Technical Rebuilt 302 has no get up! Help.

Just rebuilt my 302-
90 mustang short block
Edelbrock performer rpm head (2.02 valves)
Dual plane intake
Holley 600 carb
Summit cam- 512 lift
1.6 rockers

Motor starts up and idles great. And revs awesome. But the motor has no get up and go! It won’t even break the tires loose. The tired old stock motor I removed would roast the tires! I am stumped…

 

Upgrading the heads, exhaust, intake,camshaft could require more ignition timing, rear gear or a different torque converter. It’s all about a total “package” to make it perform to your liking.

 

It won’t even “brake torque “ when warmed up.

 

Try advancing the ignition timing a little.

 

Cam super retarded? Exhaust blocked? What compression ratio? What trans? Automatica or manual?

 

It just seems it should have way more HP than the old 89 f-150 all stock motor I removed.

 

Ford AOD trans
Initial timing 15*

 

Even a stock ignition curve can make a modded engine be a little soggy off idle, especially with a performance camshaft. What camshaft is in it, exactly?

 

Are you sure it’s taking off in low gear? Does it shift through all the gears properly?

 

Cam timing.

 

Camshaft Manufacturers Description:
Rough idle, wide midrange power band. Requires 2,500+ stall, 9.5:1 and higher compression, and gearing. Bracket race cam.

Do you have all these requirements? Like I said converter, gear all come into play here.

 

That cam card is not legible on my end anyway

 

Do you have it wired per that camshaft? Or did you wire it like an 89 F150 if I’m not mistaken they are different firing orders. 89 F150 is 18436572, that camshaft is 15426378.

 

Where is your vacuum advance plugged into? Ported or manifold vacuum? Try switching it.

 

Yep, too much cam. Small motor + big cam = no low end.

You need something like this... FORD COMP Cams CL31-422-8 COMP Cams Magnum Retrofit Cam and Lifter Kits | Summit Racing
More lift but less duration, the advantage of a roller cam. No specific endorsement of this particular cam, just an example. May require different valve springs and pushrods.

 

It wouldn’t even start with a mis-matched firing order.

 

That’s a pretty big cam for a little 302 I ran a cam with 10 degrees less at .050 in SBC 305 and it was soft on the bottom end. Does the engine respond at 2500 - 3000 rpm does it pull good once it’s wound up? Like was mentioned above Gears and Higher stall converter, was the cam set straight up?
Dan

 

Run a compression test. Hold the throttle wide open and 6 revolutions on each cylinder. Was the cam installed dot to dot or degreed? Are you positive it is in correctly? What c.c. is the combustion chamber on the heads? Did you install flat top or dished top pistons? I ran a similar cam in a basically stock 289 years ago and it was weak on the bottom. The flow on your heads is far superior to what I had which should help that situation.

 

If ya got stock gears and stall:

 

Your stock engine had low end torque, you built an engine that wants to live above 3000rpm, now you need to adjust everything else, torque converter, rear gears, etc

 

Put some 4.30’s in it with a 2800-3000 stall converter. That’ll smarten it up…..or change the camshaft.

 

Cam was installed dot to dot. Dist is connected to timed spark port on side of Holley. 10-15 on vacuum gauge.
The car is sluggish through all rpm range. Doing 55mph and nail the throttle, it’s still sluggish.
Pistons are flat tops with valve reliefs.
Heads are 72cc combustion

 

I've always had the best results on my Fords with the vacuum advance connected directly to manifold vacuum.

 

The oem heads have 58 cc heads, so if you went to 72 cc with a stock replacement piston you could be in the 8.5/1 or lower cr. If you know the all the specs on your build that could be very helpful.

 

Check the vacuum advance arm , are sure it’s still connected to the breaker plate and has not came disconnected . My 302 has x grind , C4 and 3.00 gears . I have no complains in the power dept . , you have to do some fine tuning . Adjust timing to 37* at 2000 with advance connected , let us know how that does for you .

 

Even at 55 with tall gears it will make a lot of noise but go nowhere.