PI cam installation worth it??

[xmikevankuikenx]

Are the installation of PI cams just as difficult as head replacements?
Would the engine have to be removed or the front end or what?
If I was to get PI cams, what else would I have to get for the swap as far as finishing the job and what kind of hp increase would be realistic? BTW: I'm getting a PI intake installed and am considering cams while the intake is off.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[CanadaStang]

Are the installation of PI cams just as difficult as head replacements?
Would the engine have to be removed or the front end or what?
If I was to get PI cams, what else would I have to get for the swap as far as finishing the job and what kind of hp increase would be realistic? BTW: I'm getting a PI intake installed and am considering cams while the intake is off.

Thanks,
Mike

The intake should be good for an extra 15 Hp, and the PI cams will bump you up another 13Hp or so, for a total gain of about 28Hp. It's lot easier to just do the cams than the complete hesdswap and no you don't have to remove the engine.

 

[billfisher]

you can change them without pulling cover, if you learn how. (i talk too much to tell you).

 

[COramprat]

I've never done a head swap so I can't tell you which one is easier but the cams swap is not too hard. most of the time is taken pulling things off and out of the way but it can all be done without pulling the engine.

 

[98blackmagic]

if your doing one might as well do the entire PI swap. Heads,cams and intake I think you will be much happier if you do it now instead of kicking your own ass later for not.

 

[mexis97gt]

if a ford tech did the install how long do you think it would take him and what would you expect to pay him if he were doing it as a side job

 

[98blackmagic]

Labor prices have a big variation in what people want to do the work. Honestly I cant say, my guy that does all my work has a shop behind his house, he does plumbing work during the day (as his regular job) and runs his shop ANDERSON MOTORSPORTS in the afternoon and weekends his shop has all the tools and amenities you would find in a major shop in any of the mags, the only thing it doesnt have is a dyno. He does as much busniess as anybody else around here with a all day shop, hes just that good and people prefer him to do their work rather than anyone else. To pull a 4.6 motor and remove the heads/cams and intake is 500. That is a pretty regular thing with all the Pi swaps that go on these days. Then the reinstall is usually another 500, unless you have something out of the ordinary you want done. If you are a regular customer like me you get cheeper rates of course but for the general public all the prices on the normal jobs are the same.

 

[Mike97gt]

cams and intakes.. i probally would do it for about 300-400

 

[mexis97gt]

so would it be a reasonable price at say 150-200 just for a cam install

 

[billfisher]

at least do the pi intake.

 

[mijo_latino]

http://www.andersonfordmotorsport.com/media/easyaction.htm

heres an article that i found when i was thinking about the same exact thing.

Looks easy as pie as long as your careful. I was calculating and this tool, PI cams, gaskets and time is all you need. I figured with $200 I can do it all myself. Even throw in a case of your favorite beer and should still be under $200.

 

[LI98GTStang]

The way in which I did the PI cams swap, it was almost as difficult as the full headswap. I took off all the accessories and the front engine cover in order to release the tension in the chains so there was clearance to swap them out. Had I known about the AFM/Ford tool that allows all that to say on, it would have been (almost) cake in comparison. I got an honest 10rwhp from the swap and more room up top to rev out the stang ~500rpm more.

I also seperately swapped in the PI intake, which gave me ~7rwhp in addition and another ~500rpm on top. So with both ~17rwhp gain, which is about 1/2 of what a full PI swap typically would give.

Now, I run stock timing and full PI headswappers have to run higher octane fuel due to the increase in compression. This does help keep running costs down for me because I use regular gas. I will get a chip, however, one day to take more advantage of the PI cams/intake swap and add some timing.

A much cheaper/easier install to do just PI cams and intake though and if you are paying to have done, the same would apply. Dyno numbers in sig.

 

[xmikevankuikenx]

Thanks for all of the info! BTW: I already bought the PI cams.....FOR $35 off a 2001 Mustang with low mileage...and they're even cheaper on ebay.

Anyway, I was wondering on the PI intake swap if you had any problems with sealing? I know you're supposed to use the non-pi gaskets. Did you have to use a lot of sealer to get a good seal or what?

 

[LI98GTStang]

Thanks for all of the info! BTW: I already bought the PI cams.....FOR $35 off a 2001 Mustang with low mileage...and they're even cheaper on ebay.

Anyway, I was wondering on the PI intake swap if you had any problems with sealing? I know you're supposed to use the non-pi gaskets. Did you have to use a lot of sealer to get a good seal or what?

Great deal on the cams. I had/have no problems with sealing with the NPI gaskets. The NPI gaskets do a great job sealing the coolant portion where as the PI gaskets seal the air intake portion better. I used the NPI ones since the coolant is more important to me. I used a decent bead of RTV along the inner portion of the heads to prevent any air leaks and all went well for me.

 

[Outlaw97GT]

Im just gonna find a nice low-milage PI motor and put that in. That way I can put a s/c on....

 

[AntiRice98]

If you did a PI head swap and cams it would be around a 80hp gain if you have it done right....it well cost about 3,700 for everything...and if you just get cams if you get the right cams it will give you 30hp and cost you around 1000$ with instlation...i know all this because i just talked to a guy about having the same thing done to my car....i have a 98 gt...im choosing to just get the cams and add a supercharger because if you add PI heads your compression ratio jumps way up and you can't add a supercharger unless you bore out your heads..which is another 1000 to have them done right...but if you just buy cams and keep the stock heads running a small supercharger like around 6psi or a 75 shot of nos will be just fine....i hope this helps...

 

[TGJ]

I personally think that the PI gasket is the better gasket to use for a PI intake swap on the NPI heads. RTV will get eaten by gas and oil products which using NPI gaskets, the RTV could get in contact with oil. You only have 2 tiny spots to use RTV with the PI gaskets which only see anti-freeze and water which will not erode RTV. However I do not know of either NPI or PI gaskets failing with a PI intake swap.

 

[xmikevankuikenx]

Last question: On the cams, can I just swap out the gear or do I have to use the PI gear? I would like to think they're both the same. My PI cams didn't come with the gears. Thanks.

EDIT: The cams are from a 2001. I know the 99-00 are pressed on and can't be used, but what about these?

 

[TGJ]

Last question: On the cams, can I just swap out the gear or do I have to use the PI gear? I would like to think they're both the same. My PI cams didn't come with the gears. Thanks.

EDIT: The cams are from a 2001. I know the 99-00 are pressed on and can't be used, but what about these?

So why can't the pressed on PI cams work? Those are the PI cams that are currently in my TBird.

I believe you can use the cam gears but you will require the PI cam bolts. Maybe someone who used the newer PI cams can answer that.

 

[deftsound]

pi parts can be had for cheap but i think if i was going to do heads and cam swap id rather just spend the extra money and get some nice vt stage 1 or 2 heads and cams and get a lot more power and that bad ass lope sound