chart comparing extra mild cam to mid range cam.

notice the mild cam has better low and mid rpm performance.

don't hit pay off till 4500 rpms; and then not much pay off.

the mild cam will be much easier to launch at 1000 rpms.

in this case i would only select the mid range cam if i wanted lopey idle sound at the expense of streetability.

restrictive exhaust will likely help low rpm performance. not uncommon for long tube headers to hurt performance if system not designed for high rpm..

 

The #1 problem with performance builds is choosing a cam that is too big. I see it all the time, learned my lesson and have a shelf full of gm big block cams that don't work. Builders get customers foaming at the mouth when they hear the HP numbers but not the RPM the hp is made or whether or not the motor has enough torque to even get you into the RPM range in your car.

Being my first small block Ford I gave Ed Curtis a call at fti, went through all the build details of my motor, trans and rear we'll see how he does with the grind. Naturally the motor will be on the dyno before going into the car, I'll post the results here.

 

Thanks for the info guys, I'm gonna need the help, haha!

In other news, I got my engine!
6 hours and 20 minutes round trip driving time
158 miles distance
But only 200 bucks spent!!!!
And I met an awesome friend whom I found out has 2 mustangs as well! He has a '68 coupe and a nice foxbody. Not to mention a plethora of parts for all sorts of fords! Blocks, transmissions, carbs, intakes, axles, hoods, and all sorts of little stuff, and I only saw 1/5th of what he had!!!

It's a '73 block I believe, with a '69 4 barrel intake. Holley 600 carb that I think I'll use on it, seems like a solid choice. He also threw in some stuff, gave me a free crankshaft that just needed some polishing, and an ignition that I can use. Really a great guy, totally made the trip worthwhile!
He said the engine came out of a truck the he had, he rebuilt the motor in '94 or so and ran it until a few years ago when he took it out. Sold it cause he's moving all his stuff to his shop, which is why i only got to see 1/5th of his stuff, haha.

Anyways, everybody wants pics, so hear ya go:

 

Are you going to rebuild it?

 

Yes
I've found a few local machine shops and am trying to figure out prices for cleaning the block, heads, intake, etc.


As for what I'm putting into the motor, I have no idea, I was really going to ask you guys what to throw in it...

 

If you are going to keep this block save up for some linked lifters so you can use a roller cam setup. Also wherever you have it machined ask them how much it would cost to convert the block to a dogbone spyder setup for roller lifters. The lifter bores will have to be bored out and a sleeve pressed in. Compare the cost of doing that to the purchase price of linked lifters.

 

So, I think you may want to look at a 302 since a 351W might weigh a bit much. Next upgrade would be front end suspension.

 

If I got it machined for roller lifters, I'd have to pay for that plus the lifters, but then I could use a roller cam right? That'd be nice.

But I don't know if I can spend that much. I really want a nice roller cam, but my budget won't like that.

Or should I just go with linked lifters?

Overall, I'm in a sticky situation. I knows months after I get my mustang on the road, I'm gonna wish I had done this or that to my engine, but then again right now my budget isn't exactly allowing for everything i want, haha. I'm not sure how to go about this...

DAMMIT, I need to sell one of my coupes, haha.

I really appreciate all this help guys and gals!!!!!



Too late!
And besides, I already decided against a 302, had one in the past, not what I wanted.
The front suspension will probably involve a grenada type front disc swap.

 

Okay so I've finally gotten around to starting on the engine. I drained the fluids and started on getting the accessories off. I will get further tomorrow.






Two questions:
1. I cannot get either of my two allen key water drain plugs to budge. I don't want to strip them but they're EXTREMELY stubborn and won't move. What should I do? Heat them?
2. What rebuild kit do you guys recommend? I know a lot of this is dependent on what I do with the engine, and to be honest, I'm not entirely sure what I'll do with the engine performance wise. I know I've already got to sink some money into new parts, so I'm thinking about leaving it relatively stock for now. If there are any budget upgrades that anyone suggests, please feel free to speak up! One I think I'll end up doing is getting a pair of GT40p heads.

Thoughts?

 

Thats a massive crank pulley