Street 545 Build

Hey guys!
So, I've been slowly gathering parts to assemble a 545 to install in my '74 Cougar. At present I have a second hand 545 rotating/reciprocating assembly and a set of second hand 95cc Performer RPM heads that have had a bit of port work done by Scott Johnston.
My goal for this engine is low RPM torque--lots of torque. I want--if possible--stock style everyday driveability. I'd like a smooth idle, or close to it. Stock torque convertor. In essence, I'd like it to work just like the 460 in the car now--just a lot more torque.
I really enjoy driving this car. It's so nice to just get in, pump the gas a couple times and have it fire up into a nice choke controlled high idle, wait a minute or two, stab the gas again to drop the idle and drive off.
Would like any input on camshaft, intake and exhaust recommendations for a build such as this. Obviously intake selection will be limited by hood clearance.
I'll document the build here when it gets to that point. As with all of my projects I'm sure it will be a long drawn out process. lol.

Here's the car.





Any information or advise is greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

Bruce

That's a nice ride

Lem Evans wrote:That's a nice ride

Thank you, Lem!

wow , she is very clean !!!

bruno wrote:wow , she is very clean !!!

Thank you, Bruno!

I recently had it painted and the wheels and tires are new.
One of the reasons I bought this particular car is because it was so straight. Never been wrecked, other than a couple small dings and some surface rust, this thing was in very nice shape.
My paint guy, Doug Alves, removed all the trim and the beat up quarter vinyl top it used to have. He did a lot of work for a very fair price--I'm very happy with the outcome.
It has some dash related electrical gremlins that need to be addressed and a few minor interior items need attention but again, over all, it's in nice shape.

Use a 2 plane intake manifold and the Ford Marine grind camshaft available from many companies.
It was formerly available from Ford Racing as M-6250-A460.

Thanks Randy.

Very nice. Keen to watch this come together

Gregaust wrote:Very nice. Keen to watch this come together

Thank you, Greg.

rmcomprandy wrote:Use a 2 plane intake manifold and the Ford Marine grind camshaft available from many companies.
It was formerly available from Ford Racing as M-6250-A460.

Randy, I checked the specs on that A460 and that seems like a really "small" cam especially for a 545" engine. I'm not doubting your word as you have waaaay more experience building engines than i do. Maybe I should revise my goal.
Still don't need a high RPM horsepower king but would like it to pull HARD to 5500 RPM keeping a stock or near stock--IF POSSIBLE--idle. But if that's not possible, then I can certainly live with a stuttering, racy type idle. Still would like to keep the stock torque converter too--IF POSSIBLE.
I do want to stick with a hydraulic flat tappet though. Open to a custom grind from any builder on here too.

I have a slightly "larger" Comp Extreme 4X4 cam I pulled out of my F-250 a few years ago that's in nice shape. It's the 218/226 @.050, 514/524 lift, 111 LS. But that still seems a bit small to me.

Just want to make sure I get the right cam the first time because once the engine's in the car, I'm not changing anything--I hope. lol.

Thanks again.

1EFF100 wrote:

Lem Evans wrote:That's a nice ride

Thank you, Lem!  

Lem likes his cars like he likes his women..... Long in the front and fat in the back!

1EFF100 wrote:

rmcomprandy wrote:Use a 2 plane intake manifold and the Ford Marine grind camshaft available from many companies.
It was formerly available from Ford Racing as M-6250-A460.

Randy, I checked the specs on that A460 and that seems like a really "small" cam especially for a 545" engine. I'm not doubting your word as you have waaaay more experience building engines than i do. Maybe I should revise my goal.
Still don't need a high RPM horsepower king but would like it to pull HARD to 5500 RPM keeping a stock or near stock--IF POSSIBLE--idle. But if that's not possible, then I can certainly live with a stuttering, racy type idle. Still would like to keep the stock torque converter too--IF POSSIBLE.
I do want to stick with a hydraulic flat tappet though. Open to a custom grind from any builder on here too.

I have a slightly "larger" Comp Extreme 4X4 cam I pulled out of my F-250 a few years ago that's in nice shape. It's the 218/226 @.050, 514/524 lift, 111 LS. But that still seems a bit small to me.

Just want to make sure I get the right cam the first time because once the engine's in the car, I'm not changing anything--I hope. lol.

Thanks again.

It is NOT to small for what you want to do; especially with those heads and a closed exhaust, simply use 1.8/1 rocker arms if you want a bit more lift.  That Comp you already have will perform satisfactorily but, won't RPM as well.
That "Marine" cam has more seat timing and is much easier on the valve train with more durability and have less rocker noise.

If I was going to buy a new "catalog" Comp, (which personally, I would not), for that application it would be #34-244-4.

rmcomprandy wrote:

1EFF100 wrote:

rmcomprandy wrote:Use a 2 plane intake manifold and the Ford Marine grind camshaft available from many companies.
It was formerly available from Ford Racing as M-6250-A460.

Randy, I checked the specs on that A460 and that seems like a really "small" cam especially for a 545" engine. I'm not doubting your word as you have waaaay more experience building engines than i do. Maybe I should revise my goal.
Still don't need a high RPM horsepower king but would like it to pull HARD to 5500 RPM keeping a stock or near stock--IF POSSIBLE--idle. But if that's not possible, then I can certainly live with a stuttering, racy type idle. Still would like to keep the stock torque converter too--IF POSSIBLE.
I do want to stick with a hydraulic flat tappet though. Open to a custom grind from any builder on here too.

