Street Cam Selection

frank.herbst_old · January 19, 2011 at 6:32 AM

I'm considering using comp cams modern version of the old 271 cam. What do you guys think is a good cam for moderate street use below 6500RPM.

Thanks,

Frank

Part Dur. Dur. @.050 Lift Lobe Sep.

31-671-4 262-269 225-232 .495-.495 112°

New Site Member

66 K-Code

Under Restoration

Edited by - SixT5HiPo on 01/27/2011 00:46:35

6hypo5conv_old · January 19, 2011 at 8:06 AM

Frank, Welcome to the HPMX!!!!

Marv has exact reproductions of the original Hipo solid lifter cam, (he has the lifters too) I bought the setup from him, and its in my Hipo engine which runs and sounds GREAT! It isn't a radical cam at all, some folks use the LeMans cam which Marv also has, but I personally think its too much cam for the street....

oscart_old · January 19, 2011 at 8:31 AM

I have had two cams designed by Ed Curtis at http://www.flowtechinduction.com/ and would now

only purchase a custom cam instead of a generic of

the shelf grind. He is a Ford guy and knows his stuff.

Just google his name.

289kford · January 19, 2011 at 10:30 AM

I like the idea of the the Comp cam, little more duration and lift, a little cheater HP.

If you want to sound badass but still be able to drive, check out the Thumper cams they sell. They are not solid lifter though. I heard (the small) one in a Comet last summer, it's got the Lemans style sound. I think they have clips on the Comp site.

here is clip of the small thumper.

External Content www.youtube.com

Content embedded from external sources will not be displayed without your consent.

Through the activation of external content, you agree that personal data may be transferred to third party platforms. We have provided more information on this in our privacy policy.

Edited by - 289kford on 01/19/2011 16:26:14

Bill G_old · January 19, 2011 at 3:53 PM

I'm about to have my K motor taken apart. What's the story on this "Lemans" cam? One of my goals to is pump up the HP, but it's only for street use. Thanks.

Bill G.

cs67gt · January 19, 2011 at 8:52 PM

For what it's worth, I am rebuilding my "K" motor and was struggling with going with the "old" versus "new" comp cams 271HP cam. After speaking to two Comp Cams techs about the differences between the two cams -- they both told me there really was no noticeable difference -- I went with the "old" version, just to keep it close to original.

I'm not an engineer by any stretch or anything beyond a "shade-tree" mechanic (I came up when you had to know how to fix your own car), but the cards/specs for both cams looked really close, so their (Comp Cams) conclusion made sense to me.

Again, just my 2 cents. If anyone has a strong opinion one way or the other, I'd be glad to hear it. I do want to go with roller tip rockers though...

Jack65K_old · January 19, 2011 at 10:02 PM

I just picked up my Koupe this evening after an engine rebuild and I went with the old style comp cam and I think I am going to be very happy. It still idles smooth and sounds right. The weather here is frightful so I can not getany more miles on it for awhile.

Jack

GregM_old · January 20, 2011 at 9:06 AM

I have been tossing the idea around of the Lemans Cam myself. I will open track the car and could use the higher rpm, however I also want it to be streetable.

Has anyone put these cams on an engine dyno to compare the Hp. gain ? or even a chassis dyno ?

Maybe someone can post up to YouTube a video of the cars at idle so we can hear the difference and we can link off of this site to it for future reference.

fourspeed · January 22, 2011 at 10:34 PM

I do not have any first hand experience driving a K code with the lemans spec cam. Having said that, the lemans cam is the sweetest sounding cam in a K code with its lope and solid lifter sound. The sound will spin your head around searching for it when you hear the idle or low rpm operation. I suspect that the wonderful sound is resposible for the sale of many lemans spec cams.

Edited by - fourspeed on 01/22/2011 22:48:19

shelbynut_old · February 12, 2011 at 10:24 AM

If you decide to use a Lemans cam be sure your heads are ported and have large valves. I put a Lemans Cam in my bone stock hipo and it didn't perform any better (might of loss some horsepower). The stock hipo cam had more low end torque in a stock hipo. But it did sound better. <img src=images/icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>

6hypo5conv_old · February 13, 2011 at 6:33 AM

Is the LeMans cam the one that Shelby installed into the Hipos in '65-'66?

C6ZZKGT · February 14, 2011 at 8:27 AM Official Post

Is the LeMans cam the one that Shelby installed into the Hipos in '65-'66?

In response to this question, if it is directed for all 65 and 66 GT350 production, Shelby did not change the stock Hipo camshaft. The LeMans camshaft was an over the counter option available from both Ford and Shelby.

