352 cam selection

Mojave922 · Post by **Mojave922** » July 4, 2016, 10:28 pm

My 352 needs a rebuild. Hoping to stay mostly stock to keep costs down. Was thinking though of a cam upgrade like the comp cams dual energy 265. It's advertised to work with stock exhaust (which is appealing -- I have stock manifolds and duals), and provide strong midrange. So, would a cam change be worth doing on an engine that is otherwise stock, including 2V carb? Any extra machine work (and thus expense) that's required for an RV cam?

Regards,

orangeRcode · Post by **orangeRcode** » July 5, 2016, 3:44 am

I went with a Comp 268 High Energy cam on my 352 refresh. I am also adding an aluminum intake, 4 barrel and headers. Will let you know when I get it fired up which I'm hoping happens this week.

Mojave922 · Post by **Mojave922** » July 5, 2016, 1:31 pm

A friend had that cam in his '56 Chevy sedan with 350 and 4.11 gears and 4 speed. It flat out flew.

Do you have experience putting headers on an FE? Local machinist warns it's a pain due to vertical bolt holes.

Good luck with your build and I look forward to hearing your impressions. Are you coming from a stock 2V 352?

robertrpeak · Post by **robertrpeak** » July 5, 2016, 3:29 pm

[quote="Mojave922"]
Do you have experience putting headers on an FE? Local machinist warns it's a pain due to vertical bolt holes.

Not really a problem, if you do the following; make all the holes on the bottom of the header SLOTS, then put the bolts in the head, slip the gasket on then the header, shouldn't have to turn the bottom bolts more than a full turn to tighten, I learned that trick 30 years ago!!!

Robert

MN66 · Post by **MN66** » July 5, 2016, 3:42 pm

I went with the Comp Cams 255DEH cam for my 352 - it's pretty mild with .469/.495 lift. I'm going with a 4bbl intake and carb with long tube headers (unless someone has a set of Sanderson FF427s that they want to send me). I wanted to maintain low end torque and as much economy as possible. Everyone says you gotta let these FE's breathe, so I'm guessing the stock exhaust manifolds are your biggest obstacle.

Can't wait to get this thing put back together.

Regards,
Corey

CHOPPERS · Post by **CHOPPERS** » July 5, 2016, 5:31 pm

The 265DEH cam is a stock 390GT/428 CJ cam. I am using it now, it has good low torque, falls flat at high RPM's and idles smooth, No LUMPETY LUMP CAM...sounds more like a well oiled sewing machine.

Mojave922 · Post by **Mojave922** » July 5, 2016, 6:18 pm

CHOPPERS wrote:The 265DEH cam is a stock 390GT/428 CJ cam. I am using it now, it has good low torque, falls flat at high RPM's and idles smooth, No LUMPETY LUMP CAM...sounds more like a well oiled sewing machine.

Choppers, did you do other mods like headers and 4V, etc.? 352, correct? Do you think the cam would make a noticeable improvement in a 2V, stock exhaust manifold engine?

Thanks,

Mojave922 · Post by **Mojave922** » July 5, 2016, 6:20 pm

CHOPPERS wrote:The 265DEH cam is a stock 390GT/428 CJ cam. I am using it now, it has good low torque, falls flat at high RPM's and idles smooth, No LUMPETY LUMP CAM...sounds more like a well oiled sewing machine.

Choppers, did you do other mods like headers and 4V, etc.? 352, correct? Do you think the cam would make a noticeable improvement in a 2V, stock exhaust manifold engine?

Thanks,

orangeRcode · Post by **orangeRcode** » July 5, 2016, 6:54 pm

robertrpeak wrote:
Mojave922 wrote: Do you have experience putting headers on an FE? Local machinist warns it's a pain due to vertical bolt holes.

Not really a problem, if you do the following; make all the holes on the bottom of the header SLOTS, then put the bolts in the head, slip the gasket on then the header, shouldn't have to turn the bottom bolts more than a full turn to tighten, I learned that trick 30 years ago!!!

