Cam selection for budget 351w...splitting hairs

[travis]

Making slow progress on this thing...

.030” over 351w, 0 decked with 12cc pistons (4 big valve relief flat tops), right around 9.0-1 compression, ported stock valve 1.78/1.45 E5AE heads flowing 176/134@.500” I will be for now using the stock ‘85 iron 4bbl intake with its tiny plenum and small runners. Either a 600 annular booster summit carb or a 670 SA Holley (I have both). 1.5” headers and basic 2.5” dual exhaust. 4500 pound truck with 3.55’s and a C-6 trans.

I’ve been eyeballing 2 hft cams. Based on my experience either will go flat around 5000 rpms, which is fine for this application.

Cranes rebooted 290 fireball...272/272@.0045”, 216/216@.050, .484/.484 lift, 108 lsa+4

Lunati 272/272@???, 217/217@.050, .485/.485, 112 lsa+6.

I’m sure I’m overthinking this, because that is what I do. I can see benefits from either cam. Tighter lsa because of the small valves, probably stronger in the midrange where I want it, vs the Lunati which is probably a touch better off idle with less overlap, and possibly a smoother slightly wider powerband.

I like this size of cam in these applications but have never used either. The crane 272 energizer is my normal go to cam but I wanted to try something a little different this time. What do y’all think?

[maxc]

I'd go with lunati Cam if you have a under 2000 stall.

[Monza355]

From what I'we seen howards has some pretty interesting flat tappet camshafts for Fords. Maybe that’s something to look at.

[RevTheory]

I'd probably opt for the Crane on a 108. I don't think I'm too concerned about pesky overlap in a truck with those little valves.

[PRH]

Comp 268H

[Carnut1]

I would like to see the heads get some porting and a similar grind to Comp 252 on a 108 lc.

[Mummert]

Isky 256 and 264 mega work well, we ran a crane like that, bought it about 20 years almost identical specs, it was noisy, and would get louder the longer you drove it. We tried different amounts of preload, even replaced the lifters, pulled the old ones out and they looked perfect. I'm sure they arent all like that, but never quite figured out what was wrong with it.