I'm looking for a cam for my motor. I got it out of a 5.0 explorer. I'm wanting to get some more torque out of it. The guys at compcam recommended the 35-512-8. If anyone has had used this cam or knows of any other ones that would work let me know. Also what all is needed to put a aftermarket cam in.

 

Personally, that cam is on the small side. I am running an XE270HR in my 302 and have been very happy with it. The heads, intake and throttle body on your motor breath rather well, so having a cam that will use that to your advantage would be a good thing. Don't go for crazy amounts of lift though, keep it around .500 lift.

As for installing the cam its a little bit of work, you have to remove the timing cover and radiator on the front of the motor, as well as the upper and lower intake. Personally for the combo you have I would look at running an early 90's mustang cam with 1.7 roller rockers. That will net you a very nice combo on the cheap with good low end torque.

 

Yea I've heard that cam is a little small. I really wasn't planning on changing out the heads or intake anytime soon. I've heard nothing but good things about them. I'll look into both of those cams. Would I have to do the roller cam conversion or whatever it's called with either of those cams?

 

I have 1.6 rockers right? Could I just do 1.7 rockers with the stock cam?

 

I think you might have mis-understood me. I wouldn't change the heads or intake, both of them are very good for stock. You already have a roller cam in there so you do not have to do any conversion.

Stock rockers are 1.6. Yes you could run 1.7 rocker which will definately help, its just that imo the mustang cam has a much better profile than the explorer cam. If your looking for a much easier and cheaper way to get an improvement go with the 1.7 roller rockers. I actually have a set for sale made by Crane for Ford.

 

No i did understand that the heads and intake are very good. Even the throttle body is pretty good though? I'll definitly be swapping out cams eventually I was just wondering if I could start with the rockers the upgrade the cam later on. How much do you want for the rockers?

 

anyone else have any suggestions for a cam?

 

Headers.

Im looking at the TFS stage 1 cam. You will need to keep an eye on the power range of the cam. If get one that doesn't make power until 2500, it will not accelerate well the with the stock torque converter.

 

I'll look into that too. As you can tell I'm just getting into more of the performance type stuff so I'm slowly learning. Thanks for both your guy's info. I'll be getting a torque converter once I start playing around the transmission a little more.

 

Yes even the throttle body is pretty good size at 65mm's. If you interested in the rockers shoot me a PM. As for getting into the performance side I highly suggest lurking on some of the mustang forums. Those guys have been building these motors for a very long time and have found what works.

 

There is some good info on the explorer forums as well.

This explorer 302 seems to unique as far as the balancer and timing setup. No other 302 runs them. If you want to keep the plug and play computer you will need to make it happy with a tune for the parts you installed.



Im about to tear into my 302, its down to the long block now. The plan is headers, a little exhaust port clean up, TFS stage 1 cam, and a tune. May get new valve springs and 24 pound injectors.

This combo I saw used over on Explorer forums by a mustang guy who built a few engines so. Im willing to try it out its not too much or overboard of a combo.

 

Yea I've been looking around at all the forums just trying to get ideas. I figured I'd ask on here so most of you guys are still wanting the torque. My plan with this motor is kind of the same as yours Blhde.

 

I have been looking for dyno sheets on the combo I am trying to piece together. I have found TFS one with their intake and heads. Those numbers seem way optimistic for the massaged parts I will have.

I need to touch base with a guy at work hes a street racer with a mustang background. Im going to see what he recommends. I may need a converter to get the best accel. Not in the budget right now.

 

From what I'm seeing they're intake isn't a whole lot better than the Explorer one. Keep in touch with me about how everything goes with it. Since I'm building mine one piece at a time it sounds like.

 

Thats good to here.

I'm trying to piece the combo on page 36 together buy using porting the gt40p and the lower intake. Using that cam and new roller 1.6 rockers, with the TM headers. I'm absolutely shocked how crappy these stock manifolds are. The 4.0 OHV look like the flow more.

 

I was thinking about using that cam with 1.7 rockers but the more I'm reading about it I think I'm just gonna stick with the 1.6's. Seems like with just the cam and headers I'll be hitting some pretty decent numbers.

 

The more I read around the more exhaust comes into play. The stock pipes are 2.25, that wont support any mods. Its really inadequate for a stock 5.0. With the mods I am looking I will need 2.75-3 inch duel system. Woo Hoo more money. Flowmaster has a box of bends and various pipes for 250, add 2 cats, a muffler and we hit 600 bucks.

 

I got my exhaust from the first two cats all the way to bumper done for $300 including the mufflers. They're thrush welded. Basically a 40 series but half the price. I'm running 2.5 inch from the cats back.

 

Changing a cam with the stock explorer computer is somewhat iffy. I've heard that comp makes one that will keep it happy, but haven't experienced it personally.
1.7 rockers will help, but make sure you replace your valve springs. The stockers are barely adequate for stock.
Chris

 

True, but if you change the exhaust out for larger it already doesn't like that and needs a tune. So might as well add a bigger to support a tune.

 

So basically I should do cam and a tune at the same time to keep my computer happy. I know it will help out a lot getting a tune right away for the cam but wasn't sure how the stock computer would act. I've heard these valve springs aren't that great. Any recomendations for some that aren't real expensive?

 

The stock tune doesn't like the drop in vacuum at idle. Or so people suggested over on the expo forums. Not sure whats true.

I know this engine has the worst exhaust. A Mustang with larger stock exhaust (2.5 duals) made 250hp. Now I have seen dyno sheets for a stock expo with a meager 150 rwhp. Thats just sad for a v8.

 

Look for a computer friendly cam. It mainly deals with the lobe separation. As for the springs Trick Flow has a nice kit out that is much better than the stock explorer springs that begin to float around 5000 rpm. The only thing to watch out for with the trick flow kit is the valve seals, many mustang guys have had problems with them, although I personally never did.

 

Yea I'm leaning more towards the trick flow stuff. I'm really liking there stage 1 cam and have been looking into the springs too. I think I might just get a tune also just so everything is happy. I'll have to wait a little longer to get everything but in the long run I think it will turn out much better than a cam without a tune.

 

I would stick to a short duration and as much lift as your heads/pistons/and valve springs can handle, as was suggested in a previous post.
I run a 5.0L (not in my ranger yet) with a CompCams Camshaft (don’t have the Comp Cam Number) with short duration and a .510 and .513 Lift. My cam comes in early and runs up to about 6 grand on the tach but it is designed for low end torque.
As you want, MORE TORQUE, is what you will feel on the street and in the woods.

The Rocker Arm idea works, higher ratio = more lift and in turn more low end torque but if you are going to a new cam buy one with the lift.
Don’t forget to make sure you get a cam that works with your OEM setup, valve clearance can be a problem if you go too high on the lift with cutting the pistons and replacing the valve spring.

My brother just added a CompCams Cam to his 302, Carb’d engine and he was trying to keep it as stock as possible but get just a little more out of it, he ended up with a 268H Cam w/480 Lift; not sure if 5.0L and 302s are different in the piston/valve spring area.

Best bet is what you have already done, call CompCams Tech Line, give them all of your info, and talk to them they have good ideas and a lot of knowledge, use it !