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Cam with stock heads

  • Thread starter Thread starter trendkilllx
  • Start date Start date Jan 28, 2004
T

trendkilllx

New Member
Aug 28, 2003
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Las Vegas
Jan 28, 2004
#1
  • Jan 28, 2004
  • #1
Just wondering if it's ok to put a cam in a motor with stock heads and springs. I was thinking of getting an intake and maybe the trickflow stage 1 cam. How will this work.
 
8

87gtconv

ragtopman
Founding Member
Feb 11, 1999
2,595
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0
Southern Calif
Jan 28, 2004
#2
  • Jan 28, 2004
  • #2
As long as you understand the stock cam is pretty much optimal for a stock engine is is OK! You wont get a lot of bang for your buck for sure!! On the other side you will be preped for the new heads!! You are probably looking at best about 25 to 35 hp on the ground from new intake, new cam, and bigger TB and spacer!
 
1

1bad92lx

New Member
Mar 31, 2003
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Close to lynchburg, VA
Jan 28, 2004
#3
  • Jan 28, 2004
  • #3
Actually, I picked up quite a bit with using a aftermarket cam with stock heads. I went from having a mid 13 second car to a high 12 second car. That is with a custom cam though, optimized for my application. That was with the old motor, but I've still got the cam. My cam specs were real close to the trick flow stage I cam actually.
 

90mustangGT

I felt sorry for girls because
Founding Member
Jan 15, 2002
2,773
17
89
Dallas, GA
Jan 28, 2004
#4
  • Jan 28, 2004
  • #4
Stock valve springs don't handle lift over .500 very well, upgrade them.

A mild cam on stock heads will be good, but you can easily go too agressive. Mainly what a cam does is move the powerband upwards. If you get a cam which makes it's power above where the heads can flow, you'll loose power. You might gain a few horses, but loose too much torque.
 
P

proxses

Founding Member
Dec 12, 2000
620
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Dayton, Oh
Jan 28, 2004
#5
  • Jan 28, 2004
  • #5
Trickflow has a spring upgrade for stock heads. Check Summit.
And an intake will help a bit with power dropoff after 5000rpm's.
 

SVT_97Cobra

New Member
Jul 2, 2002
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PORTLAND TEXAS. 7 miles North of Corpus Christi
Jan 29, 2004
#6
  • Jan 29, 2004
  • #6
I had a F cam in my 89 with stock heads for a few months before I upgraded my heads. Worked fine but I gained nothing on power. Sounded good though. What a cam over .500 lift does is wear your springs out fast.
 

Lab Rat

Founding Member
Oct 25, 2002
308
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17
Saxonburg, PA
Jan 29, 2004
#7
  • Jan 29, 2004
  • #7
If you're going to go to the trouble of doing a cam but are on a tight budget and don't want to invest in new heads, I'd say at least take your stock E7TE's off and port 'em. You'll get better flow and more power than if you leave them stock. You might also consider upgrading the springs while you're at it. That's an inexpensive way to go and believe me, it works.

Matt
 

SVT_97Cobra

New Member
Jul 2, 2002
347
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0
PORTLAND TEXAS. 7 miles North of Corpus Christi
Jan 29, 2004
#8
  • Jan 29, 2004
  • #8
I ported my E7's and got a ton of power. My buddie got some AFR 165's with basically the same mod's and mine was still faster. Click on "My 1st Stang" below and check it out. On page 2 shows my head work. I put in about 12 more hours after I took those pictures.
 

BlackFox5.0

Founding Member
Aug 7, 2000
3,514
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0
Massachusetts
Jan 29, 2004
#9
  • Jan 29, 2004
  • #9
SVT_97Cobra said:
I ported my E7's and got a ton of power. My buddie got some AFR 165's with basically the same mod's and mine was still faster. Click on "My 1st Stang" below and check it out. On page 2 shows my head work. I put in about 12 more hours after I took those pictures.
Click to expand...


I got the same results with my ported stock heads. I also put in a cam with .514" lift, and I think 212 duration. It's a nice little cam, gives me a ton of low end, my top end it pretty much dead though, could be fuel starvation I got an AFPR coming in the mail to replace my stock one, which is leaking from the seam, so we will see what happens if I crank up the pressure

Porting the heads was worth all the time I put into them.
 

Xtreme Limits

Founding Member
Nov 30, 2001
375
0
16
Hudson, Florida
Jan 29, 2004
#10
  • Jan 29, 2004
  • #10
stock heads flow 150-160cfm, adding a cam on a stock motor isnt the best thing too do. No flow No go , for the price of a cam, springs retaniers, keepers, your better off getting your heads ported or new heads then cam it
 
T

trendkilllx

New Member
Aug 28, 2003
79
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0
Las Vegas
Jan 29, 2004
#11
  • Jan 29, 2004
  • #11
Thanks for the info. I think I may just wait until I can afford new heads.
 

BlackFox5.0

Founding Member
Aug 7, 2000
3,514
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0
Massachusetts
Jan 29, 2004
#12
  • Jan 29, 2004
  • #12
Good idea
 
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