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Full Version: 429 SCJ Cam choice?
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Unfortunately my museum car, was not started much, thus I am doing a complete rebuild of the 429. I was thinking of going with something other than the solid lift cam. I want to drive this car and my thinking is cam tech has improved so much that I can get the similar or better power and less maintenance any suggestions? Most everything else is stock and re-built to original spec, even sourced some .40 over forged replacement pistons, still 11:1s. Car has the 4 speed (soon to be 5 speed) and the Detroit locker 4;11s.

I wish I could advise you better on this, but I'm not a motor guy Sad

One thing I learned with my Trans Am project is be sure whatever cam you go with is compatible with everything else, otherwise you may have hard starting issues when the car is hot.

Hopefully you'll get more responses on this!
(11-03-2010, 08:32 AM)Fuelman Wrote: [ -> ]Unfortunately my museum car, was not started much, thus I am doing a complete rebuild of the 429. I was thinking of going with something other than the solid lift cam. I want to drive this car and my thinking is cam tech has improved so much that I can get the similar or better power and less maintenance any suggestions? Most everything else is stock and re-built to original spec, even sourced some .40 over forged replacement pistons, still 11:1s. Car has the 4 speed (soon to be 5 speed) and the Detroit locker 4;11s.
I know this is an old posting but, since your name is fuelman and you put 11.0:1 pistons in the motor, I assume you are not going to be use pump gas 91 octane in the car. If you already know all of the following, write it off as me trying to be helpful in case you don't. Unless the cam you choose has a relatively late intake valve closing point (read large duration and overlap) it will have too high a dynamic compression ratio to get along with pump gas. It will likely have detonation you can hear and worse, high engine speed detonation you can not hear (read hammer the rod bearings and melt aluminum off the piston face). The fact that the intake ports are huge may help some (intake velocities low therefore less cylinder filling). Have you picked a cam yet? If not I've had good custom work done by Lunati, Schneider, and Cam Motion.
Good luck with the build, it sounds like a great car. Chuck

Hey Comp Cams has the best user friendly Cam selection soft ware for FREE!!! Just go to Comp Cams And browse the website and you'll find the cam selection tool. I downloaded the newest version last night, if you play with it a little you'll find all the info you can handle. But be sure to fill each blank or enter your choice when prompted, if you do it will even give you a graph of the horsepower and torque. Just like the Dyno simulation programs I've seen. I used a couple know engine combinations and it blew me away how acurate it was. Easily within 10 horsepower on a 500 horse motor.Winner
JTS 71 Mach1
Hello fuelman. First things first before getting started your heads if it is a true 429SCJ solid cam motor have an adjustable valve train. Meaning you adjust the clearance between your rocker arm and valve tip (usualy done after the engine is warmed up) so first keep in mind when changing from a solid lifter motor to a hydraulic version that you will be unable to use your current valve train set up. You will have to change it over to a hydraulic version, this may or may not require a different set up head all together. As far as a camshaft I HIGHLY STRONGLY reccomend "CAM RESEARCH in Denver Colo. phone # 303-762-0022 3881 S. Jason st. Englewood Co. 80110.. These guys rock !! They build cams for FORDS only and they know fords!! The owner Scott runs a I think 67 mustang with a big block (429-460 ) at bandomere speedway and is very competitive with it. They have numerous swap kits for various engines in mustangs. They are very knowledgeable and helpful in all aspects of ford engines. Just know they will ask you more questions than most cam makers will so they can custom grind one to fit your needs like how much does car weigh, what compression, what gear ratio, what is your intended use and what do you want it to do plus a few more. Be honest in your answers so you are not dissatisfied. They built the solid roller cam for me in my stroked 700+ horsepower cleveland. Which by the way I stand on HARD all the time and rarely have to adjust my valves since the cam and rocker arms and pushrods broke in. I used pretty bulletproof parts though with comp cams stainless roller rockers and there 3/8 diam. pushrods and making sure my valve train geometry is correct.Maybe if you have to adjust yours alot your geometry is off or you might try a GOOD set of roller rockers and new locks. Fords original rocker arm locks were not the best for long range driving. If i drove mine more normal instead of playing every time I drive it I bet it would only need adjusted every 8000 to 10,000 miles. If I can help any more or offer you any other contacts please dont hesitate to let me know. I've been a motor head building fords since I was 14.
Good luck
YLWHRSE