351w cam selection, need help

I'm building a 5.8 efi for my 95 f150 with a tired 5.0. It's a 95 5.8 roller engine completely stock(I believe it 9.1:1 static compression). I'm going to refresh the engine with new rings, bearings, and if budget allows trick flow 170 heads. While I have it apart I'd like to put a cam in it, I'm looking at this cam http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cca-35-510-8/overview/make/ford but unsure if it will work well for my truck. My truck is 2wd, auto, 3:08 may switch to 3:55 , it will mostly be used to haul stuff (i.e. trash, car parts, motorcycles) and occasionally tow the maverick to the track. I would like it to be relatively quick (high 14's) as well, my goal is 300hp, 400ft-lbs. Any better cam suggestions welcome. Thanks in advance!

 

Anyone???

 

I'd just use the stock 5.0 HO cam, has a bit more duration but less lift... Best part is you can save money for heads that would make far more power than difference in the cams...

 

I'm going to ordered the heads next week. I'm also looking at a edelbrock intake, don't remember the model but it's made for the mid 90 ' s truck engines. Do you still recommend the h.o. cam with those parts? I've heard conflicting options on the h.o. cam in a truck, some say it does not produce enough low end torque. But I've never been good with cam section which is why I'm asking.

 

Lightning cam with 1.7 rockers.

 

What transmission is in the truck, E4OD I assume??? Those have low enough 1st gear till you'd never notice a little loss in off line torque...

You can do better than the wimpy Lightning cam, none of those were ever roller anyway...

 

I would poke around on a Ford truck web site and see what those guys are running. You need just-off-idle torque, that usually means a relatively short cam, probably not more than 215*@.050. You want a heavy truck to run 14's with only 300hp? JMO.

 

Trans is a 4r70w

I asked on a truck forum, no answer, a search shows few guys running the above linked cam but all were off road trucks. My truck is not what I would call heavy (for a truck anyway) at 4500lbs. I'm basing the power figure on a calculator from ET and weight, says 14.9 at 4500lbs requires 268hp.

 

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/edl-3881/overview/ Intake mentioned in post #4.

 

Which is exactly what the HO cam is...

The 4R70W is a wide ratio AODE, has similar gearing to E4OD...

That it doesn't have E4OD is surprising, my '93 Lightning had one as does my '96 F-150 with 5.0...

BTW stock Lightings ran around 15.3 and that's with 4.10 gears... With a HO cam, good set of heads & intake, free exhaust etc, I see no reason you can't get a low 14... Probably need that 3.55 you mentioned...

 

If I run the H.O. cam should I run 1.7 rockers or stick with 1.6's? I may go to 4:10s later on, 3;55s more likely due to availability in the junk yards. I thought most 95-96 trucks with a 5.0 had the 4r70w. I know the heavier trucks (f250s) only came with e4od's for auto , could it be my truck has the 4r70w cause my truck is light duty. It's probably lightest duty std cab, short bed, single tank, but who knows. This has become another one of my projects that has gotten out of hand lol, was just supposed to be a stock 5.8 swap.

 

Lightning's had gt40 heads also.

 

You can run 1.7 on the HO and it's a good idea, will give a bit more power... I used them on a '86 GT Stang and picked up around .05... A set of under drives and 2½" cat back system gave a full tenth...

Even with a cam that gives up a little low end, you're going to have more torque off idle with the larger engine... I dunno about your truck but my bone stock '96 with with 5.0 & 3.55 will fry the RR tire on a full throttle start, wouldn't want much more torque without the Traction Lock...

 

My truck will not spin the tire in a straight line, don't know if its cause the engines tired 233k, or cause the 3.08 rear. I'm planning on a power trax no slip, or if I can find a factory 3.55 ls rear in the yard.

 

Maybe mine is rewarding me for saving it from a life of abuse and neglect??

When I bought it two years ago there was less than a quart of oil in the pan... I'd pulled stick with engine running and saw it had oil, never did a proper check, was majorly surprised when I didn't get much more than a splash in the drain pan... Uses approx a qt in 2500 miles guessing it had 12-15K mi on change... Belts & hoses were orig, brakes worn out, tires shot as well, rear window was knocked out etc etc... I came close to walking away but it ran and drove good, so I took the chance, it did clean up fairly well....