What cam could I run with stock pistons not having to fly cut? Canfeild heads with 2.02 valve with 1.6 rrs. I've read about maybe a b or e cam? Plus its gonna be a turbo car so I was thinking stock cam.

 

run what cam is best for your combo, borrow a valve notching tool. I have cut many stock pistons and never had a issue. http://www.iskycams.com/pdfcatalog/2004-05/page17.pdf 40 dollars for rental or 140 for the tool.

I have ran a F cam on stock pistons with 2.02 but you need to check p/v clearance to make sure. also f cam is a better choice for turbo

 

i agree F cam here

 

Unfortunately Reed and Engle are now out of business, I was a great fan of Reed, dual pattern cams for SBFs. Chock up another one for Hussein.

 

How hard is notching the stock pistons? Would it be easier to just get a set of aftermarket pistons?

 

I'm sure someone here has the tool. it is easy.
or take to machine shop and have them do it

 

I notched the pistons in my old 4.6 motor with 2 used valves that I used a cutting wheel to notch the edges to put 'teeth' all the way around. Then hacked up 2 screw drivers and welded them to the ends of the velve stems. Then using the head as a template stick the stemsup through the holes and attach a drill to the valve stem. Doesnt take long to chew into the piston. Dont need to remove much material. 4.6 motors are notorious for high lift cams smacking the crown of the piston, thats why I did mine. Funny thing is that I never swapped more than PI cams back on to them. SBF motors will hit towards the center of the pistons. Allow enough clearance in case you get some valve float to CYA. the valves are usually between $7 - $9 each for stock valves from the parts store. Or check a few garages out and see if they have any old 2.02 valves they were tossing out.

Oh and I bevel the edges of the depression in the piston with a dremel and a round sanding bit after I get the depth I'm after.

Its really easy to do.

Also,.. IIRC Shawn and John over at All American have or had the tool to notch pistons with.

Hurst

 

I'm glad to see there are a few true hot rodders left, instead if "catalog rodders"

 

There are tons of free things we can do to make things easier on ourselves. My experimentation came from a lack of budget and the need/want to go faster. I had picked up some PI heads for $100 that had scarred cam journals. I have before and after dyno runs showing a 22hp gain from nothing but hand porting/polishing the heads and $75 to a machine shop for milling .027 off the surface. Went from 9.3:1cr to 10.5:1cr with just the PI heads on the NPI motor. Milling the heads brought it up to an approx 11.2:1cr. I notched the pistons because I knew milling the heads would make it nearly impossible to run an aftermarket cam. Since I couldnt afford SVO heads, PI heads were the only performance option for the 2V 4.6 motors at the time.

My goal was 12's NA in the 1/4 mi. I never quite found it. Close,.. but 13.009 was as close as I got. Started with 15.2@93 mph bone stock. I spent more on gaskets then I did for the heads and machine work.

A cracked/leaking intake manifold was what got me started. Guy made me a really good offer on a PI intake. Then another guy had the heads,.. so the decision was made. I knew very little about 4.6 motors at the time. But I knew I could put anything back together once I tore it apart.

Hurst

 

I've done it also, used chevy valves and "backcut" them them on a grinder, but I did do it with the motor on a stand. I know a guy in lakeland that has done it in car a few times using old chevy valves (and yes, use stock heads for the guide). It's really easy to go too far they cut far easier than you would think.