Reply to "Net and Gross HP"

The camshaft I mentioned earlier is a hydraulic flat tappet camshaft, it was sold originally via Ford's Off Highway Parts program, I don't have the Ford part number in front of me, but that's not important anyway, because Ford no longer sells it.

The cam was sold by both Crane and Lunati at one time, but it has dropped out of both of their catalogs too. It is still offered by Melling however; I'm at the day job & away from my notes, but I believe the part number is 24224. Ford rated the duration as 290 degrees intake & exhaust, the same as the Boss 351 solid lifter cam. The duration at 0.050" lobe lift is 219/219 degrees intake & exhaust. The valve lift is 0.505"/0.505" intake & exhaust.

Since this is a hydraulic cam, it does not need adjustable valve train. Since the cam lobe profile and gross lift is old school (mild) the Boss 351 valve spring is plenty of spring, and the stock stamped steel rocker arms are sufficient too. I wrote sufficient, not ideal. Ford's bolt down roller rocker arms would be ideal. A word of caution regarding the Boss 351 springs, a camshaft with 0.505" lift is all the lift those springs can accomodate, they will coil bind around 0.535" (working from memory).

This was a good cam in its day, but its day is long past. The Comp Cams XE274H cam would be a better choice today in a hydraulic flat tappet camshaft, fairly equivalent in idle quality, wide power band and drivability, but look at the improvement in spec: duration at 0.050" = 230/236 degrees, valve lift is 0.562"/0.565". If there is a drawback to using this cam compared to the older design, it will definitely require better springs, roller rocker arms and heavy wall push rods.

Since either cam is of a flat tappet design, be sure to use Valvoline VR1 racing oil in your motor. It contains the ZDDP that is missing in almost all other oil these days.

Go ahead and re-use your clutch as is.

cowboy from hell