Ford Small Block V8 (260 / 289 / 302 ) SMALL BLOCK FIRING ORDER
 
🔥 Purpose & Identity
When it’s time to make your Ford small block sound mean, hit harder, and pull longer — the Red Line Vortex 270 H.O. is your answer.
This grind was built for serious street cars, high-compression 302s, and lightweight -powered builds that live for that raw, high-energy Red Line sound.
It hits with a crisp idle lope, pulls hard through the midrange, and refuses to flatten out until the top of the tach. This is the “weekend warrior” cam for drivers who want power, sound, and street manners — in that order.
 
⚙️ Camshaft Specifications
Duration @ .050" – 224° / 224°
Advertised Duration – 270° / 270°
Valve Lift – .470" / .470" (≈ .500" with 1.6 rockers)
Lobe Separation Angle (LSA): 110°, 112°, 114°
Standard LSA: 112° (installed 4° advanced → 108° ICL)
RPM Range: 2,000 – 5,800 rpm
Idle Character: Noticeable, choppy idle with sharp throttle response
 
📊 Valve Timing Events @ .050" (Cam Installed 4° Advanced)
LSA 110° (ICL 106° / ECL 114°)
Intake Opens 5° BTDC • Intake Closes 39° ABDC • Exhaust Opens 47° BBDC • Exhaust Closes 3° ATDC • Overlap ≈ 8°
 
LSA 112° (ICL 108° / ECL 116°) (Standard)
Intake Opens 3° BTDC • Intake Closes 41° ABDC • Exhaust Opens 49° BBDC • Exhaust Closes 1° ATDC • Overlap ≈ 4°
 
LSA 114° (ICL 110° / ECL 118°)
Intake Opens 1° BTDC • Intake Closes 43° ABDC • Exhaust Opens 51° BBDC • Exhaust Closes 1° BTDC • Overlap ≈ 0°
 
⚖️ LSA Power & Idle Characteristics
110° LSA: Tight and aggressive. Sharper throttle, deeper idle chop, and harder torque hit off idle. Ideal for hot street/strip builds that crave attitude.
112° LSA (Standard): Balanced torque and vacuum. Clean idle lope with crisp power delivery — the best mix of sound and drivability for 302–351 builds.
114° LSA: Smoothest idle, widest torque curve, and strongest vacuum. Excellent for EFI, power brakes, and heavier cars that still want serious power.
 
🏁 Performance Behavior
The 270 H.O. transforms a mild small block into a serious street weapon. Expect a deep, rhythmic idle, lightning-fast throttle response, and a broad, hammering torque curve that stretches past 5,800 rpm.
It thrives on compression, responds beautifully to headers, and rewards the right gearing with ferocious midrange acceleration.
 
🎯 Recommended Applications & Build Setup
Compression Ratio: 9.5:1 – 10.5:1
Induction: Dual-plane or air-gap intake; 650–800 CFM carb or EFI
Exhaust: Long-tube headers or 1 ⅝–1 ¾” shorty headers with free-flowing duals
Gearing: 3.25 – 4.10 rear gears
Converter / Clutch:
Automatic: 2,600 – 3,000 rpm stall converter
Manual: Street/strip clutch rated ≥ 550 lb-ft torque
🔧 Valvetrain & Component Recommendations
Valve Springs: COMP 924-16 or equivalent dual spring
Seat Pressure ≈ 125 lb @ 1.900"
Open Pressure ≈ 340 lb @ .500"
Coil Bind Height ≈ 1.090" (maintain ≥ .060" clearance)
Retainers & Locks: COMP 742-16 retainers + 611-16 locks
Pushrods: 5/16" or 3/8" hardened chromoly; verify length and preload
Lifters: Premium hydraulic flat tappet lifter set
Rocker Arms: 1.6:1 roller rockers recommended
Valve Seals: Positive Viton-style
Notes: Verify spring pressures, coil-bind clearance, and retainer-to-rocker clearance
 
🧠 Installation & Break-In Notes
Always use new lifters. Degree cam to verify 4° advance. Use high-ZDDP break-in oil and run engine 2,000–2,500 rpm for 20–30 minutes. Check pushrod geometry and spring pressure after break-in. Maintain at least .060" coil clearance.
 
💡 Why Choose the 270 H.O.
The Vortex 270 H.O. is for builders who want that unmistakable Red Line tone — a deep, confident idle that shakes the car at a stoplight, paired with real-world power that dominates from 2,000–6,000 rpm. It’s the cam that turns a strong small block into a torque-breathing, tire-shredding statement piece.
 
🏆 The Red Line Cams Advantage
Red Line Cams brings over 35 years of real-world camshaft and engine design experience. Every camshaft is crafted from OEM-quality cam cores, precision-ground and individually inspected to deliver unmatched accuracy, repeatability, and power — built by engine people, for engine people.