What cam for 302

[Jrrrrrr]

I am about to do a 302 swap into my ranger. It is a 97 with SAS running 5.13 gears. I will be running a C6 trans. I have a 302 from a 98 explorer so I will be using the GT40P heads. I was wondering what cams you guys would recommend for good low end torque that still perform decent to about 5500? Also I will be running a carb. Thanks

 

[simonsays]

i use the e303 cam in my ranger.. i absolutely love it..

 

[dangeranger01]

i use the e303 cam in my ranger.. i absolutely love it..

+1 The E303 would be a good choice, and you should be able to run the stock torque converter with it.

 

[mikepotts]

the E is a great cam for a state where emissions are checked, buti prefer the B cam... the "alphabet cam" selection will start a HUGE debate! in the end, any of them will be an improvement over a stock cam, so do yourself a favor and find a used one on ebay, you wont have to be too particular... look for an E, B, F, X... anything bigger than an X will require better valve springs. better valve springs will help the other cams work also but, they wont be REQUIRED, some people will say they ARE, but ive run an X with stock springs.

 

[mikepotts]

like this one...




http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford...877QQitemZ320348201877QQptZRaceQ5fCarQ5fParts

 

[baddad457]

Why the 5.13 gears ?

 

[BLOODBANE]

Lunati VooDoo in mine. Low rpm/high torque. I don't remember the lift/duration right off my head though. My stroker heads are built around its specs though
(valve springs and such). Get your cam and make sure everything works together......

 

[Jrrrrrr]

I have a B cam that is available to me for free. With this cam do you think it would be better to get the performer rpm intake manifold instead of the regular performer? 5.13 gears are in the truck right now because the 3.0 does not move a 36 inch tire very well without them. It is very rarely street driven.

 

[mikepotts]

I have a B cam that is available to me for free. With this cam do you think it would be better to get the performer rpm intake manifold instead of the regular performer? 5.13 gears are in the truck right now because the 3.0 does not move a 36 inch tire very well without them. It is very rarely street driven.

SWEET! you will LOVE that cam. yes, get the RPM manifold, it will match the rpm range of the cam perfectly.

 

[My91Ranger]

+1 for Bcam. And I would suggest not running an F. Have one in my truck, don't care for it.

 

[Jrrrrrr]

This has been very helpful. I guess I only have 1 more question. What carbs are you guys running and how do they perform off road? Thanks for all of the help.

 

[mikepotts]

i am using a impco 425 propane mixer, mounted on a holley double pumper throttle plate, edelbrock performer RPM airgap intake, lunati hyd roller cam (secret specs ).

i HIGHLY reccomend propane... i love the way this works, it has the response of a double pumper, without the fuel control problems associated with a gas carb. plus higher octane rating than any pump gas available locally.

 

[RacinNdrummin]

The B cam is a very bad choice if you want any low end, It has a very short higher RPM powerband, not good for a truck.

Any of the alphabet cams are bad for an explorer engine because you need more exhaust Bias with the production heads. The letter cams have the same intake and exhaust lobe.

What you need is a cam with more exhaust duration than intake duration and around .500" lift. Keep it around 112-114 lobe sep and youll have awesome torque.

The TFS-1 is a great torquey cam, I have run it and it will give you gobs of low-midrange with GT40/GT40P heads and it has a nice idle to it as well.

Honestly if I were you, I wouldnt waste my money on a cam, the stock explorer F4TE cam is very torquey, if you wanted to go beyond that, an HO cam would do you good.

 

[mikepotts]

i knew this was gonna come up! he is actually right, the alphabet cams are wrong for a 4x4 (on paper). BUT, the fact is... by putting a 302 in a RBV you are gaining more low end torque than anyone needs! i called the tech line for lunati when i bought my cam, the tech man told me it was a full-on drag racing cam, when i told him it was going in a 4x4, he almost stroked out! but when we discussed it and decided to install the cam 2deg. advanced (after degreeing it), he agreed it would put the power range where i wanted it! he said, "damn i never thought about using a cam like this in a 4x4 but... advancing it will work PERFECTLY!"

i am not suggesting degreeing a cam if you dont have the tools or know-how, my main point is... you are already aining so much low end over the v-6... you wont miss any the cam takes away, plus the midrange power increase will be nice!

 

[Jrrrrrr]

That was what I was thinking. No matter what cam I use I will still be making a ton more torque than with the 3.0. Plus with the 5.13 gears it might be nice to have a little more RPM range.