New Setup...Bad Results

[ERAULightning]

Hi,

I just installed AFR 185cc, the Crane Lightning Cam, and 1.6 Roller Rockers. When I ran it tonight, my times were a whole second slower. My best time was a 14.9@90, with just headers and exhaust and some minor stuff. Tonight, I ran a 15.7@88. My 60'ft was 2.4 It was cold tonight and the track wasnt sticky at all. Everyone had trouble hooking up. So my question is what happened here, I was figuring much, much better results. Another, thing to note is my mechanic had to retard the cam 4* due to the larger valve size on the heads. He said it should only bump the power band on the cam about 200 rpm. At this point, I would like to know if there is something wrong with the setup or what I should do/check to get the truck running better. I do plan to dyno the truck soon, to get a better idea as to what is going on. Any help would be appreciated. I spent a lot of money to get all this done and I'm somewhat frustrated.

Thank you,
Chris

 

[gasguzzler]

What is your timing set at? How old is your fuel filter? Do you happen to have an in cab fuel pressure gauge? What is the truck doing? Is it falling on its face at higher rpms? These are just some thoughts - Brian

 

[Litng1]

Plus I dont see why he had to retard you cam 4 degrees.That makes no sense to me.Then your 60FT times are very bad 2.4 is bad.Heck get them down to a normal 2.0 and you should pick up alot of time right there.

 

[fairlane]

He raised your power band so he took away low end torque.Why did you buy a good flowing set of heads and then install a small camshaft?

 

[Lightning Struck]

Fairlane is right on.. Install a stouter cam and I bet you'd see 40HP right there, that's 4 TENTHS! Subtract the additional .4+ from 60ft's and you're in the 13's which is about right.. If you can get it to launch like Rod does(1.7's-1.8's and you're in the mid 13's which is great NA..

 

[95Lightning2]

As far as track times go, use your mph times to judge since traction won't effect it like the et. By the looks of yours there is a problem since you slowed down some. You may just need a good tune on the computer but I'm no expert.

 

[FMOS Racing]

There is no reason to adjust that cam in either direction 4d and I'd make the mechanic put it in there right. Yes, those are bigger valves, but it's absolutely silly for him to suggest that tiny cam will cause problems.

People have ran high 13s on the Crane cam and good heads with the supporting hardware.

 

[ERAULightning]

As far as the cam is concerned....The reason it got retarded 4 degrees is because originally, I wanted to run 1.7 rockers and with that setup the intake valve was hitting the piston. So I was told that the cam needed to be retarded 4* and I had to run 1.6 rockers From what i have read, there wouldn't be any clearance issues with 1.6 rockers and the cam being in the normal position?? Also, since the cam won't kick in until 200-300 rpms over what it is supposed to, which I believe is 1500rpm, wouldn't that just bump the power band up 200-300, and would it take away that much low-end power? I have an oppurtunity to get the truck on a dyno saturday, the results may give a clearer pictures as to what is going on here.

Chris

 

[sstock]

Chris, Did he actually do a piston to valve check or did he go on someone elses recommendation. AFR makes a blanket statement that those 202 valves will not clear with stock pistons. IMHO, there should be tons on room in there for that cam and 1.7's.
The timing on that cam has the intake opening after top dead center, in other words that piston is on the way down when that intake valve is beginning to open.
Another thing that I found out is when you increase the intake runner size the low speed velocity is going to fall off a bit, ie 185CC versus 160CC, retarded cam even hurts this more but with your times I feel you have something wrong on the install. Bad valve adjustment, ect. Fairlane is right if you are going to stay normally aspirated you need some more lift and a bit more duration to pick this combo up off the floor. IMHO, I would get the Crane Cam out and go with the speed density Comp. Cams unit with 510 lift with 1.7s and 210 duration, it has quicker opening rates than the crane unit and will make a ton more cylinder pressure. It too is on the 114 lobe separation and opens after TDC.
Later
Stevehttp://www.compcams.com/information/search/CamDetails.asp?PartNumber=35-255-5

 

[ERAULightning]

Maybe my mechanic messed up....

My mechanic did check the valve clearences, I was there when he looked over the documentation. So he knew about checking and what not. Maybe he just messed up. I just hate the idea of ripping everything apart again and the cost involved. I'll see what happens, at least it runs fine.

Thank you,

Chris

 

[Raymond_B]

There is absolutely no reason to retard the cam because of 1.7's. I ran 1.7's for a while on my roller .535/.535 218/228 Lunati until my 1.6's came in.

Exactly how did he check the clearance ?

 

[fordfreak95]

WHAT!!!!!

OK, I am putting in that crane cam with trick flow heads, and 1.7 rockers, on my L next friday. Are you telling me my L is going to be slower than it is now because of the cam!?? I can't see how a cam that is MORE agressive than the stock unit is going to make things worse?! I don't know, maybe the trick flows are different than the AFC heads. The MAIN thing with this Crane cam for me is it is Smog Legal! It has an emisions legal carb#!! I need this here in RI. Very strict inspection testing!:m I went with the 1.7s to give me a bit more lift though.:tu: There are guys on here that have run, or are running this combo and they are not going slower than stock. And the comp cam 35-255-5 has .021 more lift on the exhaust side, and .030 more lift on the intake than the crane compucam. This should only be a 10hp difference at most. I know the valve timings are different but I can't see this cam being a night and day difference over the Crane unit! Better low end probably. I say make your mechanic retime your cam and get a set of 1.7 rockers. Then see where you are at. What other mods do you have? Where is your timing? Fuel pressure? Something is off. That MPH SUCKS BAD!!! Keep us posted and I will keep you guys posted after my heads/cam go on next week!:tu:

 

[ERAULightning]

I don't think the cam will make you slower...

Fordfreak...

I'm pretty much convinced my mechanic messed me up here. After what everyone has said here and talking to a friend. Something isn't totally right with how things were done with my truck. But I will say, is that I bumped the timing a little and the truck seems to run better. I'm gonna see what i can do about getting this taken care of. Its rather frustrating, since I put a lot of money into it. Also, I was curious about the specs on the original cam. Does anyone have them???

Chris