2.3 cam id

[ZEN50]

Have an 86 Turbo coupe auto and am trying to identify the cam that is in it. What kind of markings should there be on the cam and where?

The car has a lot of unknowns to me and the previous seller since it was his dad's car that passed away. The car has an adjustable boost valve and gauge, FMS front mount intercooler, adjustable cam sprocket, FMS 140 speedo. The cam appears to be at 8 degrees advanced according to a local shop that it's currently at.

Bought the car in barely running condition and the shop it's at has got it running but currently has no power up to 3000 rpm.


Finally able to attach pics...........

[gr79]

When i rebuilt my 79 engine, installed a Ford Motorsports M-6250-A231 cam.
Supposedly is the same cam as late SVO/Tbird turbo engines used.
Came in a cardboard tube like cams do.
Until boost kicks on, the engine is basically a regular 2.3.
On a stock 2.3, 8° cam advance is a lot. Have mine straight up maybe 1° adv due to index mark skew.
The only paint mark id is at the middle of cam. Looks like light green.

If down on power, chk compression, timing, fuel supply, vac lines etc. Added boost beyond factory setting can cause problems.
Tune up with Motorcraft parts dist cap, correct heat range plugs, plug wires, Motorcraft filters.

[ZEN50]

On a Motorsports cam would there be any ID markings on the end of the cam (pointing @ firewall)?

I agree that 8 degree advanced seems like a lot?

Is base timing set @ 10 degree on the turbo 2.3? Should I try advancing the timing?

[gr79]

Cannot recall any markings on ends of cam. Could be some.
I set timing to what the particular engine likes. Mine is around 12-14-16. Notes say 16.
Hardly runs at stock factory setting of 6?.
Timing is set at max with no pinging on regular 87. Timing light used to check not set.
Timed it by driving around town various conditions over few weeks. Roadside adjustments.
Have not touched dist and timing since 2000.
New timing belt 2019. The yellow marks i added to index the sprockets were still readable.
Last compression ck was 150-165 cold. 165k miles. good power, 20+ mpg.
Running stock AWSF 32. Vac reading at idle warm engine 1000 rpm is steady 18".
Steady cruise on eway or road vac is 10"+.

[ZEN50]

Pics of said cam attached above .........

[Chuck W]

Googling "ford 2.3 111 cam" comes up with THIS

Lunati cam. 274 duration with 111 LSA.

There is also an Engle 111 cam, but the duration and LSA #'s do not match that Lunati one.

[Chuck W]

According to the Lunati site

"Hydraulic Flat Tappet Cam. Excellent for factory replacement turbo motors. Requires longer than stock valves. Good idle. ;Advertised Duration (Int/Exh): 274/274 ;Duration @ .050 (Int/Exh): 227/227 ;Gross Valve Lift (Int/Exh): .500/.500 ;LSA/ICL: 111/110 ;Valve Lash (Int/Exh): Hyd/Hyd ;RPM Range: 2000-4500 ;Includes: Cams Only"

[ZEN50]

Without knowing or understanding all the cam specs how does it compare to a stock cam? This thing is on the "lumpy" sounding side at idle.

[gr79]

http://www.merkurencyclopedia.com/Motor/camshaft.html

[Chuck W]

Without knowing or understanding all the cam specs how does it compare to a stock cam? This thing is on the "lumpy" sounding side at idle.

Dunno. Their blurb says "good idle".

On the site gr79 linked, it looks like the specs call it out as the "Lunati 32903" cam on the chart. No notes, however.

[ZEN50]

The mysteries of this turbo coupe continue.......... I did contact Lunati to see if they can verify it's their cam.

[gr79]

Mine with a carb and 231 cam is pretty lumpy warming up in cold weather cold start.
Crank total timing is advanced to what engine likes without ping with 87 ron, 3.45 gear
On mostly flat Michigan roads, holds speed fine on highway grades and overpasses in 5th at 50-70.
Fuel mileage has averaged 20 mpg or more driving easy, stop and go, or late for work.

[ZEN50]

Semi update..... Found a local semi retired mechanic to look at it, he is familiar with turbo cars & owns an 85 TC.
Anyway he adjusted the cam timing from 8 advanced to I think 4+, ignition timing from 20 to 10. Still lacks power down low, is down on vacuum and still running a bit rich. He thinks the cam may be too big and improper torque convertor??? Still diagnosing ......

[Corrugated]

Ignition timing change from 20 to 10 will be much more correct (confirm the SPOUT connector is plugged back in)...try running the cam timing at 0 deg..?

[ZEN50]

So, he ended replacing air meter (VAM) with a new spare one I had, and it fixed the running rich issue, seems to run pretty normal now.