Will the FMS Z cam work in a stock motor?
 

Will the FMS Z cam work in a stock '89 5.0 motor?

FMS-M-6250-Z303

no the x and z cam require that the pistons are notched for proper piston to vavle clearence

Why in the world would you want a cam, with specs like that, in a stock engine?????????

Why would you use nine question marks?

It would be more interesting to know why you would want a Z cam in a stock engine.

I am planning on building a factory five roadster (kit car). It uses a 5 liter motor. I found an 89 302 that is stock. I was hoping to to give it a little extra kick by adding a cam. It seems to be the best bang for the buck and fairly easy to install as I will already have the motor out. Since I do not have a lot of knowledge about these things, I thought that I would ask people on the forum. I asked about this cam because I found someone who was selling one for $100.

I am going to go to my local speed shop and see what they reccomend.

I know to replace the timing chain, lifters and use a LOT of lube.
I am trying to stay on a budget and my mechanical knowledge is limited. Knowing that, do you have any other suggestions?

I wouldn't worry about a cam at this point. I would opt for underdrive pulleys, flowmaster exhaust and a set of 3:73 gears. If your budget permits, I would find a set of GT-40P heads in the junkyards and buy aftermarket upper and lower intakes....like the cobra.
These are just some ideas you could do. That Z cam would have way too much lift and duration for what you want to do.

I've got a rear out of a '98 Mustang Cobra with 3.27 gears, I ordered the optional 4 into 4 headers and it comes with a modified intake. So I think the (external) breathing and gears are covered. So at this point, I think the cam & lifters for $350 would compliment this setup nicely. As opposed to nearly $2000 for the heads and intake. Wouldn't you agree or no? My budget is shrinking quickly and I just don't have the extra $2000. Not to mention, (with either setup) I need new gaskets, water pump, timing chain, etc.

I am definitely gonna get the underdrive pulleys too.

Hmmm...most people will tell you that the Ford heads are the most restrictive part of their engines..as far as 5.0's go.
If you're set on a cam and are on a budget, I would maybe look at the "E" cam. If you don't want to worry about piston/valve problems then try and stay under .500 lift.
Competition Cams make some nice grinds in their XE series cams. I have a flat tappet grind from them and I love it!
I can tell you now that the Z cam is too much cam for your application right now.
Do you have a stick or automatic because that plays a part in cam selection.

id go no bigger than the b303

It's gonna be a 5 speed.

The B cam is more radical than the E cam. I wasn't sure if you thought the E cam was more radical than the B or what to think so I just wanted to clear that up to avoid confusion.

BTW, that kit car is probably going to be much lighter than a production mustang so even the stock 225hp rating in that light body is going to feel like you have about 350hp

stock piston lift
 

If you have a stock motor the best cam for price is E303 and you will have no problems whatsoever with piston to valve clearence. However a X303 will work fine also but just to large for a stock heads and intake it will kill all the
torque, but a stock engine can handle over 540 lift due to the small 178 and 145 valves in the stock heads also an aftermarket set of heads with 194 valves can handle 530 to 535 lift depending on the durations of the cam,and
a 202 valve head is limited to 500 or 510 lift range also depending on the duration of the cam. The lift really isnt the only detemining factor the duration affects it just as much however most of the time the lift gets blamed for the valve to piston collision.