Hello everyone. As some of you know i've got myself a 351 that is waiting to go into my truck. Before I do I am looking into replacing the cam. I have brought it down to 3 different cams that are supposedly speed density compatible...

1. Powermax 2020 (formerly compucam 2020)
This is a roller cam that is running:
262/270 seat to seat duration (208/216 @ .050 lift)
.530/.530" valve lift with stock 1.6's
112 degree lobe separation
From cranes web site it says this cam works very good for everyday driving and towing. Power range idle-5500rpm. Much more low end and stonger mid range.

2. custom ground comp cams roller cam
210/212 @ .050 (don't know seat to seat)
.456/.480 int
114 lobe separation
5500rpm max
the guy told me its great for towing/every day driving

3. Comp cams 35-255-5 Hydraulic FLAT TAPPET cam
210/214 @ .050
.478/.485
114 lobe separation
100-5200rpm


Anybody have any opinions on the above? It appears to me that the Powermax 2020 would produce the most power considering the high lift numbers and decent duration. TF, don't you have this cam? How do you like it? Im just a little worried about the 112 degree lobe separation with this one. Oh yeah, and im staying with the stock heads and valves for the time being.

 

im no cam genius, but isnt 112 degree lobe separation cutting it close with speed density efi? usually SD cams ive seen have 114. i may be wrong though, so dont take my word for it.

 

Yes, you are correct. That is what I was wondering about, but it must work because the compucam 2020 has been out for FOREVER, and its built specifically for SD....

One more thing, I think I will have to scratch chose #3, it is flat tappet and my engine is roller.........why downgrade?

 

Gamehunter,

Actually, I have the Compucam 2021. It's a flat tappet cam and it's relatively mild. I'm thinking I'm gonna upgrade my cam when I get my heads and rocker arms-- probably to a roller cam. Maybe the Ford Motorsport E303, since it's 50 State legal. Any ways, I wouldn't think the 2021 would be the best choice for the performance oriented. But if you want something that idles well and causes 0 problems with the computer, then it wouldn't be such a bad choice. Just have to find the right balance I guess. I got this cam before I did too much research and just wanted something driveable and reliable more than anything. My appetite for performance has grown 10 fold since then.

 

lol I hear ya on the performance!! That is why I have a 351 roller motor waiting patiently. For me, the motorsports cams are out of the question. I have talked to way to many mustang guys that have had trouble with both the E303 and B303 cams. Besides, I am not the least bit impressed with their exhaust flow numbers, on stock heads at least. On high preformance heads they would do very good. I have also considered just going with 1.7 roller rockers instead of doing the cam. It would be much cheaper that way and I wouldn't have to tear into the engine. I have heard you can get up to 25HP with these, but so far I can't find any good evidence to support that. My dyno software maybe gives 4 or 5 HP for the extra lift. I may just say scew it, and install the cam I want. If it don't work right with the computer, what the heck, I guess I would just have to save up for $650 mass air. Not a huge deal. Any other opinions?

 

The 2020 is a very mild cam. Look at the Crane 2030 instead. It offers way more performance than the 2020 with a very strong mid range. The 2040 (which Ford Racing repackages as the E303) doesn't have enough mid-range for a truck.

 

I'm runnin the crane cam #364112 which is basically the old compucam 2021. I have been pleased with it so far. It causes no computer problems at all and is considerably stronger than stock. I have mildly ported heads now though and could use a little bigger cam, but don't know if it would be worth it when considering daily driveability. Its strong all the way through the rpm range and idles great, no vacumn loss or surging. I also do a bit of towing and pulls like hell. Like TF said, gotta find the right balance

 

Strangeranger, is the 2030 compatable with speed density, even without using a chip?

 

That I don't know. Call Crane and ask them. It's absolutely wicked in a MAF Mustang with all the GT-40 bits and pieces

 

Gamehunter, when I talkd to crane they said the 2021 is the only cam compatible with speed density for our trucks

 

Dang! On their web site it led me to believe the 2020 would work. Almost to good to be true though. The numbers definately looked like it would be very close. On monday I will try calling then and see what they recommend. Is the 2021 offered in a roller version?

 

It's likely that a 351 can carry a bit more cam than the 302 without upsetting things. S/D systems get confused when the vacuum signals aren't what they expect. You may luck out in that the larger cylinders may draw just enough more vacuum to allow more cam.

 

Degrees Duration @ .050 Int./Exh. 190 198
Degrees Advertised Duration Int./Exh. 252 260
Degree Lobe Separation 109
Open/Close @.050" Cam Lift Int./Exh. (9) 19 33 (15) .000
Lash Hot Int./Exh. Gross Lift Int./Exh. .416 .432





this is for the 2021, why does this cam have a lobe separation angle of 109degrees!!!???????

 

It must be because of the additional cubes that tames that cam, I called Crane, I asked them what cam they would recommend and they said I could run the powermax2020 on the 351w with the stock computer without problems. 206/216 duration .530" lift, not to bad for a speed density cam!! They said it would yield about a 10% increase, which is about 25HP. I put it on my desktop dyno, and it agreeed. With NO OTHER modifications it pulled 241HP@4000rpm and 343lbs/ft @3000-3500. This number may be in fact, a little low. I had to select the flat tappet verison for the lifter mainly because I feel it adds way to much HP for the roller cams. To give you an idea, by only changing the lifter variable to roller, it nets 274HP @4500rpm and 380 lb/ft @ 3500rpm. Surely that can't be right. This is going to be the cam I go with unless I find that installation is to much. Which it shouldn't be because the engine is out. Just thought I would let you guys know what I found it.

 

Be sure to check piston to valve if this is a stock bottom end. My F cam didn't clear in the lIghtning shortblock I got for it?