What lobe separation angle should I go for, when cam shopping?
Building a '79 302, AFR165 heads, and using Air Conditioning.
Heard some talk about too low an LSA (110 or less) not being friendly with A/C. Especially @ Idle/ off-idle situations. And more separation yet could make a smoother running engine.
Not after a lopey idle, just good performance and comfort too!
I'm in mid 50s, don't want the hassle of shutting off AC at every stoplight. Just want a hard running daily driver with AC and Tunes...and ballsy performance lol
Was thinking too much duration could cause problems also.

 

...RPM range I'm looking for is approx. 1200-5500
or 1500-5800, something like that.

98 Ranger, 302, C4 trans, 3.31 rear gears

 

Cams main benefit is opening valves longer to get more air:fuel mix in, I know DUH
But the Lobe separation number is what you want to look at, and what causes the lope at idle that you are concerned with

Stock cam is about 118 lobe separation, the lower this number the better power you will get and the more loping idle you will get, lol
116-114 is OK, 112 is probably OK but getting close to a bit of a lope, but not bad, AC should be fine

Pay attention to the rockers you will use, 1.6 or 1.7, you can get piston strikes if you use 1.7 rockers with some cams

 

Sounds good...Glad you mentioned 1.7 rockers, the build I was following uses them. I thought it sounded risky.

 

I'm using an Anderson n412 in mine..daily driver with ac and a 5 speed ..
Anderson Ford said it would be perfect for a daily.
It will be running soon