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2017 8:10 pm
Location: Hawthorne, CA

Re: 302 BUILD CAM SUGGESTIONS

Post by BST'65 »

Rocket989,

I'm an idiot and that's the reason I asked the question haha. I'll accept that its a lesson to me. After rechecking the numbers and doing the math myself as opposed to being lazy and using the calculator (which can be confusing) static ratio with the 56cc heads and the gasket you mentioned is 8.8:1. I plugged the numbers in wrong and was dreaming hard! :roll:

To comps rescue it was probably my fault once I understood how their program worked correctly!

Thanks for the advice much appreciated! Time to order some parts, block, crank and rods should be back from the machine shop this week and I'll get a build thread going.

Thanks,
Ben

Rocket989
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Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 2:53 pm
Location: Kansas City Metro

Re: 302 BUILD CAM SUGGESTIONS

Post by Rocket989 »

Very few questions are dumb!! Ordering shiny stuff is always fun. Good luck and looking forward to the build thread!! :mrgreen:
'cause Johno says you gotta have a sig pic! :)
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barrys65cyclone
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Location: maryland

Re: 302 BUILD CAM SUGGESTIONS

Post by barrys65cyclone »

Every engine I do is done with a custom grind. From Ed Curtis

BST'65
Posts: 57
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2017 8:10 pm
Location: Hawthorne, CA

Re: 302 BUILD CAM SUGGESTIONS

Post by BST'65 »

Rocket989 & Barry,

Thanks for the suggestions. I went with the Howard's (221145-10 PN for OE roller blocks)!

Thanks,
Ben

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Matty
Posts: 134
Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2015 8:56 pm
Location: Springfield, Mo

Re: 302 BUILD CAM SUGGESTIONS

Post by Matty »

Running the tfs 1 here. No complaints at all.
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1962 Mercury Comet S22 302 5.0 T5 Custom: tfs 1 cam & springs, 8.8 31 spline lsd 373 rear, 5 lug disc conversion front and rear, new V8 steering components, Gt40 heads, Performer RPM intake, phenolic spacer, Brawler 650

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