Robert

That's a great idea. I was apprehensive about trying to install the headers once the engine was stabbed in as well. The bottom bolts are a PITA to get to. Will have to give that a try. You just notched the bottom bolt holes so they would sit down on the bolt shaft?

robertrpeak · Post by **robertrpeak** » July 6, 2016, 6:23 am

orangeRcode wrote:You just notched the bottom bolt holes so they would sit down on the bolt shaft?

That is correct.

Robert

Mojave922 · Post by **Mojave922** » July 6, 2016, 7:01 am

robertrpeak wrote:
orangeRcode wrote:You just notched the bottom bolt holes so they would sit down on the bolt shaft?

That is correct.

Robert

That idea gives me the confidence to put headers on. Thanks Robert

BarnieTrk · Post by **BarnieTrk** » July 6, 2016, 7:43 am

David,
If you are going to go to headers, I would suggest you also outfit your starter with some sort of heat shield.... if not, you'll be cooking and changing your starter more often than you'd like to be..... review this thread: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=26179&p=225754&hili ... ld#p225754

Just my

..... BarnieTrk

Mojave922 · Post by **Mojave922** » July 6, 2016, 1:03 pm

robertrpeak wrote:
orangeRcode wrote:You just notched the bottom bolt holes so they would sit down on the bolt shaft?

That is correct.

Robert

Robert, what did you use to notch the header flanges? Some kind of grinding wheel?

Mojave922 · Post by **Mojave922** » July 6, 2016, 1:13 pm

BarnieTrk wrote:David,
If you are going to go to headers, I would suggest you also outfit your starter with some sort of heat shield.... if not, you'll be cooking and changing your starter more often than you'd like to be..... review this thread: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=26179&p=225754&hili ... ld#p225754

Just my ..... BarnieTrk

Good to know BarnieTrk. Thanks for that. Still debating whether to stay stock with 2V or upgrade to 4V, intake and headers.

chris401 · Post by **chris401** » July 6, 2016, 9:38 pm

Measure your port to bolt relation. Most common FE truck headers are made for the lower exit 67 and up exhaust ports.

CHOPPERS · Post by **CHOPPERS** » July 7, 2016, 4:36 pm

Mojave922 wrote:
CHOPPERS wrote:The 265DEH cam is a stock 390GT/428 CJ cam. I am using it now, it has good low torque, falls flat at high RPM's and idles smooth, No LUMPETY LUMP CAM...sounds more like a well oiled sewing machine.
Choppers, did you do other mods like headers and 4V, etc.? 352, correct? Do you think the cam would make a noticeable improvement in a 2V, stock exhaust manifold engine?

Thanks,

Actually, no other mods, I have a 1970 428 Cobra Jet Mach 1 Mustang. All original. It comes with the 4 BBL carb, cobra jet intake and exhaust manifolds, I have a C6 tranny with a saturday nite special torque converter, good power, smokes the tires. Just no top end, and sounds very tame.
I have been told countless times to get the 270H cam and be done with it, They say it's the perfect street cam with the good sound.

HotRodMatt · Post by **HotRodMatt** » July 8, 2016, 12:35 am

ill let you know i just bought a 270h for my 352!

orangeRcode · Post by **orangeRcode** » July 9, 2016, 4:12 pm

Mojave922 wrote:
robertrpeak wrote:
orangeRcode wrote:You just notched the bottom bolt holes so they would sit down on the bolt shaft?

That is correct.

Robert
Robert, what did you use to notch the header flanges? Some kind of grinding wheel?

I just did mine today. Used a die grinder and cutoff wheel. Worked perfect.

352 cam selection

352 cam selection

Re: 352 cam selection

Re: 352 cam selection

Re: 352 cam selection

Re: 352 cam selection

Re: 352 cam selection

Re: 352 cam selection

Re: 352 cam selection

Re: 352 cam selection

Re: 352 cam selection

Re: 352 cam selection

Re: 352 cam selection

Re: 352 cam selection

Re: 352 cam selection

Re: 352 cam selection

Re: 352 cam selection

Re: 352 cam selection

Re: 352 cam selection