70 351c 4v camshaft selection

[lithi78]

Hey everyone, recently installed this camshaft and lifters on an otherwise stock 351c 4v with a Torker intake 3.00 gears automatic FMX and a 650 Holley . I wanted a slight performance upgrade from a stock camshaft without needing to upgrade other components in the engine. Has anyone had experience or have a similar set up like this? I’ve heard that this cam is similar to that of a CJ??

 

[lithi78]

Also my goal was not to compromise on the idling and wanted more of a cruiser with a little bump if you will….

 

[Hemikiller]

The cam is similar to the 351CJ cam which is shown below. You should have good idle vacuum, a little bit of a chop when cold due to the 63° overlap, and a fair bit more overall performance than the factory M-code cam.

I'd personally run a dual plane intake with this setup. You might find it a bit soggy off the line due to the Torker intake. Be prepared to tune the accelerator pump circuit with a healthy shot of fuel.

 

[Lazarus]

+1 on looking into a dual plane intake for your setup, per @Hemikiller ’s advice. I have never had a Torker on a 351c but my experience with one on a 400 small block Chevy is that it is sluggish off the line without a high stall converter and some other less streetable tweaks. It is for maximum top-end numbers, as opposed to a snappy-off-the-line street machine.

 

[lithi78]

The cam is similar to the 351CJ cam which is shown below. You should have good idle vacuum, a little bit of a chop when cold due to the 63° overlap, and a fair bit more overall performance than the factory M-code cam.

I'd personally run a dual plane intake with this setup. You might find it a bit soggy off the line due to the Torker intake. Be prepared to tune the accelerator pump circuit with a healthy shot of fuel.

View attachment 61991

Thank you for sending this over to me and your feedback. So in terms of added HP would it be safe to say +30 based on my camshaft selection? In terms of the intake manifold, I've heard this from others before as it doesnt "match up" in terms of my set up. I got the torker for such a good deal that I figured it was an upgrade from the cast iron factory intake. I would consider in the future the RPM air gap intake or the blue thunder although cost is a consideration at this point. What would you suggest between the two intakes?

 

[Don C]

+2 on a dual plane intake. I never understood the Torker name, it seems to imply it will be good for low RPM torque. It's a high RPM manifold. With a 3.00:1 rear end you'll definitely need at least a 2,500 RPM stall torque converter.

A 3.50:1 rear axle will give you a noticeable 'bump' without compromising highway cruising. If you're just cruising around town, a 3.73:1 will give you a big bump.

 

[lithi78]

+2 on a dual plane intake. I never understood the Torker name, it seems to imply it will be good for low RPM torque. It's a high RPM manifold. With a 3.00:1 rear end you'll definitely need at least a 2,500 RPM stall torque converter.

It was my understanding that this camshaft selection and my current set up does not require a 2500 RPM stall converter. The cam is not so "radical" of you will where I would need the stall converter

 

[71ProjectJunk]

The Torker is not really a good choice for your combination, you really need a dual plane intake manifold. The Torker was mid-range/high RPM intake. They make good power over 3,500/4,000 RPM, but they loose a lot of power and throttle response down low. For what you have, 3.00 gears, FMX stock converter, with a slightly bigger cam than stock your best bet is just your Performer intake, or at most a Performer RPM. The blue thunder intakes are great but they are stupid expensive.

 

[Don C]

It was my understanding that this camshaft selection and my current set up does not require a 2500 RPM stall converter. The cam is not so "radical" of you will where I would need the stall converter

It's the combination of the manifold, the camshaft, and your rear end ratio. Your stock torque converter probably has a stall of 900 to 1,100 RPM. Even though the camshaft isn't radical, with camshafts with specs similar to your cam, Crane, Comp, and Lunati recommend 2,500 to 3,500 stall torque converters. With your rear end and stock converter I would be looking at a camshaft in the range of 270° on the intake, and a dual plane intake manifold.

 

[Cleveland Crush]

View attachment 61990
Hey everyone, recently installed this camshaft and lifters on an otherwise stock 351c 4v with a Torker intake 3.00 gears automatic FMX and a 650 Holley . I wanted a slight performance upgrade from a stock camshaft without needing to upgrade other components in the engine. Has anyone had experience or have a similar set up like this? I’ve heard that this cam is similar to that of a CJ??

 

[Cleveland Crush]

I'm a long time Torker 351c user. My suggestion is to keep your Torker and cam set up and ditch those lame 3.0 gears asap. As mentioned by fellow members, 3.50 or "better" will allow major performance improvements and still cruise as good or better then those 3.0's

 

[Capeman1954]

Degree in a CJ cam, add 3:50 TL and you will get some serious KICK out of your Mustang.

 

[machphil]

Your performance is directly affected by your choice of intake. Where do you want your torque curve and hp curve to be most useful? On the track at high rpm, or on the street from light to light. The value of the dual plane has proven itself over and over. If you want more performance go to the Blue Thunder dual plane, 4145. The name "TORKER" is a misnomer if you think it means more torque where you want it for street driving. It is not a street intake. I bought one of my Mach 1's that was equipped with the Wiend accelorator and it was the biggest joke on a 351C I had ever had the privilege to experience. I pulled it off within a week to put a stock intake back on it. It had nothing down low until 3000 rpm. That does not make a 351 "STREET" friendly.

 

[Hemikiller]

@machphil - do you have the complete intake test? I lost my copy of that issue. Any chance you can scan and post it here?

 

[machphil]

@machphil - do you have the complete intake test? I lost my copy of that issue. Any chance you can scan and post it here?

Yes I do. It resides next to my reading chair. The test was a rather high compression stroked 351c with a radical camshaft, but I loved the results they posted. I can't wait to get back into my '73 and put my FPP intake on mine. I'll see what I can put together. Snapshots from the phone are much easier than a full scan story.

 

[machphil]

Also my goal was not to compromise on the idling and wanted more of a cruiser with a little bump if you will….

I like the cam! Put that Blue Thunder dual plane on it and you should have a screamer. The dual plane will help your throttle tip in and vacuum signal to your carb at part throttle.

 

[plumbloco]

View attachment 61990
Hey everyone, recently installed this camshaft and lifters on an otherwise stock 351c 4v with a Torker intake 3.00 gears automatic FMX and a 650 Holley . I wanted a slight performance upgrade from a stock camshaft without needing to upgrade other components in the engine. Has anyone had experience or have a similar set up like this? I’ve heard that this cam is similar to that of a CJ??

I installed a comp cam 290h roller hydraulic with a torker and got 513 hp motor dyno...changed to fitech fuel injection and an air gap...It MASSIVELY IMPROVED street manners, and rwp hp maintained 440.

 

[machphil]

I installed a comp cam 290h roller hydraulic with a torker and got 513 hp motor dyno...changed to fitech fuel injection and an air gap...It MASSIVELY IMPROVED street manners, and rwp hp maintained 440.

Thanks for the info. I wondered about a dual plane with a TBI. I didn't think it would make that much difference since the TBI is electronicly controlled but I'm guessing it has MAP monitoring too? With a carb the vacuum signal is VERY important for the idle, transition slot, and even secondary operation. Would you have the dyno charts we can look at?

 

[lithi78]

Ok it sounds like the general consensus is to either change out the intake to a dual plane or leave set up as is and change gears to 3.50.. thanks everyone.