Cam's for a 4.6 Truck, what size?

Bonk · Feb 22, 2007

I sold my stang for a '05 F150 Reg.Cab with the 4.6, since the power is realy crapy with all the exrta weight of the 4x4 i'm lookin to add some oumph to it. Its been awhile since i read over the cams and how they affect diffrently from one style to another. I don't do high mph, so all i need is it to have some pick up and go when standing still.....but which one?

To accomidate the cams, i'm looking at the patriot performance stage 2 heads.

So whats your take on it.

P.S. i should add that i keep the truck under 2500 rpm's.

Mel96GT · Feb 23, 2007

The only thing that will help that 4.6 in that truck is probably a supecharger. That F-150 is HEAVY. I know, I have a 97 F-150 4X4, short cab, short bed and it would need huge mods to make a performance difference. Aftermarket cams will kill your low-end unless you re-gear your differentials. Also, FWIW, your intake manifold is designed for low-end torque but most after-market 4.6 cams and heads are designed for higher-rpms.

Gearbanger 101 · Feb 24, 2007

Agreed. Don't waste your time and money farting around with little bolt on on that thing. The truck is a pig and the stock cams in it are probably the best you're going to get for off idle torque and drivability. I'd recommend some sort of Positive displacement supercharger like one of the roots or a twin screw based kits and call it a day. The gains are going to be a lot more satisfying and considering what it costs to do cams in a 3V at this point, your bang for the buck is going to be much, much higher.

If you insist on staying N/A, you could add a set of underdrive pulleys, pick yourself up an XCal tuner and maybe some sort of high flow air intake to the mix, but don't count on the power difference being all that great. Any slight power gains you might see is still going to be offset by that things masive weight.

Serves you right for picking the 4.6L over the 5.4L

Bonk · Feb 25, 2007

So if the cam's wont realy help, since mine are already built for torque. How do you think the patriot heads Stage/2 will work?

I like the intake compared to the 98GT i had, so i know its able to handle some serious power. Since i seen this style of 4.6 intake i wonder why mustangs have'nt tried it yet....might need a 3inch cowl hood though.....

anyhow, the 4.6 is awesome to me, i always find myself ahead of traffic without realy trying to go over 3k rpm's. But the extra hp will be good when i add the bigger tires with 18's or 20's, have'nt decided which size yet .....leaning towards 18.

Not realy sure i want to be the first with a supercharger on a F150 4.6, since they don't come out with them yet for a pick up.....fabricating cost money that i'd rather save....but i know the heads will work so it's an option that im curious about.

Gearbanger 101 · Feb 25, 2007

Bonk said:
So if the cam's wont realy help, since mine are already built for torque. How do you think the patriot heads Stage/2 will work? .

Well, considering your '05 F150 is running a 3-valve 4.6L and the Partiot Stage II heads are 2-Valve specific, my guess is they wouldn't work too well.

Bonk said:
I like the intake compared to the 98GT i had, so i know its able to handle some serious power. Since i seen this style of 4.6 intake i wonder why mustangs have'nt tried it yet....might need a 3inch cowl hood though.....

anyhow, the 4.6 is awesome to me, i always find myself ahead of traffic without realy trying to go over 3k rpm's. But the extra hp will be good when i add the bigger tires with 18's or 20's, have'nt decided which size yet .....leaning towards 18.

Not realy sure i want to be the first with a supercharger on a F150 4.6, since they don't come out with them yet for a pick up.....fabricating cost money that i'd rather save....but i know the heads will work so it's an option that im curious about.

Other than the fact that this intake is again 3-valve specific, hood clearance would again be an issue. Not only that, but long runner intake like you find on a truck are great for making torque, but don't do well at higher RPM.

As far as supercharging goes.....it might take a little custom fabricating as far as accesory brackets goes, but I doubt addapting one of the '05-up Mustang 3-valve kits would be all that difficult. You'll have to surf one of the F-150 forums to find out for sure.

Bonk · Feb 25, 2007

Gearbanger 101 said:
Well, considering your '05 F150 is running a 3-valve 4.6L

Since you don't know let me be the first to tell you, that the 4.6 F150 is still a 2v....common mistake since i thought the same thing when i bought it new and expected it to be 3v.

the fact that they have'nt come out with a specific supercharger for this truck on the F150 with 4.6 2v is why i don't realy want to be the first to try it with a mustang style.

For the most part, the F150 forum crowd does'nt realy post many tech on the 4.6.....thats why i knew i would find expert help here . I feel the heads would work wonders but i still ask the people that would know the answere's after doing the real thing.:SNSign: Gears are good but i do alot of highway so its not that good for gas. I have exhaust on order, first thing i've done so far.....at 34k miles....savin money for the real deal i like to think

I think i read somewhere that the patriot heads where pickup heads and it meant that you had to use higher cam covers.......it's been awhile so i'm not sure...thats why i thought that this would be a straight forward install.

MrGame · Feb 25, 2007

Vortech makes a supercharger for the 5.4L F150 i dont know about the 4.6.

LaserRed01GT · Feb 25, 2007

If you are looking for low end grunt, a set of custom ground cams can really wake up your truck. You will want a slightly larger split on the exhaust, a wide LSA (116+), and a bunch of lift. I wouldn't go much more than 224 @ .050" on the intake.

Also ask the grinder about grinding in some advance. This will deliver more power at lower RPM's since you said you don't get up in the RPM's much.

Bonk · Feb 25, 2007

I've been wishin for somethin to come out but it's been a slow process with the 4.6 in my truck....they finally just came out with headers, JBA has shorties but i'd rather go with long tubes....and the only place that makes longtubes is pacesetter i just can't see wasting money on a part that's gonna just rust off.

I'm debating about buyin a 5.0 'vert and parking the truck for awhile, it just is'nt fun drivin a 4x4 on the road every day....

Gearbanger 101 · Feb 25, 2007

Bonk said:
Since you don't know let me be the first to tell you, that the 4.6 F150 is still a 2v....common mistake since i thought the same thing when i bought it new and expected it to be 3v.

the fact that they have'nt come out with a specific supercharger for this truck on the F150 with 4.6 2v is why i don't realy want to be the first to try it with a mustang style.

Ahhh, well in that case....you're not looking hard enough for a supercharger. Assuming the '05 4.6L 2V is set up just like the '99-'04 models are, It doesn't get any more specific than this.....http://www.allen-superchargers.com/f150/97-98.html

Smokeurhonda · Feb 25, 2007

dude just put some gears in it and call it a day. Your looking for more lowend torque, nothing else is really going to give you that for a better price.

Bonk · Feb 25, 2007

Gearbanger 101 said:
Ahhh, well in that case....you're not looking hard enough for a supercharger. Assuming the '05 4.6L 2V is set up just like the '99-'04 models are, It doesn't get any more specific than this.....http://www.allen-superchargers.com/f150/97-98.html

Throwin 5k at a supercharger is crazy for me..plus i want to kit to be year specific......when i can put that much money into heads, lift and tires.

Update, i'm parkin the truck since i just bought a '93 GT 'Vert.....i'll post pics up soon.
This way i can feed my need for speed

Thanks for the help guys! Next thing i do get for the truck is gonna be heads, so when i do get the kind of money to throw at a supercharger.....

Bonk · Feb 25, 2007

Just found an alternative to the allen....

http://www.proturbokits.com/store/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=129

To bad i still dont have the money...

Cam's for a 4.6 Truck, what size?

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