b4opec
03-12-2006, 11:12 PM
I have been running a fuel injection conversion on an early Bronco for awhile, and was looking for something more out of my setup (347 w/ross 10.5 pistons, twisted wedge heads, gt40 intake, etc). I read mustang sites regularly for info even though I’m not technically a mustang guy. Similar horse though. I’ve tried a few cams, most recently a Trick Flow Stage I. Before anyone writes me off as a torque loving rock crawler, my Bronco sees street driving 99% of the time. That is the main reason I’m posting this piece.
I couldn’t figure out what the Bronco needed- I tried short duration cams, long duration cams and those in between. I couldn’t figure out what would make my machine really grunt. The trick flow cam I was last using was pretty good, but afterall, I’m lugging a truck around which really challenges the aerodynamics. When I converted to injection, I wasn’t really impressed. It was a B-303 cam. I felt like I took a step backward from my carb config. It just didn’t pull or give a hint of power. The trick flow cam was a bit better, but still, probably not inline with my carb setup. It was disappointing for me- I felt like I might have given up too much by going injection.
So I researched and read, asked questions on message boards, and the folks on classicbroncos.com felt I needed to have a custom cam ground. So I kept on reading, taking notes. I read several posts on a fellow in Michigan by the name of Jay Allen, of Camshaft Innovations. I contacted Jay and filled out his multi page info sheet on my Bronco. It seemed that a lot of the info that was being asked did not apply to my situation-I’m a ‘special situation’ not a ¼ miler.
After filling out the tech sheet, he contacted me and felt he had a cam solution. I won’t attempt to recreate Jay’s comments to me, for it was intensely detailed and I don’t want to misquote him. Regardless, his proposition was a shorter duration cam with higher lift (almost .600). Rapid ramp rates and shorter duration to get the air/fuel charge in without sacrificing idle and overall drivability. At first, I was a bit miffed but Jay assured me this would be ‘the cam’. It took several weeks for the cam to be ground, and I waited and wondered. I got the cam, put everything together this weekend and went for a spin. UNREAL. I don’t think there’s one mainstream cam manufacturer out there that can deliver the performance I got out of this cam. It truly blew my mind.
Specifically: I run a toploader 4 speed, with the overdrive 4th. So, it’s basically a 3 speed. This limits my options and how I can utilize the overall powercurve of the motor. In the past, I’ had a good run in 1st, shift to 2nd lugs a touch then gets rolling, and shifting into 3rd (1:1 drive ratio) was a shock to the motor. It would lug until the tach hit about 2500, then get rolling from there. Jay’s cam: rips like a pitbull in 1st, pulls like a mother in 2nd, and continues to pull in 3rd, which is unreal for my setup. It has that “go” on tap power that you aim for, but I couldn’t figure out how to get there before.
I briefly ran a B&M supercharger and though that setup was stout, it wasn’t useable everyday power. This is. It is truly unbelievable.
If you’re looking for the ‘ultimate’ cam, you might consider giving Jay a ring. I felt like I might be wasting his time with my situation, but he was super nice and willing to help. What I got was a cam that fulfilled my expectations—exceeded them-and it came by way of research from the Mustang racing crowd.
I am posting this response on several well-traveled mustang sites because I feel Jay’s cams are worthy of your consideration if you’re in the market for a new cam. Four stars.
I couldn’t figure out what the Bronco needed- I tried short duration cams, long duration cams and those in between. I couldn’t figure out what would make my machine really grunt. The trick flow cam I was last using was pretty good, but afterall, I’m lugging a truck around which really challenges the aerodynamics. When I converted to injection, I wasn’t really impressed. It was a B-303 cam. I felt like I took a step backward from my carb config. It just didn’t pull or give a hint of power. The trick flow cam was a bit better, but still, probably not inline with my carb setup. It was disappointing for me- I felt like I might have given up too much by going injection.
So I researched and read, asked questions on message boards, and the folks on classicbroncos.com felt I needed to have a custom cam ground. So I kept on reading, taking notes. I read several posts on a fellow in Michigan by the name of Jay Allen, of Camshaft Innovations. I contacted Jay and filled out his multi page info sheet on my Bronco. It seemed that a lot of the info that was being asked did not apply to my situation-I’m a ‘special situation’ not a ¼ miler.
After filling out the tech sheet, he contacted me and felt he had a cam solution. I won’t attempt to recreate Jay’s comments to me, for it was intensely detailed and I don’t want to misquote him. Regardless, his proposition was a shorter duration cam with higher lift (almost .600). Rapid ramp rates and shorter duration to get the air/fuel charge in without sacrificing idle and overall drivability. At first, I was a bit miffed but Jay assured me this would be ‘the cam’. It took several weeks for the cam to be ground, and I waited and wondered. I got the cam, put everything together this weekend and went for a spin. UNREAL. I don’t think there’s one mainstream cam manufacturer out there that can deliver the performance I got out of this cam. It truly blew my mind.
Specifically: I run a toploader 4 speed, with the overdrive 4th. So, it’s basically a 3 speed. This limits my options and how I can utilize the overall powercurve of the motor. In the past, I’ had a good run in 1st, shift to 2nd lugs a touch then gets rolling, and shifting into 3rd (1:1 drive ratio) was a shock to the motor. It would lug until the tach hit about 2500, then get rolling from there. Jay’s cam: rips like a pitbull in 1st, pulls like a mother in 2nd, and continues to pull in 3rd, which is unreal for my setup. It has that “go” on tap power that you aim for, but I couldn’t figure out how to get there before.
I briefly ran a B&M supercharger and though that setup was stout, it wasn’t useable everyday power. This is. It is truly unbelievable.
If you’re looking for the ‘ultimate’ cam, you might consider giving Jay a ring. I felt like I might be wasting his time with my situation, but he was super nice and willing to help. What I got was a cam that fulfilled my expectations—exceeded them-and it came by way of research from the Mustang racing crowd.
I am posting this response on several well-traveled mustang sites because I feel Jay’s cams are worthy of your consideration if you’re in the market for a new cam. Four stars.