good/reliable shortblock builders and what cam for me?

spyder · 03-02-2003

Im looking for an affordable shortblock. it will see probably about 340 - 360 flywheel power. i already have the stuff in my signature and will be puttin a cam into it. it will never see a blower because well my car is already pretty fast as is for me, and i still have stock throttle body,maf,injectors etc.. etc...anyway

i was looking at wynnespeed 302 shortblock, comes with a cam already (dont know what its specs are) and timing chain for roughly 1,200 bucks which seems like a good deal...anyone hear anything about them?

otherwise i heard alot of good things about DSS and their blocks, was looking at their base bullet block too...

also im looking for a cam for my car. like i said what i have so far is in my signature, so since i already have 1.72 rockers im looking for a cam with about .477 lift on intake and exhaust lift so i would have about .509 intake/exhaust lift. with power from 1,500 - 5,000... the trick flow cams dont interest me because their designed for high RPM and low numbers on the torque down low... any off the shelf cams for me close to that? i know the cobra cam from the 94-95 mustangs had 4.77 lift so is there any manufactor out there that supplies this cam? or are there ones similar that are better? i'd prefer off the shelf cam over custom because their cheaper, i know i could get more out of a custom but im already pretty much satisfied...thanks...

STONECOLD · 03-02-2003

Hi spyderman,

I never heard of wynnespeed, but like yourself Ive heard alot of good things about DSS, im also planning on buying a shortblock from them, probably a 331. They are probably more expensive than wynnespeed but remember, you get what you pay for. I belive www.downsford.com sells ford shortblocks if you wanna check'em out and get an idea of what they run for.

As far as the cam, if its the Cobra you want thats the Ford Motorsports E303, or the Crane 2040 (these two are identical, the E303 is the Crane 2040, Crane manufactures it for Ford under the E303 name for SVO.)

There are a couple of other off the shelf cams that make more power but they are not emissions legal......if thats important to ya.

spyder · 03-02-2003

The E303 cam has 498 lift. the cobra cam has 477 lift...

STONECOLD · 03-03-2003

You might be right spyder,and if you are then the better choice would be the E over the cobra anyway. not that it would make a huge differance with those negligible numbers anyway. But I do know that crane does make that cam for ford, for their SVO team.

spyder · 03-03-2003

i dont want to run too much lift otherwise i'd have to buy a different set of valve springs. they support roughly .520 lift, and with the 1.72 roller rockers i got i have to subtract .030 from the cam...see what i mean? thanks for any ideas. im sure theres some cam out there for me. just wondering if anyone knows it off hand. thanks!

STONECOLD · 03-03-2003

I bought a new set of valve springs from Steeda when I got the cam. So far so good! Im thinking about dropping the E303 and putting in a F303, I really wanted the X303 but I cant use it with the 1.72 rockers.

Anyway, good luck with your cam search, lemme know what you decide on.

86Cobra · 03-03-2003

The Cobra cam is .451" lift with 1.6s and .480" with 1.7s. Duration is 208 @ .050" vs 210 for the stock cam. It's very similar to the stock GT cam and not worth swapping in.

You're going to have a hard time finding a cam designed for less than .520" lift with 1.72s. The closest off the shelf I can think of would be the Crane 2031 which is .519/.535 with 1.72s. Duration is 214/220.

My advice would be to either go custom or sell your 1.72s and buy some 1.6s so you have a much better selection of off the shelf cams.

Saleen Owner · 03-03-2003

Where your at in WI, I'd go D.S.S. Don't know quality on Wynnespeed products, but D.S.S. is awsome. And they're in St Charles IL (Chicago land) so you chould go check them out and even pick your motor up yourself. If you truck freight it, Chicago to Milwaukee is alot cheaper than from Jackson Mississippi.

Mad Max · 03-03-2003

I run a B303 in my Capri. It's .488 lift and with the 1.7 rockers it works out to be .512. I don't know about emissions in your area but I have to take of the 1.7's to pass. This work out pretty good for me it only take a short wile to change them.

spyder · 03-03-2003

what about idle quality...i want a good idle...

STONECOLD · 03-03-2003

The E idles good, and has a decent choppy sound. I think the B sounds even better.