73 351C 4bbl "Q" Camshaft
Printed From: The Ford Torino Page
Category: Powertrain Specific Forum
Forum Name: 335 Series Engine Forum
Forum Description: 351C, 351M and 400 engines
URL: https://forum.grantorinosport.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=9702
Printed Date: 26-March-2026 at 5:42PM
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: 73 351C 4bbl "Q" Camshaft
Posted By: vegasmax
Subject: 73 351C 4bbl "Q" Camshaft
Date Posted: 26-August-2013 at 4:49PM
Does anyone have the specifications of the camshaft that was installed in the 73 Torino with "Q" Code 351C 4BBL engine w/4-speed? Also is it 4 degrees retarded that year? And was it done with the cam gear or cam grind settings? Also if you guys know which year cams were better than the others and why? Thanks 
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Replies:
Posted By: 72FordGTS
Date Posted: 27-August-2013 at 2:39PM
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According to the info I have the 1973 351CJ is basically identical to the 1972 351 CJ other than the larger combustion chamber in 1973 which lowered the compression ratio. The cam for the 1972 engine has the following specs: 270° Intake / 290° Exhaust, 46° overlap .480" Lift Intake/ .488 Lift Exhaust The cam timing events were 4° retarded for 1972 (and 1973). I believe this was through the cam, but I am not 100% sure on that one. ------------- Vince 1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
Posted By: sabatona
Date Posted: 27-August-2013 at 2:45PM
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Retarding of the cam was done by the sprockets only. If you replace the sprockets and chain you will remove the retarding of the cam. ------------- 73 GTS 351 4V Q Code Blue Glow/Blue Int 1 of 1 |
Posted By: 72FordGTS
Date Posted: 27-August-2013 at 3:12PM
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That's what I thought, but the info I have shows that the 1972 Cam was 4 degrees retarded, but as far as I can tell it used the same sprocket on the crank as a 1970-71 engine. From Bubba's site it shows that only in 1973 it started to use a retarded crank sprocket. %20" rel="nofollow - http://grantorinosport.org/BubbaF250/parts/parts03.html Also, the 1971 vs 1972 camshafts have different part numbers, so that's why I figured the retard was ground in the cam. But again, I could be wrong. ------------- Vince 1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
Posted By: Rockatansky
Date Posted: 29-August-2013 at 2:08PM
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here's some info, http://home.comcast.net/~jelerath/mustang/Specs/cams-fr.html" rel="nofollow - http://home.comcast.net/~jelerath/mustang/Specs/cams-fr.html ------------- 72 GT Ute |
Posted By: ThunderOnTheRoad429
Date Posted: 04-September-2013 at 2:15AM
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Ford didn't measure the cams @ .050" back then like they do today. If you put the best of everything, the cam before they retarded it, closed chamber heads, 4V intake and exhaust, Duel point distributor, you would end up with 365 HP. I did this years ago. I ordered the stock cam from a local Ford dealer. It wasn't anything to brag about. I can recommend a cam to you if I new a little more about what you expect for performance. I will tell you that unless your cam has at least 220 degrees of duration on the intake side, you're not really taking advantage of the Clevelands potential. ------------- Waylon & Buddy |
Posted By: vegasmax
Date Posted: 04-September-2013 at 2:45PM
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here is what speed pro said it was and their replacement for it: Ron the CS-650 camshaft is the part number for your application and when installed with the timing marks lined up is 5 degrees retarded, attached is the camshaft specification sheet. Part Number:CS 650
Cam Lift / Intake: .278" Cam Lift / Exhaust: .283"
Valve Lift / Intake: .481" Valve Lift / Exhaust: .490"
Valve Lash Int.:HYD Valve Lash Exhaust: HYD Cam Type: FH
Lobe Intake Centerline: 120 Lobe Exhaust Centerline :110 Separation Angle: 115
Notes: Firing order 1-3-7-2-6-5-4- |
