Hi - I'm looking for recommendations on a camshaft for my engine. Car is a 69 Mustang, 390 4-speed with 3.50 gears. Engine has been bored .030, Edelbrock Performer heads (1.66 intake 2.09), edelbrock dual-plane intake, 700 holley double-pump, hooker headers, 2.5" exhaust, and MSD ignition. Car also has power breaks in it. Car gets driven approximately 10 times per year.

Current camshaft is a Crane fireball with .292 duration and .500 lift. It's a camshaft from the 70's and I'm wondering if there is a better camshaft to be using. Engine also has the stock rocker arms and my preference is to not go to aftermarket but if I have to I will consider it.

I'm looking for a camshaft with a fair bit of lump to it yet still has some low-end torque.

Thanks for your help,
Curtis.

You should upgrade your rockers and stands in my opinion. The stock system is barely adequate at best. Harland Sharp rockers are good and not too expensive. Also, get some good stands and end stands, Precision Oil pumps has nice ones for a reasonable price. Very cheap insurance. I run that system on my 390 with a hydraulic roller cam with over .600" lift.

As for a cam, are you running power brakes? It's hard to recommend one without knowing your intended use of the car. I ran a Crane HMV 278 for years and loved it. It has a nice lope at idle and pulls well to  6500 RPM. There are many newer grinds from Comp and others that will be as good or better. But if your stands or shafts are weak, the shafts will break right off! Ask me how I know.

Chuck J.
64 Galaxie 390
68 Fairlane 289

Thanks for the info Chuck. The car has power breaks and I would prefer them to work somewhat. Thanks for the advice on the stands and shafts...will do this for sure. Can you recommend some camshafts. Would like to keep the rev's no higher then 5800-6000. Car is also driven on the street and not on the strip.

I haven't tested too many cams, so I don't have really good advice. Some others on this forum know much more than me. Barry R has many available and I'm sure can give you some good advice. Also, the Comp advice line can help you choose

Chuck J.
64 Galaxie 390
68 Fairlane 289

Wish someone had told me about the end supports. They are important cause the shafts do break. Cheap versus the carnage caused when it happens!

Chuck - if I go with Harland rockers, do they come with shafts too or can I use my stock shafts? I found a set of Precision Oil Pump stands on eBay for $90usd which I thought was pretty decent.

You can use the Harland Sharp rockers with the stock shafts, or they offer heavy duty thick wall shafts. I've used it both ways. Never broke a stock shaft when using Doug's end stands, but I haven't run extremely radical cam either. I've broken plenty of stock and heavy duty shafts when not using the end stands.The hyd roller I have now is pretty tough on the valve train, and with Doug's stands, heavy duty shafts, and the roller rockers, I've had no problems. There are many other options for your valve train. There are several companies that make stands, and I think all are good. There are also several companies making roller rockers. I went with the Harland Sharp set-up and Doug's stands because they seemed like the best compromise of price and engineering.

Chuck J.
64 Galaxie 390
68 Fairlane 289

that your Mustang is your 'toy' and that you aren't constrained by a very tight budget. It's my own observation that we have come a long way in general drivability in the years since our FE-powered cars were built. With that in mind, may I offer a certain alteration to the traditional view?

First, I've been breaking rocker shafts since the 312 Y-block days. Please use HD shafts and end stands. (I, personally, use Dove HD assemblies. As Ray Paquet told me, 'Put 'em in and forget 'em.')
I discovered, several years ago, that camshaft design had moved on quite substantially. I asked Comp Cams to spec a cam for me that duplicated the drivability of the AA that came in my '64 Custom 'R'. I wanted a solid roller. After asking a number of questions, they came up with a 238-242, .658-.666, all on 110 design that, from the stated characteristics was WAY TO RADICAL. In fact, it worked gloriously.

To deal with your power brake situation, I'd suggest converting to Hydra-boost. The cost isn't unbearable, you can find directions on how to do it by reading the posts here on the forum, and you'll be glad you did. For your cam, call Comp and take their advice. They might possibly give you LESS cam than you wanted, but they're highly unlikely to give you more than you can use. Get the whole package from them and augment it with end stands from Jim Dove or Doug Garifo. You'll be glad you did.
KS

Thanks to everyone on the information for the shafts, stands and brake booster. I'm still looking for suggestions on a camshaft thought. Any opinions?

Those old Fireballs ran pretty good, but if you are groovin for a change, an XE274H from Comp will give you a little more lift and more .050 duration.

Not sure if on the street you'll notice a change but on a dyno it'd make more power with the cam change.




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- 70 Fastback Mustang, 489 cid FE, TKO-600 5 speed, 3.70 9 inch
- 71 F100 shortbed 4x4, 397 cid FE, headers, Street Dominator, 280H, 5 lug Dana 60, 4 speed

I have used doug's stands from Precision oil Pumps. They work well on stock rockers. If you want a stronger top end, sure the Harland Sharps are a great value. I think Oregon Camshafts has a kit too. They grind cams for your needs if you want too...

Now for stock rockers, the XE274 or crane equ will work with ends stands... but if you HS, you could consider a fat solid or roller which will still offer vacuum, but breath a lot better (to a point...)

Which EDL intake do you have, the performer or the RPM... the RPM makes a LOT more power over the reg performer... that is like a cam change in itself!!!!! If you have a standard performer, a new cam wont help much.




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1967 FE 390GT engine: 416 CID 233/238* @ 0.050 Solid Lifter w/ 4 spd TL.
1968 GT/CS Mustang. 289/c4
1995 Mercedes e320 I6 DOHC, 216 HP wagon.
2003 Tundra SR5, 4.7 DOHC, 4x4.
Another Galaxie (one day.)

Oh and a Bicycle - daily driver to save gas for the 'F'un 'E'xcursions.