I have a slightly "larger" Comp Extreme 4X4 cam I pulled out of my F-250 a few years ago that's in nice shape. It's the 218/226 @.050, 514/524 lift, 111 LS. But that still seems a bit small to me.

Just want to make sure I get the right cam the first time because once the engine's in the car, I'm not changing anything--I hope. lol.

Thanks again.

It is NOT to small for what you want to do; especially with those heads and a closed exhaust, simply use 1.8/1 rocker arms if you want a bit more lift.  That Comp you already have will perform satisfactorily but, won't RPM as well.
That "Marine" cam has more seat timing and is much easier on the valve train with more durability and have less rocker noise.

If I was going to buy a new "catalog" Comp, (which personally, I would not), for that application it would be #34-244-4.

Okay. Not sure what you mean by closed exhaust though.
Haven't been able to locate the discontinued marine cam but Crane has a similar one I think.
I also like the idea of the slower ramps for quieter operation from both the marine and Crane cams. Crane built the performance cams for Ford Racing Performance Parts didn't they?

Thanks again.

1EFF100 wrote:Hey guys!
So, I've been slowly gathering parts to assemble a 545 to install in my '74 Cougar. At present I have a second hand 545 rotating/reciprocating assembly and a set of second hand 95cc Performer RPM heads that have had a bit of port work done by Scott Johnston.
My goal for this engine is low RPM torque--lots of torque. I want--if possible--stock style everyday driveability. I'd like a smooth idle, or close to it. Stock torque convertor. In essence, I'd like it to work just like the 460 in the car now--just a lot more torque.
I really enjoy driving this car. It's so nice to just get in, pump the gas a couple times and have it fire up into a nice choke controlled high idle, wait a minute or two, stab the gas again to drop the idle and drive off.
Would like any input on camshaft, intake and exhaust recommendations for a build such as this. Obviously intake selection will be limited by hood clearance.
I'll document the build here when it gets to that point. As with all of my projects I'm sure it will be a long drawn out process. lol.

Here's the car.





Any information or advise is greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

Bruce

1EFF100 wrote:

rmcomprandy wrote:

1EFF100 wrote:

rmcomprandy wrote:Use a 2 plane intake manifold and the Ford Marine grind camshaft available from many companies.
It was formerly available from Ford Racing as M-6250-A460.

Randy, I checked the specs on that A460 and that seems like a really "small" cam especially for a 545" engine. I'm not doubting your word as you have waaaay more experience building engines than i do. Maybe I should revise my goal.
Still don't need a high RPM horsepower king but would like it to pull HARD to 5500 RPM keeping a stock or near stock--IF POSSIBLE--idle. But if that's not possible, then I can certainly live with a stuttering, racy type idle. Still would like to keep the stock torque converter too--IF POSSIBLE.
I do want to stick with a hydraulic flat tappet though. Open to a custom grind from any builder on here too.

I have a slightly "larger" Comp Extreme 4X4 cam I pulled out of my F-250 a few years ago that's in nice shape. It's the 218/226 @.050, 514/524 lift, 111 LS. But that still seems a bit small to me.

Just want to make sure I get the right cam the first time because once the engine's in the car, I'm not changing anything--I hope. lol.

Thanks again.

It is NOT to small for what you want to do; especially with those heads and a closed exhaust, simply use 1.8/1 rocker arms if you want a bit more lift.  That Comp you already have will perform satisfactorily but, won't RPM as well.
That "Marine" cam has more seat timing and is much easier on the valve train with more durability and have less rocker noise.

If I was going to buy a new "catalog" Comp, (which personally, I would not), for that application it would be #34-244-4.

Okay. Not sure what you mean by closed exhaust though.
Haven't been able to locate the discontinued marine cam but Crane has a similar one I think.
I also like the idea of the slower ramps for quieter operation from both the marine and Crane cams. Crane built the performance cams for Ford Racing Performance Parts didn't they?

Thanks again.

Nice car... You mentioned you were looking for driveability, smooth idle, stock type driveability, and more torque...The 85 extra cubic inches and the dual plane intake are going to make much more torque than the 460 with the camshaft Randy recommended IMO the engine will be too large and less efficient for a bigger camshaft which will be restricted by the driveability requirements, and the dual plane intake, will not idle smoothly, will require a bigger free flowing exhaust, possibly gears and converter too. I am not the camshaft expert but have had very impressive results with upgraded short-blocks/heads with factory type camshafts that on the loud pedal do not resemble a stock type camshaft performance.

1EFF100 wrote:

Okay. Not sure what you mean by closed exhaust though.
Haven't been able to locate the discontinued marine cam but Crane has a similar one I think.
I also like the idea of the slower ramps for quieter operation from both the marine and Crane cams. Crane built the performance cams for Ford Racing Performance Parts didn't they?

Thanks again.

"closed exhaust" = NOT open headers.

ELGIN has that marine, (A460), cam available as number E-1586-S ... some other suppliers do, also.

SOME hydraulic roller profiles were from Crane. Most others were generic.

FalconEh--Thanks for the input.

Randy--I found that Elgin cam during an internet search but the specs are a little different form the A460.
The advertised duration is much more than the A460, as well the exhaust CL is 114 as opposed to the A460s 120.
Was told by another member on here that the 114 would probably be better for a car engine anyhow--is that correct?

I greatly appreciate you taking the time to go over this stuff with me.