First engine build
Thread Starter
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 422
From: Illinois
First engine build
Well i just picked up a fresh 351 short block and i had some questions, so i figured id post it under this section because it gets more traffic and its a similar motor to the 302w. Some of the questions i have:
First off the guy i got the motor from was a older guy, that use to build and sell engines. He included a set of 16 brand new elgin lifters, and recommended a elgin cam. He said a cam is a cam, and just because it doesn't have a big name on it doesn't means its trash. He said he has been using elgin cams in all his motors and never had a problem. Advice on that?
I wasn't totally sold on the elgin cam thing, so i was thinking about a comp cams big ***** thumpr cam, because it says it is for a 9.5:1 motor which im building. If i did go with the comp cam, could i still use my elgin lifters with that cam?
Another thing i was wondering, i have a 91lx short block that is from my car, why cant i just use the roller lifters, dog bones, and spider out of the 302 and put it on the 351w? I noticed retro fit roller kits are expensive.
The last couple things i was wondering about is roller rockers and push rods... What ratio roller rockers do i need and how do i figure this out? Same with push rods, do i use standard length push rods or...? How would i go about figuring that out as well?
Any help is very much appreciated and i look forward to putting this motor together!
First off the guy i got the motor from was a older guy, that use to build and sell engines. He included a set of 16 brand new elgin lifters, and recommended a elgin cam. He said a cam is a cam, and just because it doesn't have a big name on it doesn't means its trash. He said he has been using elgin cams in all his motors and never had a problem. Advice on that?
I wasn't totally sold on the elgin cam thing, so i was thinking about a comp cams big ***** thumpr cam, because it says it is for a 9.5:1 motor which im building. If i did go with the comp cam, could i still use my elgin lifters with that cam?
Another thing i was wondering, i have a 91lx short block that is from my car, why cant i just use the roller lifters, dog bones, and spider out of the 302 and put it on the 351w? I noticed retro fit roller kits are expensive.
The last couple things i was wondering about is roller rockers and push rods... What ratio roller rockers do i need and how do i figure this out? Same with push rods, do i use standard length push rods or...? How would i go about figuring that out as well?
Any help is very much appreciated and i look forward to putting this motor together!
6th Gear Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,468
From: California
A cam is not a cam. Some cams perform wildly better than others, prime example being cams from the 60's vs cams from today....one of the reasons cars are phenomenally more efficient. Elgin isn't trash, they make decent parts, however I'd question whether or not they make the best performing off the shelf cams for your setup. They may make custom grinds, though I'm not sure. They were at one point(and perhaps still are) a major supplier of OEM engine components.
Get a custom grind, Ed Curtis is well respected and has a ton of experience and excellent results with SBF combos. There are others as well if you look around. You'll need to check pushrod length, and rocker ratio depends on what your cam is setup for, personally I prefer larger ratios in roller setups in particular. Since you get more aggressive valve motion relative to the cam, you can help keep lifter motion down and maintain a more stable valvetrain(hyd roller lifters weigh a ton).
As far as swapping the retainers and lifters, I think it's the same stuff, but not certain on lifter bore length etc. It may or may not be a straight swap.
Get a custom grind, Ed Curtis is well respected and has a ton of experience and excellent results with SBF combos. There are others as well if you look around. You'll need to check pushrod length, and rocker ratio depends on what your cam is setup for, personally I prefer larger ratios in roller setups in particular. Since you get more aggressive valve motion relative to the cam, you can help keep lifter motion down and maintain a more stable valvetrain(hyd roller lifters weigh a ton).
As far as swapping the retainers and lifters, I think it's the same stuff, but not certain on lifter bore length etc. It may or may not be a straight swap.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 480
From: IL
Antirice, the first question you might want to address is what your budget is, and what your goal with the car is. Street? Strip? Both? That will determine the kind of parts you'll need/want to use, and where you should apply your money.
Also, are you going fuel injected or carbureted?
5th Gear Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,103
From: Arizona
The 302 roller lifters/dogbones etc will not work in the 351 block as the castings for the roller/non roller blocks are differant.
That why they sell the retro fit roller lifters.
The Elgin cam is (IMHO) sort of good if you are just rebuilding O.E. engines everyday.
They are differently NOT top shelf stuff......
That why they sell the retro fit roller lifters.
The Elgin cam is (IMHO) sort of good if you are just rebuilding O.E. engines everyday.
They are differently NOT top shelf stuff......
Thread Starter
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 422
From: Illinois
I think what he meant was as far as being "name brand" or not, and not necessarily "just pick whatever and it'll work because a cam is a cam". Either way, you're right with your statement
Antirice, the first question you might want to address is what your budget is, and what your goal with the car is. Street? Strip? Both? That will determine the kind of parts you'll need/want to use, and where you should apply your money.
Also, are you going fuel injected or carbureted?
Antirice, the first question you might want to address is what your budget is, and what your goal with the car is. Street? Strip? Both? That will determine the kind of parts you'll need/want to use, and where you should apply your money.
Also, are you going fuel injected or carbureted?
Just bought this cam last night along with a retro fit kit, got a good deal on it all and couldnt say no:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CC...62-8/?rtype=10
5th Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,525
From: The mitten
THE ONLY CAM BUILDERS imo is Jay Allen at camshaft innovations or Marc at Bullet cams, be prepared to talk for a while and take a lot of notes these guys know sbf's more then 90% of the cam builders out there.