Sorry, but another cam question...

1bad04GT · Jul 12, 2005

I couldnt find the info i needed in the searches.If u dont wanna read the story part then skip to the end... I recently went to Kansas City this past weekend and raced my '04 GT. It is basically stock with only an o/r x-pipe and american thunda catback and a tri-ax. I was running on ET streets. I met a guy there with an '03 GT automatic. we raced a couple of times and of course i dusted out of the hole but at about the 1000 foot mark he would catch me and even passed me once. i talked to him and all he had mas a prochamber and mac exhaust, cai, tb and bbk plenum, and 3.73s, comp stage 2 cams but all on a stock torque converter. i had him start the car and i about pissed myself when i heard that wicked idle. he ran like 14.3 but was trapping at like 101 mph! btw i ran solid 14-0s with a best of 13.98 @98. do those cams really make them pull that hard up top?

I wanna get those cams but dont wanna kill mileage. if i keep my foot out of it what will happen to mileage? what kind of hp ant tq gains could i expect with stage 2s? does anyone recommend any other brand besides comp? shoul i replace the springs too. only 21k on mine. any help or whatever yall think of is greatly appreciated.

96WhiteNight · Jul 12, 2005

Yes cams are wicked up top they will make your car pull real hard when they hit the power range. I would suggest houston performance cams 292s. You can get about 30 hp from them and have a mean idle. You shouldn't need springs with the low milage

blacknblue2002 · Jul 12, 2005

just wondering?....would a cam swap like that keep my car from passing emissions testing....and how much does it cost to have a shop swap out the camshafts these days...I doubt that it's easy enough to do in the comfort of my own garage???

Chili · Jul 12, 2005

1bad04GT said:
he ran like 14.3

Exhaust, intake and cams and he was running 14.3?? He should have been much faster. Based on the trap he must have been spinning half way up the track.. A friend of mine ran 14.16 with exhaust, CAI and a Tune, everything else stock on his auto.

Can't help you with gas mileage..

nickthegenius · Jul 12, 2005

I was running 12.9's at 105-107 with cams, headers, chip, underdrives, and plenum/TB combo.

WTF is wrong with the one you raced? Was he towing a trailer behind it?

And yes, if you are talking about the XE270AHs when you say "Stage 2", then yes you should get springs whether your car has 5 miles or 500k unless you want all your work to end in tears.

I never took any actual mileage numbers after I installed the cams and springs, but I was getting the same number of trips to work and back between fill-ups. If you have a good tune and aren't getting on it all the time, there shouldn't be a significant loss. As far as other brands, I would look into VT Engines cams. Their "Stage II" cams are very popular at Modular Depot and quite a few guys have swapped out their Comps for the VTs.

Blown00GTAuto · Jul 12, 2005

1bad04GT said:
...what kind of hp ant tq gains could i expect with stage 2s? does anyone recommend any other brand besides comp? shoul i replace the springs too. ,,,

Based on your description of the stage 2's, it looks like we're talking Comp XE270AH's. Read this article for the answer to your question about gains naturally aspirated. If you don't plan on going S/C'd you might want to consider Comp 262AH (see article), although the idle would not be as rough. With a centri S/C, 270AH's are really mean .

blacknblue2002 said:
just wondering?....would a cam swap like that keep my car from passing emissions testing....and how much does it cost to have a shop swap out the camshafts these days...I doubt that it's easy enough to do in the comfort of my own garage???

Mine passed emissions no problem shortly after I got the cams, although it drew some comments with the S/C and cam noise .
As far as installation, cams are one thing but installing springs with the engine in the car takes some skills ...and patience.

nickthegenius said:
I was running 12.9's at 105-107 with cams, headers, chip, underdrives, and plenum/TB combo.

WTF is wrong with the one you raced? Was he towing a trailer behind it?

And yes, if you are talking about the XE270AHs when you say "Stage 2", then yes you should get springs whether your car has 5 miles or 500k unless you want all your work to end in tears.

