Is installing a camshaft easy?

[Positively Ralf]

I'm going to try to remove my head soon for a 2bbl conversion and thinking of switching the cam since I heard it would be easier since the head is already off. But is installing a cam something that can easily be done? To me it just seems like a normal metal rod that you can just drop in and align or is there more to it?

And speaking of the camshaft, what if this was the first big mod done to the engine? What kind of improvements will one see on a stock 200/250?

 

[rocklord]

Physically replacing the cam isn't that difficult if the engine is out of the car; to install the cam with the engine in the car you will have to remove the radiator and possibly the grill to have enough room to swap it out. The most difficult part is dialing (aligning) the cam in. If the cam is not dialed in properly, performance can suffer.

You can replace the cam first, but you will not realize much performance gains without other additions. The cam should be considered part of a package that includes intake and exhaust modifications. You need to increase the fuel mixture flow into the engine and the exhaust flow out (volumetric efficiency). Doing a 2Bbl conversion along with a cam, header, and larger exhaust system would be the best way to go.

By order of importance, I would recommend:
1) DSI or DSII distributor
2) 2Bbl Conversion
3) Header and larger exhaust
4) Cam

Of course, that's my $0.02. Others may have different opinions.

 

[1967JMG]

i just did the cam on my 67. it was ALOT easier than i expected it to be. i went on ahead and put a dual roller timing chain on there while i was at it

 

[falcon fanatic]

It's fairly easy, but you must keep everything meticulously CLEAN!!! For an otherwise stock engine I'd recommend the tamest performance cam you can find. presently running a 264/274 and I think it's too radical for my 10:1 street engine with heavily modified head. Wish I had gone with a 264/264 or even one of the tames isky or crane cams. You must consider, too, the possibility that if your engine has high miles on it, the cam bearing may not be up to the task of seating to a new cam.

 

[JackFish]

Yes my concern would be what you find when you open it up.
The bearings might be OK, but then they might not.
I damaged my bearings and ended up doing a full rebuild anyways.
I'd suggest going with a double roller timing chain advanced 4 degrees on the stock cam as well.
It worked for me, although I've just put a 264/274 in there, straight up. It's now going to require some significant tuning to get the driveability where I'd like it.

 

[1967JMG]

I have the Isky 262 in my mustang. Looking back, I probably should have put it in advanced 4 degrees but didnt. oh well. I'll save it for another day. I did put the dual roller timing chain though

 

[Positively Ralf]

What exactly does a dual roller timing chain do? And is that the piece in the front that turns the fan?

 

[JackFish]

The timing chain lives behind the timing cover, behind those pulleys in front.
It connects the big gear on the camshaft to the small gear on the crankshaft, pretty much just like a bicycle.
The stock timing chain is flimsy and will stretch with age and is a pretty standard item to replace when necessary. Classic Inlines, the sponsor of this forum has a high performance replacement that is stronger and has keyways machined into it that allow one to alter the timing of the valves in such a way that it gives control over the powerband of the engine with respect to rpm.
http://www.classicinlines.com/proddetai ... PP-200-DRC

There's also some good info here
http://www.classicinlines.com/Tech.asp
and here
http://www.fordsix.com/tech.php