cam selection
 

I have a 84 302 Formula,7000 lbs with twin 330 hp engines thinking of a cam swap. Engines are in good condition with Edelbrock Performer intakes as the only mod. Would a Comp cam #XE-268h12 11-242-3 work, or too much for this application. Specs for the cam are:dur int 224,exh 230. lift int 515,exh 521, lobe sep 110,int sep 106, overlap 7. I have a set of Rec port heads should I install them or leave the oval ports on? Manifolds are stock center risers.

thats a good cam ths stock heads are not much good unless you really work them,,then there great,just be sure to have 9 to 1 comp. it will fly :frog: :frog:

heads
 

rework the oval or rec port heads? Mill the heads for more compression or change pistons.

It depend on what heads are there now. Are they the small, peanut port heads? If so, the cam wont help much, the rect would be better but your gonna have to spin them faster to see much gain and then the bottom end is questionable. Its not so easy.

and that cam seems a little light on lift.

head ID
 

What casting number for the good,oval port heads and which are the crappy heads. How much more lift and do you have a cam part number you like.

the good large oval port heads are the 049 and 781 (last 3 numbers on the casting numbers. But you then really need to have the larger valves put in (1.88 and 2.19) and than hardened seats on the exhaust. Personally, I use the edelbrock torker 2 cam and intake for clearance and reversion reasons. its a 224, 232, .527, .553 with 114 degrees of sep. There are better intakes if you have the room and roller cams if you have the money. If you do a search for "454 on steroids" I think, there is lots of good info.

Andy,

Stay with the oval port heads----even if they are the "peanut port" heads. They will make better power and more torque for your application. However, just adding a cam without modifying these heads won't help you much at all! Just have some stainless steel 2.19" intakes valves installed and 1.84" or 1.88" valves on the exhausts and have the heads bowl/pocket ported. You could even retain the stock size exhaust valves (1.72") if you're in a crunch for money---just replace them with stainless steel, but the intake valves I would definately go to a 2.19" valve. I believe the "peanut port" heads are a late enough of a design to where you won't have to have hardend seats installed, but you'll have to double check for sure. The rectangle port heads, are too big for any decent airflow and act sluggish on a 454 compared to a nice set of oval port heads. Just modify those oval port heads you have now and it should really wake that thing up. The casting numbers that Formula31 gave for oval port heads are a better casting yet to work with for a GM oval port head, but you still would have to modify them with larger valves, bowl/pocket port and install hardend seats on the exhaust side for sure! These would make even more power over a set of "peanut port" heads with the same mods. Also, a nice set of aftermarket exhausts would help too! Best wishes. :)

By the way Andy, with your boat being an 84' you just might have the "049" casting heads already on those engines! :eureka:

Mark/KAAMA