Cams and everything you need?

[FalconGuy016]

Cams and everything I need? Who has done cams?

I'm going to buy another 99-04 GT soon and I'm planning on the setup for my budget now. The car will be daily driven, I'm looking for a comfortable car I can cruise around in with enough power for me, but no more. I learned my lesson with trying to get high performance out of car that is also my daily driver. Makes everything so much less fun, so I will be building a car on the side and driving the GT around day to day.

My last GT was a basic bolt on GT, minus LT headers, and just a off the shelf xcal 1 tune. I figured it probably made 280 at the crank at most and it was alright, but I was really looking for about 30-50 more hp. That's what I'm looking for now, maybe a little more, it would be perfect if I had around more or less 300 rwhp.

After searching here I'm pretty set on HiTech stage 2 cams. So far this is my plan:

- LT headers, midpipe, catback
- Throttle body/Plenum (70 or 75?), air intake
- Cams, cam springs
- Tuner and custom tune (which tuner nowadays?)
- 3.73... maybe
- Unrelated: Clutch, Shifter, Subframe, Springs

Am I missing anything here? I just lost my garage and tool access so I might even have to pay for the cam install (!!!!!!!!), what are some ballpark numbers for that?

Let me know if I'm on the right track

 

[Sonic04GT]

Not to highjack the thread, but I'd like to put cams in my '04 one of these days. How do you guys feel about them on a stock motor? My DD as well.

 

[scupking]

I'm going to buy another 99-04 GT soon and I'm planning on the setup for my budget now. The car will be daily driven, I'm looking for a comfortable car I can cruise around in with enough power for me, but no more. I learned my lesson with trying to get high performance out of car that is also my daily driver. Makes everything so much less fun, so I will be building a car on the side and driving the GT around day to day.

My last GT was a basic bolt on GT, minus LT headers, and just a off the shelf xcal 1 tune. I figured it probably made 280 at the crank at most and it was alright, but I was really looking for about 30-50 more hp. That's what I'm looking for now, maybe a little more, it would be perfect if I had around more or less 300 rwhp.

After searching here I'm pretty set on HiTech stage 2 cams. So far this is my plan:

- LT headers, midpipe, catback
- Throttle body/Plenum (70 or 75?), air intake
- Cams, cam springs
- Tuner and custom tune (which tuner nowadays?)
- 3.73... maybe
- Unrelated: Clutch, Shifter, Subframe, Springs

Am I missing anything here? I just lost my garage and tool access so I might even have to pay for the cam install (!!!!!!!!), what are some ballpark numbers for that?

Let me know if I'm on the right track

I would go with the BBK 78mm tb, get some steeda U/D pullies, aluminum drive shaft and 93 oct tune. You will see 300+ rwhp with the hitech stage IIs and all the mods both you and I have listed. I would be at 300+rwhp but my automatic sucks up more hp then the manuals. I think if I went with an O/R mid pipe I would be very close to the 300 mark right now. I'm still happy with my 293rwhp because that was on a mustang dyno and they put out low numbers.

Not to highjack the thread, but I'd like to put cams in my '04 one of these days. How do you guys feel about them on a stock motor? My DD as well.

No problem, my car drives just as good if not better with the HiTech stage IIs and all my mods then it did stock.

 

[FalconGuy016]

I would go with the BBK 78mm tb, get some steeda U/D pullies, aluminum drive shaft and 93 oct tune. You will see 300+ rwhp with the hitech stage IIs and all the mods both you and I have listed. I would be at 300+rwhp but my automatic sucks up more hp then the manuals. I think if I went with an O/R mid pipe I would be very close to the 300 mark right now. I'm still happy with my 293rwhp because that was on a mustang dyno and they put out low numbers.




No problem, my car drives just as good if not better with the HiTech stage IIs and all my mods then it did stock.

Thanks, that's reassuring. I was thinking about skipping out on the LT's since I don't have a garage anymore, is this a bad idea with these cams? I know I will lose hp from the mark I set, but do the cams take advantage of the LT's or is it the same kind of loss if I had stock cams?

 

[32ValveRom]

Looks like a pretty good list. But I think the O/R LTs is an important mod while you're replacing the whole exhaust. So if you don't have the garage I've heard of shops charging an arm and both legs for a header install.

Btw, I like your avatar

 

[scupking]

Thanks, that's reassuring. I was thinking about skipping out on the LT's since I don't have a garage anymore, is this a bad idea with these cams? I know I will lose hp from the mark I set, but do the cams take advantage of the LT's or is it the same kind of loss if I had stock cams?

With the stock headers and all the other mods I made 280rwhp.

 

[crazystang25]

ya i talked to the guy at hitech and he said that the long tubes really help the cams, if not it could really hinder the setup

 

[scupking]

ya i talked to the guy at hitech and he said that the long tubes really help the cams, if not it could really hinder the setup

It won't hinder the setup that much. I went from 280rwhp with stock headers to 293rwhp with LT headers (all other mods the same). I think he could see around 290rwhp with stock headers, O/R X pipe and a good 93 oct dyno tune.

 

[crazystang25]

It won't hinder the setup that much. I went from 280rwhp with stock headers to 293rwhp with LT headers (all other mods the same). I think he could see around 290rwhp with stock headers, O/R X pipe and a good 93 oct dyno tune.

were they stock that you switched from, also was your x or h-pipe catted or not.

 

[FalconGuy016]

It won't hinder the setup that much. I went from 280rwhp with stock headers to 293rwhp with LT headers (all other mods the same). I think he could see around 290rwhp with stock headers, O/R X pipe and a good 93 oct dyno tune.

Wow, that is exactly what I needed, someone who actually dynoed the difference. Thanks so much

 

[scupking]

were they stock that you switched from, also was your x or h-pipe catted or not.

I switched from the stock headers and a MRT catted H pipe to Mac LT headers and a VRS Catted X pipe. That was the only difference between the 2 dynos. Both times I went to the dyno the temp outside was around 70 degrees with humidity around 100%.

 

[crazystang25]

I switched from the stock headers and a MRT catted H pipe to Mac LT headers and a VRS Catted X pipe. That was the only difference between the 2 dynos. Both times I went to the dyno the temp outside was around 70 degrees with humidity around 100%.

ya the cats were what kept you from making over 300 rwhp with the hitechs, but not bad numbers for a catted setup. also did you degree the cams.

 

[scupking]

ya the cats were what kept you from making over 300 rwhp with the hitechs, but not bad numbers for a catted setup. also did you degree the cams.

That I'm not sure, seeing as I didn't install the cams. I want to say my builder did. I think down the road I might go with a VRS O/R X pipe to see if I can hit 300rwhp.

 

[crazystang25]

That I'm not sure, seeing as I didn't install the cams. I want to say my builder did. I think down the road I might go with a VRS O/R X pipe to see if I can hit 300rwhp.

ya i would def check and see if they were, i would hope that a reputable builder would do that but you never know. if not you could prolly gain enough to hit the 300 rwhp mark.