any one installed a cam in a 2.8?

[small ranger]

No i don't want to hear from anyone why would you do that, or your just polishing a turd! I just want to hear what people used and what your thoughts of the cam you used. Im thinking of the stage 2 cam mentioned in the tech page and wanted to know if anyone has used that one in a truck before. The truck is only used for off roading and occasional trips to the dump, so fuel economy and drivability are not an issue.

 

[Big Jim M]

just a hint

No i don't want to hear from anyone why would you do that, or your just polishing a turd! I just want to hear what people used and what your thoughts of the cam you used. Im thinking of the stage 2 cam mentioned in the tech page and wanted to know if anyone has used that one in a truck before. The truck is only used for off roading and occasional trips to the dump, so fuel economy and drivability are not an issue.

I'll never be the one to say not to recam an engine! That said one needs to be quite careful which camshaft they introduce into their ride. A stage two camshaft would make more horses at HIGHER rpm than the stock camshaft.
Offroading would be the one place where I wouldn't want a stage two in my ride. I'd want as many horses at 1200/1600 as I could get.
Big JIm

 

[small ranger]

oh my bad. I for got to add I have the offy intake, 390 cfm holley, headers, a doubler and 5.13 gears in the truck so crawling in low rpms is not a huge deal, becase I can just put it in double low and give it a little extra gas.

 

[Psychopete]

Forget stage cams - you will play guessing games with your outcome. Find a manufacturer that will grind one for you; work with them on the specifications for it. They will ask you everything from engine modifications, to tire size, transmission gearing, and rear end ratio. You want a cam that will work good for what you intend to use the truck for.

 

[small ranger]

any good recomendations on a good company? I'm only now in the phase of entatining the idea because I need to replace a cracked head and replace the oil pan gasket in the near future and my good friend was like may as well pull the engine to make life easier and if you do that may as well toss a cam in.

 

[Psychopete]

Colt cams is who ground my 2.9L cam, but honestly you just need to ask manufacturers. Google camshaft manufacturers/grinders and go from there.

 

[H311RzR]

I put the 264s grind comp cams in mine after rebuilding the top end. Love it. sounds awesome, perfect rpm range for a manual and my driving habits haha! Heres a video of it the first time i started it without timing or tuning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2_1ifvtU0w

 

[pinto-one]

putting in a cam in a 2.8

done a few , building one now for my 76 pinto, to install the cam you have to pull the heads, no way around it unless you drop the oil pan and some how fish them in from the bottom , the one I am building uses a comp cam kit, with the lifters, now that you got it apart do not use the old fiber gear , use the steel crank and alum cam gear , I am building up the engine to tow a small camper and wanted some low end power, but the next mod I done might work for you if you going to over haul the engine, I took the 2.9 crank out of my tired bronco II and machined the nose to use the 2.8 crank gear, drop in with a .040 over bore (2.9 pistons for 9.1 ) ends up being a 3.0 also if you want more use the stock 2.8 pistons, ( think its 10 or 10.5 ) hope this helps , later Blaine

 

[huesos350]

got a custom grind from comp cams in san diego.. (lived nearby at the time).. its got a choppy idle, it does have a more top end, increased fuel usage (get about 8 - 10 mpg), doesnt work very well as of date cuz i told i would be using a 360 4 bbl on the offy manifold (which i have been unable to get for under $500) and 4.56 gearing on a rebuilt motor .40 over. get some hiccups when a slow down from speed and loss of power brakes from the loss of vaccum (sure i have a leak somewhere too). i mainly use for play (open desert), or trips to the dump. be very specific if u get a cutom grind.

during ur rebuild keep it stock untill you complete your other mods, gearing would be my first $$ spent, can regain alot of go from there. in my experiance, i should have saved the cam swap until after i got the offy (buyer sold to someone else on my drive to see him in pheonix)

yea i know, bad wheel and gear combo, saving up for dana 44 & 9in swap..

engine info:
.30 over, knifed edged crank, msd, holley 320 cfm carb, aerostar headers, 4 inch lift, fiberglass fenders, 3 core AL rad, turbo 4 oil cooler, 33 on 3.45 gearing (crap)