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Old 01-19-2023, 05:18 PM   #1
KJ714
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Default Suggestions on cam for 1972 302 getting 351w heads

Hi,

I'm putting 351 windsor heads on a 1972 302 block. Do you have any suggestions for a real nice sounding cam that can work with the stock rockers and pushrods?

Thx
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Old 01-19-2023, 11:14 PM   #2
craig
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Default Re: Suggestions on cam for 1972 302 getting 351w heads

It would be good to know the year and chamber size of the heads. Originally a '72 302 had about an 8.5 to 1 compression ratio. Later 351 heads have a larger chamber size, could drop your comp ratio lower, consequently making less power than you already have, regardless of cams
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Old 01-20-2023, 01:44 PM   #3
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Default Re: Suggestions on cam for 1972 302 getting 351w heads

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Originally Posted by craig View Post
It would be good to know the year and chamber size of the heads. Originally a '72 302 had about an 8.5 to 1 compression ratio. Later 351 heads have a larger chamber size, could drop your comp ratio lower, consequently making less power than you already have, regardless of cams
They are both 1970 "D0OE". Ported, big valves, Stellite seats, all the bells and whistles by L&R Custom Engines in Santa Fe Springs, CA.
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Old 01-21-2023, 08:28 PM   #4
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Default Re: Suggestions on cam for 1972 302 getting 351w heads

Quote:
Originally Posted by craig View Post
It would be good to know the year and chamber size of the heads. Originally a '72 302 had about an 8.5 to 1 compression ratio. Later 351 heads have a larger chamber size, could drop your comp ratio lower, consequently making less power than you already have, regardless of cams
According to the engine info on the NHRA website, the '72 302 had heads with 56.7 cc's. and '70 351 Windsors had heads with 58.9 cc's
Only a 2.2 cc difference. Not sure how big of a difference that makes in the compression ratio.

Sal
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Old 01-24-2023, 07:02 PM   #5
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Default Re: Suggestions on cam for 1972 302 getting 351w heads

Back in 1978 I put 351W heads on a 289 block using the suggested Stage 3 (I think it was stage "3") parts from the Ford Muscle Parts books. It took pop up pistons to get the compression back up. Special head bolts because the 351W head holes are larger. The 289 intake sides needed to be slightly machined to match up. per the instruction in the book I used the Ford C7FE Lemans solid lifter real GT-40 cam. Sodium filled GT-40 valves. Screw-in studs and guide plates, hardened puss rods. double springs, factory dual ppint distributer Pete Jeckson gear drive. Originally, I had an Edelbrock Torker intake with Holley a 650 double pumper. Boss 302 clutch. Later I put an original GT-350 Cobra intake on it and never ran as good. It was good sounding engine but it was still only a little 289. I street raced a built 351C on a 1/4 mile we had measured off with kite string. He jumped me off the line and I stayed on his left quarter panel and could not make up the ground. I still remember Billy looking back over at me and my poor 289 screaming trying to catch him. I don't know held those 289s held together to 7000 rpm with 2-bolts mains. I had 3.50 gears and he had 4.11s. Both '65 Mustangs, my fastback and his noitchback Billy. He had cut shock towers with flat plate welded in and a sectioned upper control arm to get that 351C in there. If I only I would have had 3.89 gears I could have got him. Fun stuff!

I had built a Fake GT-350, a pretty good clone for it's time (I got real '66 one now) I was 18 and traded the Mustang for a real 1966 1275 Mini Cooper S. The guy took my Mustang Road racing and dropped a valve. He was pissed because the heads had aluminum retainers and a valve pulled through one, He chewed me out for using those aluminum retainers. They were on there when I got the heads for $40.00 off of the next-door neighbor's 12 second drag Mustang, when he rolled it street racing out on Greenspot Rd when a wheel slipped off into the sand shoulder. It ran in the 12s at Irwindale, his brother had one too that ran in the 12s That was asking an awful lot out of a 289 back then, tunnel rams dual quads, velocity stacks, vertigate shifters, slicks and bodies stripped to the bare. Those were trailered dedicated drag cars that they street raced Friday and Saturday nights The guys were older than me and worked in the parts deportment at Ford and could order all those parts when they were still available. My Mustang was my daily driver. There were four Mustangs in my dad's driveway and there were three in their dad's driveway right next door.

The only reason I like the 351W heads is because if you're staying nostalgic that was what was available back then. The heads, cams and stroker jkts are so much better now, no comparison. I will get out that Muscle Parts book tonight if I can find it? And if I remember?????

Last edited by Flathead Fever; 01-24-2023 at 07:16 PM.
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Old 01-24-2023, 10:09 PM   #6
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Default Re: Suggestions on cam for 1972 302 getting 351w heads

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I found that Muscle Parts Book. I had the stage 5 parts kit. the 351W heads added 32 HP and the GT-40 valves added 7 horsepower, the GT-40 solid cam added 59 and a 302 crank another 11 which don't remember me having, Cobra intake and 600 carb, 31 hp and headers 14 more. That is 351W heads on 289-302 blocks

They used 351W heads part number C90Z-6049-F which required special popup pistons to bring the compression to 10.5 because of the larger chambers. Different part numbers for left and right pistons. Later on, it says the popup pistons decrease cylinder volume by 10 cc to give it 10.5:1 It does list the overall heads volume.

351 intake gaskets must be used to avoid a water leak in an orifice in the 351 head. 289 head gaskets. Cylinder head bolts C80Z-6065-A (10) and C80Z-6065-B (10) special bolts with built in washers and adapt the 1/2" 351w hole to the the7/16" 289 hole> doesn't mention machining the intake. I must have been thinking of another engine I had. They go on to list the rocker arm, springs, pushrod lengths.... Those books sell for around $100.00 $200.00 now. Originally there were set of three of them.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/12525749926...Bk9SR4jcuu68YQ

Last edited by Flathead Fever; 01-24-2023 at 10:17 PM.
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Old 03-12-2023, 11:12 PM   #7
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Default Re: Suggestions on cam for 1972 302 getting 351w heads

I am old school and considering doing that 351W head swap onto a 289. I have the special head bolts from Ford to do it. And considering going to 1.94 intake and 1.60 exhaust valves (common chevy valves). I ran a "Berry cam" in my 289 years ago with a Torker 289 and wanting to build a similar old school 289. Berry was a regrind service from what I find out of Minnesota. The camshaft I had was supposedly a class winner in '68 Mustang before I got it. I installed used and it took a few years before I ran the lobes off it or I suspect that's what happened.
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