-Fred-

camp upshur · February 14, 2011 at 11:22 AM

It's name and part number lend some insight:

C7FE

LeMans

Engle is widely mentioned as the source of Shelby American spec camshafts circa 1963-1966.

Edited by - camp upshur on 02/14/2011 11:27:11

GregM_old · March 15, 2011 at 2:02 PM

Well the race motor for my K code has arrived back from the dyno at a cool 530 hp. ! with windsor sr. steel heads. Not bad for a small block.

Now I can't wait for the Ivy Green motor to go to the machine shop for its build. Just a few more pieces till its on its way. The heads and intake will get a porting job done to them to aid in the Lemans cam breathing. Stay tuned for results ...........

billh_old · March 22, 2011 at 9:36 PM

A great camshaft for the 289 HiPo is a camshaft that was originally a Crower grind. It was recommended to me by Dave Bliss, a highly respected small block Ford engine builder in the Seattle area. The camshaft is based on the 15302 Crower stick only ground on a 108 degree lobe center. Lift is .512, Duration 242 Intake and 252 Exhaust at .050 lift. This cam is considerably better than the stock HiPo cam. Not as radical as the lemans camshaft. I installed this one in my car May of last year. It has excellent bottom end power and will run easily to 6500 RPM. They are available at a very reasonable price thru Delta camshafts in Tacoma Washington.

289kford · March 23, 2011 at 7:50 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>

Lift is .512, Duration 242 Intake and 252 Exhaust at .050 lift.

How much lift can you go with stock pistons and valve size? Assuming heads have not been milled.

MTS_old · March 23, 2011 at 10:52 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>

A great camshaft for the 289 HiPo is a camshaft that was originally a Crower grind. It was recommended to me by Dave Bliss, a highly respected small block Ford engine builder in the Seattle area. The camshaft is based on the 15302 Crower stick only ground on a 108 degree lobe center. Lift is .512, Duration 242 Intake and 252 Exhaust at .050 lift. This cam is considerably better than the stock HiPo cam. Not as radical as the lemans camshaft. I installed this one in my car May of last year. It has excellent bottom end power and will run easily to 6500 RPM. They are available at a very reasonable price thru Delta camshafts in Tacoma Washington.

That sounds like a really nice cam.

The cam in my motor is very similar with an S-281E grind, ground on 108 degree center too with a .545 lift and 243 duration at .050 (intake and exhaust)....made by Lazer Cams.

Not sure what the LeMans grind is, but the S-281E grind is fantastic.

MTS_old · March 23, 2011 at 11:42 AM

Larry at VHS just finished a rebuild on my original 289 a few months ago and suggested I use a cam by American Custom. The cam he installed is ground on a 109 degree lobe center. The lift is .455 and duration at .050 is 216 both intake/exhaust. I haven't driven the car with this motor yet, but Larry knows how to build HiPo 289's and it will most certainly work great as well.

billh_old · March 23, 2011 at 6:05 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>

Lift is .512, Duration 242 Intake and 252 Exhaust at .050 lift.

How much lift can you go with stock pistons and valve size? Assuming heads have not been milled.

Total valve lift has an effect on clearance but duration and lobe center have an equal role. Clearance issues come into play during the overlap cycle at the end of the exhaust stroke. The piston is approaching top dead center, the exhaust valve is closing while the intake valve is starting to open. If the cam is ground on a short lobe center, 102 to 106 degrees, the piston is chasing the exhaust valve that is open quite a bit further than it would be if the cam was ground in a 108 to 112 lobe center. Usually you are OK with lifts in the .450 to .525 range as long as they are ground on a 108 degree lobe center. (This is not to be confused with the method of dialing a cam in using the intake lobe centerline). On one of our old race cars, we used a stick that had .567 lift and 245 degrees duration ground on a 108 lobe center that cleared. Thinking that we could improve things, we had it ground on a 106 centerline. Luckily, we checked everything and in this case the valves hit the pistons. When deviating from stock, you never want to take anything for granted. Check, check and re-check.

SixT5HiPo · March 24, 2011 at 12:33 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>

On one of our old race cars, we used a stick that had .567 lift and 245 degrees duration ground on a 108 lobe center that cleared. Thinking that we could improve things, we had it ground on a 106 centerline. Luckily, we checked everything and in this case the valves hit the pistons. When deviating from stock, you never want to take anything for granted. Check, check and re-check.

Sounds like some good advice...<img src=images/icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>

Participate now!