Trick-Flow or Ford letter cam?

CRAZYHORSES · Nov 25, 2016

I'm gathering parts for when I have my engine pulled next year for a H/C/I upgrade and cant decide on the best cam choice. I have read and heard from a lot of people that the E and B 303 cams are old technology and that trick flow and others make better cams these days. With the combo I plan on running does anyone have any suggestions? Car is not and will not be a daily driver. Just a track and occasional street cruiser. Its getting an A/C delete and currently has no smog equipment on it either.

I'm going to keep my stock bottom end as my engine only has 125'000 miles

I already have a complete upper and lower explorer GT40 intake that I'm going to send off to tmoss and have the lower ported on.

I'm really looking at a set of SVE aluminum heads especially since they are on sale now for $765 and seem to have good reviews

my car is a 5 speed car and I latter plan to change my rear gears out to either 3.55 or 3.73 if this makes much of a difference

the5.ohh · Nov 25, 2016

I like my Trickflow stage one, paired with Trickflow TW 170cc heads, matching intake etc. I have 3.55 gears, love em!

ttocs · Nov 26, 2016

I have the same setup and love the sound and performance.

CRAZYHORSES · Nov 26, 2016

I may go with the 3.55 gears then. I originally was going to go with a TF top end kit, but I'm trying to do this on a budget. I got the upper and lower intake for $175. I plan to be into all the parts for less then what just the TF heads go for

ttocs · Nov 26, 2016

the head prices new have gone up a fair amount in just the past few years. I got mine 5-6 yrs ago on sale before they got really bad.

riored4v · Nov 29, 2016

Why not consider custom?

I have a TF 170cc heads with a TF intake and Ed Curtis/FTI cam. Really happy with the setup when it was running and made good power.

ttocs · Nov 30, 2016

I considered it myself but figured that tuning would be a bit easier with a cam that has been around and known already. I know a lot of people recommend custom to me custom just seemed like it could add questions later.

Mustanger · Nov 30, 2016

I have the Ford E cam waiting on the shelf...everyone says get a modern grind but the specs say this cam is proven & designed for more torque down low where I will use it all the time. A mild idle & easy on the tuning for a 94-95 OBD1. Many newer cams go for top end where I will not use it that much. I do not need max power just a fun car to drive with close to OEM reliability & driveability.

So AFR 165 heads, TMoss ported 95 Cobra intake, Cobra 65mm throttle body, ECam, 24lb injectors, new calibrated Mass Air, bigger fuel pump, 3:55 gears, Magnapacks with BBK off road H pipe, SCT chip for tuning. And any supporting items needed like a fuel pressure regulator...etc. Then later if I need more a turbo or Vortech since kenne bell dropped us pushrod 5.0's (if I have the funds of course)

CRAZYHORSES · Nov 30, 2016

Mustanger said:
I have the Ford E cam waiting on the shelf...everyone says get a modern grind but the specs say this cam is proven & designed for more torque down low where I will use it all the time. A mild idle & easy on the tuning for a 94-95 OBD1. Many newer cams go for top end where I will not use it that much. I do not need max power just a fun car to drive with close to OEM reliability & driveability.

So AFR 165 heads, TMoss ported 95 Cobra intake, Cobra 65mm throttle body, ECam, 24lb injectors, new calibrated Mass Air, bigger fuel pump, 3:55 gears, Magnapacks with BBK off road H pipe, SCT chip for tuning. And any supporting items needed like a fuel pressure regulator...etc. Then later if I need more a turbo or Vortech since kenne bell dropped us pushrod 5.0's (if I have the funds of course)

I'm really leaning toward the Ford cam. Not really sure about the mild idle part, all the E cams I have heard chop pretty good. What's different with the B cam? More lift and or duration ?

Mustanger · Dec 2, 2016

Here you go...The B cam will have more "lope" to it than the E...& work higher in the RPM range... The E is what I want to run for my kinda driving. The other cam that is good for our cars is the Steeda #19

Did some searching and found some spec's. Steeda #19 - 220*/226* - 280*/286* - .480"/.480" - 115* - 2,300-6,000 RPM

1.6 Roller Rockers (.006")
Intake Opening: 26* BTDC
Intake Closing: 74* ABDC
Exhaust Opening: 79* BBDC
Exhaust Closing: 27* ATDC

The E cam (in the FRPP catalog) makes peak HP at 5500rpm and torque at 2500 rpm.
The B cam makes peak HP at 5100 and torque at 3300.
The F cam makes peak HP at 6000 and torque at 2800.

CRAZYHORSES · Dec 2, 2016

Mustanger said:
Here you go...The B cam will have more "lope" to it than the E...& work higher in the RPM range... The E is what I want to run for my kinda driving. The other cam that is good for our cars is the Steeda #19

Did some searching and found some spec's. Steeda #19 - 220*/226* - 280*/286* - .480"/.480" - 115* - 2,300-6,000 RPM

1.6 Roller Rockers (.006")
Intake Opening: 26* BTDC
Intake Closing: 74* ABDC
Exhaust Opening: 79* BBDC
Exhaust Closing: 27* ATDC

The E cam (in the FRPP catalog) makes peak HP at 5500rpm and torque at 2500 rpm.
The B cam makes peak HP at 5100 and torque at 3300.
The F cam makes peak HP at 6000 and torque at 2800.

That F cam sounds fun The X cam seems a bit wild also from the specs maybe both of those are tad to much

Mustanger · Dec 2, 2016

Just have a good tuner that likes to play with an OBD1 94/95'S...we will need a chip to tune it with and I'm sure a dyno tune at the end

CRAZYHORSES · Dec 2, 2016

Mustanger said:
Just have a good tuner that likes to play with an OBD1 94/95'S...we will need a chip to tune it with and I'm sure a dyno tune at the end

Is that true for the e and b cams also or do they play nice enough with the stock computer to get by without a tuner? I would like to one day get the Anderson ford tuner

ttocs · Dec 2, 2016

there are a few cams that are supposed to be good with out a tune but its still a crap shoot as to if you will or will not.

Mustanger · Dec 3, 2016

More folks out here on the West Coast seem to use the SCT tuners & chips or Quarter Horse.... I think my E cam will be nice enough to get me to the duno tune...

CRAZYHORSES · Dec 4, 2016

Mustanger said:
More folks out here on the West Coast seem to use the SCT tuners & chips or Quarter Horse.... I think my E cam will be nice enough to get me to the duno tune...

I must be misinformed I thought the 94 and 95 were the bastard step children tune wise and was pretty much limited to the Anderson ford programmer ?

I hear a lot of good things about the quarter horse tuner over on the Bronco forum from guys with the latter EFI rigs I just have never looked into it or paid it any attention as mine is old school carbed with the 300 I6

ttocs · Dec 4, 2016

they are more difficult to tune. The anderson was probably the first but also probably one of the least technoligically advanced now. I am in the middle of installing a holley efi system, megasquirt is another big name in engine management but for the 94/95 you either know a good tuner to mess with it or your learning how to do it yourself. If there is a reliable tuner nearby I would hit them up, I just don't have access to anyone reliable here.

CRAZYHORSES · Dec 4, 2016

ttocs said:
they are more difficult to tune. The anderson was probably the first but also probably one of the least technoligically advanced now. I am in the middle of installing a holley efi system, megasquirt is another big name in engine management but for the 94/95 you either know a good tuner to mess with it or your learning how to do it yourself. If there is a reliable tuner nearby I would hit them up, I just don't have access to anyone reliable here.

I have 1 place in mind. Hell being the 4th largest city there should be a few around I just have to find them