How much for cam install???

J

jbrown

New Member

Aug 5, 2003

393

0

0

Tallahassee, FL

Sep 22, 2004

#1

• Sep 22, 2004

• #1

I've seen cams for 5-600, how much will it cost to get them installed, or how hard is it to install them yourself? Do you have to remove the engine?

 

C

ChrisGT

New Member

Jul 21, 2004

79

0

0

Greenville NC

Sep 22, 2004

#2

• Sep 22, 2004

• #2

cam install

Don't know about cost of install, but this should help with trying to install them yourself!

 

ironmedic

New Member

Mar 18, 2003

1,361

0

0

Puyallup, WA

Sep 22, 2004

#3

• Sep 22, 2004

• #3

yeah u have to remove the engine, u need to turn the engine upside down and install it from there

 

nickthegenius

Active Member

Dec 23, 2002

1,631

1

38

Elwood, IN

Sep 22, 2004

#4

• Sep 22, 2004

• #4

Bill Putnam's article that ChrisGT linked above is worth its weight in gold. No, you do not need to remove the engine, but you will find out exactly how much room these cars have around the motor which isn't much.

Since you have a '99 with the press-on cam sprockets, you will also need sprockets, spacers, and new bolts. You cannot use the time-saver tools from AFM or Ford for the cam swap. Following Bill's article and doing it yourself is actually quite rewarding especially when you fire it back up and realize that you did all the work to get it there. However, if you have them installed, the cheapest I have seen it mentioned on here is $275-$300 at Houston Performance, but most places expect to pay the same price for install as what you pay for the cams.

Any other questions regarding a cam-swap, feel free to ask. I'll help you out the best I can or refer you to someone that might be able to.

 

J

jbrown

New Member

Aug 5, 2003

393

0

0

Tallahassee, FL

Sep 22, 2004

#5

• Sep 22, 2004

• #5

if I went with a mild cam would I have to upgrade other stuff like springs. How much for the sprockets , bolts, and spacers? Have you guys installed them yourself I hear they are not extremely hard to do.

 

nickthegenius

Active Member

Dec 23, 2002

1,631

1

38

Elwood, IN

Sep 23, 2004

#6

• Sep 23, 2004

• #6

VT Stage 1 cams are fine with the stock springs. Many people still upgrade, but others that have stayed with the stock springs have had trouble-free performance.

Changing the springs makes the cam-change look like a cake-walk. Changing the cams is simply removing parts, re-installing parts, and checking timing. However, you will use words you've never used before when doing springs.

Using the special tool below, you have to compress the springs (with the cams still in the car) and remove the rockers. Then, you can fill the cylinders with air to hold the valves shut and use the same tool to compress the springs and remove the retainers and locks. It took a friend of mine and I about 4 hours to do the passenger side. It was just one big learning experience. The driver's side took about 1hr 15min after we learned all the little tricks to changing them.

The following link is the cheapest place I could find it. This is where I got mine. Most places were $10-$15 higher.
http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/OTC-7928.html

 

J

johnnyvista

New Member

Jan 15, 2004

123

0

0

Sep 23, 2004

#7

• Sep 23, 2004

• #7

comp cams 2v cams: about $570
comp valve springs $250
labor/installation: $560
total: $1380

to replace the cams, they have to pull the engine, take the heads off, disassemble them, and reassemble them with the new cams, then put the whole engine back together. if you're going to drop the money for cams, you might as well spend an extra $800-900 to port the heads while they're off the car.

you could, if you're really mechanically inclined, change the cams yourself. i'd rather pay someone who knows what they're doing to do it. comp recommends springs when changing to even a mild cam.

 

J

jbrown

New Member

Aug 5, 2003

393

0

0

Tallahassee, FL

Sep 23, 2004

#8

• Sep 23, 2004

• #8

thanks for all the info guys, so about 800 if I do the labor myself, not bad for 30-50rwhp.

 

nickthegenius

Active Member

Dec 23, 2002

1,631

1

38

Elwood, IN

Sep 23, 2004

#9

• Sep 23, 2004

• #9

johnnyvista said:

comp cams 2v cams: about $570
comp valve springs $250
labor/installation: $560
total: $1380

to replace the cams, they have to pull the engine, take the heads off, disassemble them, and reassemble them with the new cams, then put the whole engine back together.

Click to expand...

And kiddies don't forget, when you change your shifter make sure you remove the entire transmission from the car.

 

myponyrocks

I have more billet on the Stang than most women ha

Apr 18, 2004

1,219

0

37

Sep 23, 2004

#10

• Sep 23, 2004

• #10

I think Johny got ripped off


Did they change your headlight fluid too?

 

nickthegenius

Active Member

Dec 23, 2002

1,631

1

38

Elwood, IN

Sep 24, 2004

#11

• Sep 24, 2004

• #11

myponyrocks said:

I think Johny got ripped off


Did they change your headlight fluid too?

Click to expand...

I just had mine changed. You have to be careful and remove the lights from the car to change the fluid, though. No big deal. I figure if I pull the engine for oil changes, I can at least pull the headlights to add fluid to them However, I am not looking forward to the day that I flush the cooling system and have to remove the radiator, water pump, hoses, etc. I'll probably take it to a shop for that.

 

J

jbrown

New Member

Aug 5, 2003

393

0

0

Tallahassee, FL

Sep 25, 2004

#12

• Sep 25, 2004

• #12

johnny kind of scared me with his post about removing the engine and all. Dont forget to change your blinker fluid while youre doing the headlights.

 

GT2000JAY

Founding Member

Oct 22, 2002

1,344

0

0

Northwest

Sep 25, 2004

#13

• Sep 25, 2004

• #13

Johnny does have a good point about the springs. I've been told anything in the neighborhood of .550" lift will need upgraded springs, but I would upgrade them regardless with any aftermarket cam.

Nothing wrong with removing the entire engine to do cams, if you're dropping a built shortblock in while you're at it.

 

LS2 KLR

Member

Apr 16, 2003

452

0

17

Houston, TX

Sep 25, 2004

#14

• Sep 25, 2004

• #14

I paid $150 to have mine installed

 

crew_dawg16

New Member

Apr 25, 2004

445

0

0

DeKalb, IL

Sep 25, 2004

#15

• Sep 25, 2004

• #15

I will be doing mine myself when it comes time. It's really not that difficult of a job, just takes a while.

 

J

jbrown

New Member

Aug 5, 2003

393

0

0

Tallahassee, FL

Sep 28, 2004

#16

• Sep 28, 2004

• #16

150 where at???

 

LS2 KLR

Member

Apr 16, 2003

452

0

17

Houston, TX

Sep 28, 2004

#17

• Sep 28, 2004

• #17

You're obviously a little ways away, lol. I had mine done by TSS Racing, the same guy who built my shortblock. I had to wait for him to get the "cam swapping tool" but it made it cheaper for me and also only took him a couple of hours.