As far as other brands, I would look into VT Engines cams. Their "Stage II" cams are very popular at Modular Depot and quite a few guys have swapped out their Comps for the VTs.

His was an auto so mph will be lower than with a manual, and having headers gives you an advantage. Also it seems that guy is less than an expert driver. As you indicated, springs are a must with 270's. VT Stage II N/A cams work very well, but I'm curious about the specs on the Comps that people have swapped out for them .

CanadaStang · Jul 12, 2005

Listen to nickthegenius, he know's what he's talking about. If you want to go with those cams or the VT Stage II's, you MUST change springs too.

hotmustang331 · Jul 12, 2005

Yep, springs are a MUST with either. BUT BEWARE, the comp 270s have had a record of having PTV contact due to their grinded in 5* (i belive) of advance. It seems to happen sometimes, not all the time.....the guys on MD just say to watch for it and BE SURE TO TURN THE MOTOR OVER BY HAND BEFORE CRANKING IT! IMO you should get the 262s if going S/C later on but want nice gains right now (17ish untune I think...mid 20s should be available tuned) or VT stg 1 cams if you dont plan on getting FI. (20untuned - 30ish tuned)....no need for springs on either....definatly not needed on VTs. Check with comp on the 262s. My .02.

1bad04GT · Jul 12, 2005

k guys. bottom line, i want some cams that will give me lotsa power up top and a wicked idle. i plan on staying n/a for a long while cuz im broke. btw, modulor depot dosnt have any VT cam stuff. what do u guys recommend? i will get springs, whatever i do.

D.K · Jul 13, 2005

If he did have the Comp 270s, those wimpy 3.73 gears are what's hurting him big time.
With any stage 2 cam, you will need to change the valve springs. In my opinion, you should swap the springs when you do any aftermarket cam install.

As far as PTV contact, there is nothing wrong with Comp cams. The problem is with the stock cam gears, and the fact that they can be off as much as +/- 6 degrees. Add 6* of cam gear advance to 5* of cam advance and you're going to have a problem. Comps can be ordered without the 5* advance however. Aftermarket cams need to be degreed to the engine in which they are being installed, and are technically not a drop in item. Sure, many people (including myself) have gotten away with dropping cams in and not having any problems, but if you don't degree them, it's a crap shoot no matter what brand you decide to go with.

tjm73 · Jul 13, 2005

Installing a cam in an engine and failing to check piston-to-valve clearance prior to running the engine is like playing Russian Roulette. Most of the time you'll be ok, but if that one time it's not ok happens, you're F'd.

Check you PTV.

And yeah any time you change to a new camshaft(s) you need to put innew springs that are correct for the cam(s).

02mingreyGT · Jul 16, 2005

Ive heard changing springs is a MAJOR PITA....there power gains between VT stage 1 vs. the 2s are not that much.especially when you add up the price of the springs and install. With the stage 1 VTs you wont need new springs witch will save ALOT of time and monies. That is the main reason i plan on going with the stage 1 VTs..

vipergt · Jul 16, 2005

I dont know much about cars by any means, but I just dont get this story. He had more mods than you and the cam alone outways all your mods, then with his 3.73 versus your 3.27 come on man just say you want those cams that he has because he whooped you on the track and dont feel bad because he has alot more money and time in his. Oh yeah and that auto is faster than a lot of manuals unless your really good with a stick (power shifting,etc.). If you beat this guy he has the poorest tune known to man or you have the strongest mustang gt to ever come out of the factory. Dont mean to be an a$$, but I had to say something. If I offended you sorry.

Mike97gt · Jul 16, 2005

Chili said:
Exhaust, intake and cams and he was running 14.3?? He should have been much faster. Based on the trap he must have been spinning half way up the track.. A friend of mine ran 14.16 with exhaust, CAI and a Tune, everything else stock on his auto.

Can't help you with gas mileage..

yeah he should be faster but that stock converter is holding him back a LOT. the cams move the powerband higher so this makes a high stall converter that much more important. with a 3000 or so stall that thing would run mid 13's

Sorry, but another cam question...

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