mustang283

if I got the trick flow top end kit for my basically stock 302, what would substituting a stage 2 cam in do? Would that work with the pushrods? Would it clear my pistons? WOuld it even clear my pistons with the stage 1 cam? Goal is to have an awesome sound , and with supporting mods like long tubes throttlebody/maf, get over 300hp. Then a nitrous shot later on!!

302army187

you can't be sure of your pushrod length or piston to valve clearance until you measure, DO NOT SKIP THIS.


I can tell you will most likely need new pushrods, and the stage 2 cam should clear, as it did for me, with trickflow heads.

mustang283

so if I use the stage 1 cam with the kit, im gonna need new pushrods? or just new pushrods if I use the stage 2? Is it worth the upgrade? I got a 3000 limit so i may just do stage 1

mustang283

can i do it in one weekend? Will I need anything else? Other than the kit, and of course supporting mods like injectors fuelpump longtubes throttlebody

302army187

pushrod length is not effected by cam swaps. its the geometry of the cylinder head to block, and roller rockers. so ether way you will need new pushrods.

if you order the top end kit, it should come with pushrods, but there not always the right ones, so like I said, you must check.



as long as you have a good intake manifold with the trickflow heads, the stage 2 cam is a much better choice for power.



my car made 321rwhp with a stage 2 cam, trickflow heads, and a crap typhoon intake manifold. 2 months later the motor spun a couple bearings. would have probably made even more power if it wasn't hurt......... we will soon see as im almost done rebuilding it.


anyway, yes. the stage 2 cam is worth the upgrade, IMO

302army187

if you work your *** off, and don't have to order any parts, yea, you could get it done.

I could do a head/cam swap in about 4-5 hours total if i had all the parts, but thats because I know these motors front and back.

mustang283

Did you get lucky and the ones that came with it work?

Can other people chime in to say if they used the pushrods that came with it?

Why would they come in the kit if they didnt work? I mean its ment for a 5.0 block, why would you need different ones? The cam rotates and a lifter sits on the lobes and they push the pushrods up and they are connected to the roller rockers which move the valves open and closed right? i'm learning lol

and im guessing i would need lifters?

302army187

I didn't order the kit, i pieced my combo together. I measured my pushrod length with a expandable pushrod from trickflow.

no motor is the same. 5.0L motors did not have tight tolerances, and the machine work done from the factory was pretty bad. some people can clear XYZ cam, but other motors wont. its really that different from motor to motor, thats why I said you MUST check pushrod length and piston to valve clearance.

the pushrods that trickflow put in with there kits will work for 80-90% of people. but they will not work for everyone.

Venomantidote95

Your rod length should be 6.75in the kits fit! The lonnger lengrh is needed because of the heads being taller than ur stock e7. I too pieced my kit together way before it was a kit. I had that exact set up on my 308 in my last car worked very good!

NoGo95GT

I didn't order the kit, but I used the correct pushrods. While it is best to use a pushrod checker(I never did on either of my cars though). If you use the TFS heads, the correct Pushrods are going to be a 6.700 in length rod. Trickflow has them on Summit for $87. Part # TFS-21406700