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Posted By: ThunderOnTheRoad429
Date Posted: 04-September-2013 at 3:32PM
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The 206' 221' is what I would pay attention to. It would make sence if they where @ .050" 206' will give you a super smooth idle. good fuel mileage & excellent torque. Thats what the stock cam was designed to do AND keep the vehicle under warentee. Now, in a 351C let's say a cam w/ 206' is stock. a cam w/ 212' is an RV cam. Still has good torque and fuel mileage but has a noticable increase in HP. 218' would be a street performance cam. Fuel mileage would suffer, but now you have a cam that would bennifit from a lager than stock carb. headers, intake & ignition and still have excellent vacuum to opperate power brakes. 224' is the largest cam you could use w/ your stock convertor in an automatic. A rear end gear change at this point from the stock 2.75:1 to 3.00:1 to a performance gear set. Let's say 3.25:1 to a 3.70:1 but there goes your fuel mileage. A 230'cam. @ this point your idle is rough, you may need a seperate vacuum pump to opperate power accessories. Headers, gears, and convertor are a must. What I did was go 6' changes on the cam's intake and show you what you could expect. When in dought, go with a smaller cam, like the 218' and you'll be much happier than if you went one step to large. Hope this helps. ------------- Waylon & Buddy |
Posted By: ThunderOnTheRoad429
Date Posted: 04-September-2013 at 3:35PM
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That stock Cleveland cam was GROUND 4' retard. NOT THE CAM SPROCKET... ------------- Waylon & Buddy |
Posted By: Rockatansky
Date Posted: 04-September-2013 at 4:12PM
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here's some Cleveland cam info I've been saving, some good 'updated' recipes by George Pence http://www.network54.com/Forum/136503/thread/1234512198/Elgin+Pro+Stock" rel="nofollow - http://www.network54.com/Forum/136503/thread/1234512198/Elgin+Pro+Stock ------------- 72 GT Ute |
Posted By: ThunderOnTheRoad429
Date Posted: 04-September-2013 at 5:07PM
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E-1225-P would be my choise. ------------- Waylon & Buddy |
Posted By: Rockatansky
Date Posted: 04-September-2013 at 10:08PM
i'd order a custom ground 'improved' cam from Bullet
if there was any change in the timing set, depending upon model year & application, it was the crank sprocket that changed. if you have the 2 in hand and line up the key slots you can see the difference at the tooth ------------- 72 GT Ute |
ThunderOnTheRoad429 wrote:Posted By: iangj
Date Posted: 05-September-2013 at 11:27AM
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It IS the sprocket that has the retard in it. Always been a quick fix for better performance to put in a quality aftermarket timing chain & gear set to zero the cam. ------------- Ian Glyn-Jones Fonthill, Ontario, Canada Wish I had My Baby Back Montego GT Registry Forum; http://mmgt.forumchitchat.com/ |
Posted By: vegasmax
Date Posted: 05-September-2013 at 4:02PM
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Looks like a 268H cam with no retard timing gear will work ok for street and not kill mileage? Anyone agree? Or suggestions. 73 351 Q code cj lower compression 4bbl heads and intake all stock w/4 speed 325 gear. |
Posted By: Rockatansky
Date Posted: 05-September-2013 at 5:07PM
Absolutely! 268H would be / is my 'off the shelf' pick for a mild combo with a stock torque converter and rear gear all the way down to 2.75. obviously with the steep highway gear it won't be a bullet off the line but it doesn't suffer either, my 73 made 20 mpg with the manual trans and 3.25's you can get away with a little cam though, the Elgin E-1225-P may shine there if you like dual pattern, or E-907-P for a single... maybe even a little more cam? ------------- 72 GT Ute |
Posted By: ThunderOnTheRoad429
Date Posted: 05-September-2013 at 5:07PM
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268H very good cam or the extream energy which would give you a little more duration and lift on the exhaust side, which the Cleveland could use. ------------- Waylon & Buddy |