This is topic 331 cam ? in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by 91 5.0 5speed (Member # 1867) on :
 
I was wondering what kind of cam would give me the most performance gain on a 331? my mods so far are ported edelbrock heads, 24lb injectors lontubes x pipe 3:55 gears Port matched edelbrock intake and a few other minor bolt ons. Any help would be appreciated thanxx.
 

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Posted by slidewayz94 (Member # 3101) on :
 
sac 5.0 just built a 331 ask him what cam he is running.
 

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Posted by 91 5.0 5speed (Member # 1867) on :
 
Anybody?
 

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Posted by MR GO FAST (Member # 2088) on :
 
pm 93pony.
 

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Posted by twstd5o (Member # 1981) on :
 
I have an xe274hr in my 331...93pony should be able to help for sure.
 

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Posted by sac 5.0 (Member # 2980) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by twstd5o:
I have an xe274hr in my 331...93pony should be able to help for sure.

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quote:

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Originally posted by sac 5.0:

quote:

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Originally posted by twstd5o:
I have an xe274hr in my 331...93pony should be able to help for sure.

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that is the same cam im am using but im carbed i think i might change it out for its big brother the 282hr solid roller thou but it pulls hard all the way to like 6500

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That's good to hear...hopefully it will be a good match with my TFS track heat intake.
 

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Posted by 91 5.0 5speed (Member # 1867) on :
 
so by the replys I am getting so far it seems like the x cam is the way to go!
 

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Posted by big matt (Member # 1124) on :
 
tfs stage II
 

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Posted by 93PONY (Member # 60) on :
 
Sell the Edelbrocks, buy some AFR185's.
Skip the 331 in favor of a 306 w/10 to 1 compression.
Buy an X303 if you MUST pass smog, or go custom if smog isn't an issue.
Get an edelbrock performer or RPM intake (depending on cam).
Get some 1 3/4 longtubes & an off-road H/X w/some straight-thru mufflers.
3.73's or 4.10's
70MM TB, power pipe, etc, etc
Good for mid 12's to high 11's depending on cam, driver, & raceweight.
 

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Posted by big matt (Member # 1124) on :
 
to afr's
 

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Posted by 2stangs69-91 (Member # 1951) on :
 
LOL great answer 93pony. Sell everything he has and start over? 331's are good engines, edelbrock heads are good. Long tubes are no way smog legal so it wont matter what cam he goes with. . The XE cams make great power. I like the trickflow 2 cam in the 331 also. Some of the fastest cars on the board are 331's. good luck
 

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Posted by 93PONY (Member # 60) on :
 
I have a 331....but it doesn't mean it's for everybody.

I know what he's after. 11.7-11.9 in a full weight GT with a smogable cam. Putting edelbrock performers on a 331 will not neccessarily make the car faster then putting then having them on a 306. Sure, more torque, but the power will peak sooner in the RPM, which means less HP....especially with a smogable cam.

So far, I believe 91PONY is the only one with Edelbrock Performer heads to locally crack into the 11's in a full weight car. I know this combo well....I built it. I know what it takes to go 11's. 320RWHP in a full weight GT with a T5 & a good driver will do it.

I can build a 320+RWHP 306 with un-ported AFR's & box-stock parts with a smogable custom cam. (or mimick AaronC's 340RWHP 306!) Give it another 25 cubes, a shorter runner intake, & a larger cam & 375RW isn't a problem (not smogable). Or a 347 built for max N/A power.... But a 331 with Un-ported Edelbrock Performers, RPM intake, longtubes, & an X303 will have a hard time cracking 300RWHP.

Point is, if you're on a budget why spend an extra $1000 on a 331 over a 306? (new balancer, new flywheel, + the cost of the 'kit') There is more to gain from swapping out the heads for a better set & keeping the stock stroke.

[ April 23, 2004, 08:09 AM: Message edited by: 93PONY ]
 

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Posted by JohnB (Member # 969) on :
 
There is more to engines than an alphabet cam retarded and a set of AFR's.

The compression ratio, intended usage, rocker ratio, etc...will determine cam selection.
 

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Posted by 93PONY (Member # 60) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by JohnB:
There is more to engines than an alphabet cam retarded and a set of AFR's.

The compression ratio, intended usage, rocker ratio, etc...will determine cam selection.

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Nobody knows this better then I.

BUT, it's hard the beat the 'bang for the buck' of a used X303. It works quite well with when retarded.
Most buy the E303 when they what to pass smog & have a 'performance' cam..... The X is simply a better choice for these folks.....with no added cost.
 

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Posted by AaronC (Member # 86) on :
 
Shaun, you can't win can you? You tell people to get a custom cam and get flamed. You then offer a good off shelf cam that's cheap and get flamed for it too, lol
 

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Posted by JohnB (Member # 969) on :
 
Naaa, no flame intended.
 

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Posted by AaronC (Member # 86) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by JohnB:
Naaa, no flame intended.

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So what's your cam recommendation and why?
 

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Posted by JohnB (Member # 969) on :
 
You obviously read my previous post. Do you know what he wants to do with the car? What he expects? How much it will be driven? Will it be N/A or otherwise? What CR? Etc,etc..

I don't...and I pulled the engine.
 

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Posted by AaronC (Member # 86) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by JohnB:
You obviously read my previous post. Do you know what he wants to do with the car? What he expects? How much it will be driven? Will it be N/A or otherwise? What CR? Etc,etc..

I don't...and I pulled the engine.

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I have no information about the car other than what he asked in the post and that was "what cam for a 331" with his basic list of parts. He made no comments about power adders so I assume NA. Since you're working on the project currently, then I'm sure you can help answer his question, and explain WHY it'll work. If he has no idea what he wants, then he shouldn't be asking these very general questions until he knows what he wants
 

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Posted by JohnB (Member # 969) on :
 
And you are EXACTLY right.

