i have a 351C with eidlebrock aluminum intake, 4 barrel carb, and 2V heads. I’m trying to decide between comps XE 262H or the 268H. Does anyone have an opinion on either one of these?
What are your expectations? Intended use?
The 268 has been around for a long time. It has been a good peppy street cam. The XE262 looks pretty good. Newer design, faster lobe ramps. The result will probably be very close in performance. Lots of people like a dual pattern cam that favors more exhaust duration. However, back when I used to hang around a performance machine shop I was asking about Cleveland 2v heads and he said the exhaust port is more efficient in relation to the intake. To me it sounds as if the 2v heads don’t need extra duration on the exhaust. A single pattern cam may be more appropriate. I’d go with the 268.
Realisticially, you can flip a coin and end up with performance that is the same with either cam. They are pretty close in numbers.
Ooh!, Ooh! I have a XE262H for sale in gently used condition (less than 4K miles), barely broken in. Went to the XE274 to lower the dynamic compression ratio on my 302C Australian headed 357C (~10.2:1 compression).
Also have a Crane 133042 cam and lifter kit BNIB, never used.
PM me if you have interest.
I’m just trying to wake it up a little. It is my every day driver so I just want something a little more fun to drive with a nice sound and faster acceleration.
Go with the 262. Make sure you change the springs. If the valves are the stock parts, you want to change those too.
Everything is stock except the intake and carb. The engine only has 67,000 miles on it. Comp has a full package that replaces everything but it costs $300 more then just the cam itself so I don’t want to get it if I don’t have to.
Yeah, I know the expense is more, but the stock valvetrain is a timebomb. The original valves are two piece friction welded parts that tend to break with no warning. And the stock valve keepers suck too.
Nearly everyone I know who has some long experience with Clevelands, including me, has lost an engine to stock valves. Mine broke and grenaded the block when I was loping along at 45 mph at about 1700 rpm while pondering the infinite smallness of my existence.
My original engine made over 100k with stock valves and a lot of abuse.
http://raceabilene.com/kelly/hotrod/wreck.html
This guy has a lot of info and posts a lot on the Cleveland forum. He’s also been running Clevelands for years.
It’s just one of those things. But I’m not your mother. You can obviously do whatever you like. However, if you have plans of reselling after you play with it, you might consider that the factory numbered block (if you have the factory block) will be garbage if it does swallow a valve. This can lower resale value somewhat now that Clevelands are getting scarce.
With stock valve springs, and a new higher lift cam, it’s possible it will float much more quickly. And that can lead to piston/valve contact, which will be bad no matter what valve you have.
Or, you can just swap the cam and hope for the best.
I’m not trying to tell you what to do. Just trying to help you be aware of the issues around a swap and to be conscious of the potential consequences.
How is the performance of the XE 262H?
Great, actually. Has a nice sound, works well through mid range and pulls pretty hard til your springs give out around 5000 or so.
With replacement springs they should last in the upper 5000 rpms right?
Yeah, with matched springs it should pull through 5500 or so. That’s about the limit of the factory cast pistons and rods, though.
It’ll wake it up. It’ll be way more fun to drive.
Alright thanks for the info.
I really disliked the 268Comp…replaced with the equivalent of this http://www.cranecams.com/230-233.pdf (H-272-2). Much more mid-range torque.
Consider a set of headers while you’re at it.
Which BTW, is nearly the same as the Crane 133042 cam and lifter kit BNIB I was offering!
^ Yep.
Bob’s speed shop has some good deals. 
What do you guys think of the magnum 270H?