3v cam specs suck. embarassingly small

[billfisher]

176/199@50 with .439 Int/ .436Exh


no wonder the truck guys are so pissed at the 5.4 3v.

that is way too small for the cubes. this explains why they retard the cams and it does little good. i wondered why 5.4 and 4.6 3v's make the same power. the heads really aren't restricted like 2v so 5.4's are free to make power. why is for dropping the ball again. give it 10 degrees and pow (power).

i feel like 2v before ANYTHING was available. same heads as 4.6, so all those posts i saw saying 5.4 3v valves break above 5200 are crap. by the way, i still haven't been able to find the rev limits of 5.4.


here is maybe my second or third tech question. well? searched a gazzillion threads on six forums.

 

[hotmustang331]

Whats the trucks rev limit? Im going to say you should limit it to 6K.

 

[hotmustang331]

Remember the 5.4 DOHC cobras turned like 6800RPMs...not sure about how strong the insides are, but still they are both 5.4s.

 

[billfisher]

they had forged rods. i don't yet. rev limiter set at 5000 rpm's for trucks. most of them reset it at 5200. still doesn't help me.

 

[Gearbanger 101]

I think the point of the 3V truck motors was to utilize them to make as much bottom end torque as possible. They're said to see peek torque at nearly off idle....which is what you need to get these big trucks moving.

 

[billfisher]

directly off idle.


i really need the rev limits of 5.4 rods. before i blow it up.

 

[300bhp/ton]

any idea's what to do about the cam? Is there anywhere you can get a custom grind to your own spec?

As for rev limits. I can't beleive the internals would not be ok for 5500-6000rpm (where does a 4.6 2v red line?).

I would guess they only have a low red line as stock because of the cam and setup, it must make it's PEAK numbers well down the rev range, so there would be no need rev it high as the power would only be dropping off.

This might be a dumb question. But is the 5.4 you are using the same bore/stroke as the DOHC 5.4 from the GT?

 

[hognutz]

yeah I was really dissapointed in the power of the 3v in the truck. I bought a new truck a year ago and it was amazing how much more pickup the 1/2 ton hemi had over the ford. It was night and day. even the chevy with less advertised power seeme to go as good if not better than the ford. I really like the looks of the 04 I just new once I was up on 37's the power would blow.

have not drove a 05 gt yet but I know I was not overly impressed with the 1/4 mile times stock for the advertised power. with that kind of power it seems like with the propper setup low 13's should be attainable.

 

[Gearbanger 101]

yeah I was really dissapointed in the power of the 3v in the truck. I bought a new truck a year ago and it was amazing how much more pickup the 1/2 ton hemi had over the ford. It was night and day. even the chevy with less advertised power seeme to go as good if not better than the ford. I really like the looks of the 04 I just new once I was up on 37's the power would blow.

Keep in mind, that the Hemi makes another 45hp over the Ford and both the Dodge and GM are lighter trucks by comparison.....especially the GM. The Ford is just too much truck and even makes 300hp seem tame.

 

[hognutz]

Keep in mind, that the Hemi makes another 45hp over the Ford and both the Dodge and GM are lighter trucks by comparison.....especially the GM. The Ford is just too much truck and even makes 300hp seem tame.

ohh I know. I am just saying that is there competion and I could not rationalize buying it and it was mainly based on lack of power. liked the styling of the truck just needed more get up and go. I would not have bought the chevy either. if you like power the dodge just rapes them both. I could not belive the difference. I was supised that they would let dodge have that kind of power advantage over them.

 

[billfisher]

it makes ok power, that isn;t the issue. they have loads of power for the cam profile. 300 hp is good for a small cam. they really goofed leaving that much power on the table. 3v makes power as a byproduct of cubes.


300... this is not a 4.6. but thanks for the "help".

 

[Mustangl3]

if the 5.4 doesnt have enough power then get the V10

 

[billfisher]

it has enough. more than enough. i was just suprised at the spec. it explains the narrow powerband. it still makes over 300. that's not a bad place to start.

if ford had the sense to put a little bit of duration, then phasing the cams for 5.4 3v would yield a lot more.


which leads to a new thread for tonight. phase 2 info 5.4 3v. the saga continues.

 

[300bhp/ton]

300... this is not a 4.6. but thanks for the "help".

meaning??

 

[Gearbanger 101]

they really goofed leaving that much power on the table.

Perhaps not. Maybe this was Fords intention all along. This way, they get to tack on another 30-50hp to the 5.4L in the next couple of years and rehash the engine all over again. That is after all, what they did with the earlier 4.6L and 5.4L engines, after they converted them to PI specs in 99.

 

[billfisher]

i agree. imagine if it had the same cam specs as LS. and LS had specs like these.

i am sure the LT-1 would have more power than an LS with a weak cam. time is coming soon to race it. i may dyno it, but speed at the track is what i care about. slick tires and stock gears. i want to caompare it to LS when cams are finally released for it. after looking at common LS cam specs, i am going with a similar profile to theirs, just tighter lobe centerline. VCT will make up for low end.