But if you got a 331 kit for a song, would you want to hear "start over" and sell all your parts, along with a laundry list of your accomplishments? I doubt it.

If one is to make a recommendation, how about one that goes with the parts given?
 

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Posted by AaronC (Member # 86) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by JohnB:
And you are EXACTLY right.

But if you got a 331 kit for a song, would you want to hear "start over" and sell all your parts, along with a laundry list of your accomplishments? I doubt it.

If one is to make a recommendation, how about one that goes with the parts given?

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I get your point, and you're right . But the original post lacked a lot of valuable info and left a lot of room for speculation. Even at that, 93Pony has run the X cam with those heads etc with good results so I think that's why he said what he did. He can clarify for himself though. Shaun's primary choice has always been custom, so the safe bet in this thread would be "custom". That way no matter what his needs are (when he figures out what he wants) he will get something that matches his overall goals
 

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Posted by 2stangs69-91 (Member # 1951) on :
 
BTW I wasn't flaming 93 pony. I was just laughing at his reply. The get rid of everything start over aproach (especialy after 91pony runs good with edelbrock heads) . I assumed he had a 331 already and just wanted a nice combo to go with it.
 

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Posted by AaronC (Member # 86) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by 2stangs69-91:
BTW I wasn't flaming 93 pony. I was just laughing at his reply. The get rid of everything start over aproach (especialy after 91pony runs good with edelbrock heads) . I assumed he had a 331 already and just wanted a nice combo to go with it.

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Sorry Mike, didn't mean to imply you. The can't win comment was because of the custom cam debates in the past. Looks like you got your problems sorted out with the 91 and it's running strong
Saw the pics of the 69 Looks mean
 

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Posted by 91 5.0 5speed (Member # 1867) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by 93PONY:
I have a 331....but it doesn't mean it's for everybody.

I know what he's after. 11.7-11.9 in a full weight GT with a smogable cam. Putting edelbrock performers on a 331 will not neccessarily make the car faster then putting then having them on a 306. Sure, more torque, but the power will peak sooner in the RPM, which means less HP....especially with a smogable cam.

So far, I believe 91PONY is the only one with Edelbrock Performer heads to locally crack into the 11's in a full weight car. I know this combo well....I built it. I know what it takes to go 11's. 320RWHP in a full weight GT with a T5 & a good driver will do it.

I can build a 320+RWHP 306 with un-ported AFR's & box-stock parts with a smogable custom cam. (or mimick AaronC's 340RWHP 306!) Give it another 25 cubes, a shorter runner intake, & a larger cam & 375RW isn't a problem (not smogable). Or a 347 built for max N/A power.... But a 331 with Un-ported Edelbrock Performers, RPM intake, longtubes, & an X303 will have a hard time cracking 300RWHP.

Point is, if you're on a budget why spend an extra $1000 on a 331 over a 306? (new balancer, new flywheel, + the cost of the 'kit') There is more to gain from swapping out the heads for a better set & keeping the stock stroke.

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quote:

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Originally posted by 93PONY:
Sell the Edelbrocks, buy some AFR185's.
Skip the 331 in favor of a 306 w/10 to 1 compression.
Buy an X303 if you MUST pass smog, or go custom if smog isn't an issue.
Get an edelbrock performer or RPM intake (depending on cam).
Get some 1 3/4 longtubes & an off-road H/X w/some straight-thru mufflers.
3.73's or 4.10's
70MM TB, power pipe, etc, etc
Good for mid 12's to high 11's depending on cam, driver, & raceweight.

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That combo sounds familiar. Where have I heard that before
 

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Posted by Don (Member # 938) on :
 
How much were you trying to get for the edel's.
I have a freind that might be interested.

Small heads and big cubes make for good truck motors. Lots of torque but no HP. Trust me my first setup was power heads on my 347s, and it made a ton of torque, but fell flat on it's face before it could make power. Now I have AFRs and would never turn back.
 

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Posted by vpr_klr (Member # 3353) on :
 

quote:

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.... 93pony But a 331 with Un-ported Edelbrock Performers, RPM intake, longtubes, & an X303 will have a hard time cracking 300RWHP.

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Then how does a 100k mile stock 302 with a f cam, box stock GT40 x heads, box stock performer intake, short tube headers, and a catted h-pipe make 297 to the wheels??? Saw it in an old issue of 5.0.
 

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Posted by vpr_klr (Member # 3353) on :
 
with long tubes and an offroad pipe, it would have broken that 300rwhp barrier. If you are trying to go fast, don't buy a Ford cam, go with the comp xe274, and it does pass the sniffer test. With afr185's and a ported gt-40 itnake, a 306 with a 9.5 to 1 comp. has made 375 horsepower(flywheel) with this cam, they did in MM&FF about a year and a half ago

[ April 23, 2004, 06:35 PM: Message edited by: vpr_klr ]
 

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Posted by 93PONY (Member # 60) on :
 
It's all good.
I've talked with Damani on a few occuasions about what he wants out of the car & how it can be accomplished.

You might try selling the heads on the corral if you don't have any luck locally. I say this because the $$$ spent on porting the Performers could easily surpass the cost of AFR185's minus the price you get for your used Performers. & even ported performers can't compete with box stock AFR185's.....unless it's a REAL pro porter & you upgrade to 2.02 valves on the intake. All of which would be quite costly.

In the end, a 331 with the right heads/cam/intake/exhaust could easily take your car into the 11's & embaress Dame's LS1. But to do it, you're gonna need the good parts (put together correctly) & not worry so much about the smog nazis.
 

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