Staying N/A, which cam will be the best for me?

[GA_StangGT]

I've spent the last month looking at superchargers and have decided not to go that route. I've looked at everything from the Ford supercharger manifold...Paxton Novi....and KB. Yeah, they'd be nice but the price is what's killing me. The shop I us favors ProCharger and the drive off price including parts, install, and tuning is going to set me back more than I'm comfortable with. For less money, I can do headers, torque converter, and cams.

Now, that VT Engines is no longer around I am totally unsure of which cam I should go with. The car is street driven and is not used on the track, and has the stock auto transmission.
I'm more concerned with performance/quality than price. Also, I'd like to keep low-end torque as well as my stock ~5800 RPM redline.

Does anyone know the RPM range for the stock 2V cams?

Current mods:
Bassani x-pipe with high flow cats
FRPP aluminum shaft
3.73 gear
Diablo 93 tune
straight mufflers.

Future Mods:
Shorty headers (it's an auto so that's about my only option)
Torque converter
Cams

Thanks:SNSign:

 

[hotstang_46]

if you don't want to lose low end then I'm pretty sure everyone will tell you comp 262's.....then you don't have to do valvetrain mods too.

I read in your sig shortys.....if you do some searching you'll see you can throw long tubes on your auto... you'll find people on here with them.


but when you list the mods you want TC, Headers, Cams....are you paying a shop to do this? if so, if you do some quality internet hunting I'm sure you can come within a grand of a supercharger.....maybe I'm wrong though if your self installing, nevermind then

 

[GA_StangGT]

if you don't want to lose low end then I'm pretty sure everyone will tell you comp 262's.....then you don't have to do valvetrain mods too.

I read in your sig shortys.....if you do some searching you'll see you can throw long tubes on your auto... you'll find people on here with them.


but when you list the mods you want TC, Headers, Cams....are you paying a shop to do this? if so, if you do some quality internet hunting I'm sure you can come within a grand of a supercharger.....maybe I'm wrong though if your self installing, nevermind then

I've looked at the bassani mid-length headers and there is the possibility of clearance issues.

Labor quotes:
Headers - $450
TC - $350
Cam - ?
--------------
$800 + cam install fee

Approximate Parts Costs:
FRPP or BBK Shorty headers - $270
Cams - $500
TC - $600
--------------------
$1375

Grand total = $2175 plus what ever the labor is for the cam install. I have read they are not too bad of an install. I would like to know what other stangnet members have been charged for labor.

The 262 comp looks good but I'm very interested in the 268. I'm confused about the rpm range rating and not sure what is the best range for a street car.

Any recommendations for cams from Crower or Crane? I like the stage 1 Crower because the optimum rpm range is 1200 to 5750...I think that will give me the best performance across the rpm range.

 

[BurningRubber]

Many, many people will tell you to not waste your money on shorty headers. Longtubes are the only type to show any gains over 1-2 hp on a 4.6. However, with a cammed motor im not sure if the shortys will gain more or not. There are longtubes that fit auto cars, dont forget youll need a new midpipe with longtubes also.

$2,175 will get you a used complete, or near complete supercharger kit if you wait around long enough to find one.

But keep in mind like you said, if its not complete you still need some fuel parts and regardless it needs to be tuned. Of course, a cammed car will benefit from a tune as well.

Cams alone people CLAIM anywhere from 20-30 rwhp tuned, and about 40-45rwhp with longtubes tuned... But that can vary, and just because someone says thats what they gained doesnt always mean its true.



Basically without writing a page, the bang for the buck goes to a blower. You will have enough power with just about any blower (even the FRPP one) to push the limits of the stock motor. Cams and exhaust will net you some gains yes, but you cant just swap a pully and extract more power, and you have reached the end of the line as far as bolt ons go. Just something to consider.



Or, theres always nitrous. An NX plate kit is a nice system, that with a tune will net you just as much hp as a blower, more than cams, and can be done for under a grand. Only downside is the fact that the boost isnt always there...

 

[GA_StangGT]

I just got a new Bassani mid pipe setup and don't want to get hack it up or replace it with something else. If anyone knows of a good mid length that will work with by bassani, please let me know.

 

[Winters98GT]

I believe they are the only mid length header

 

[Winters98GT]

oh, there is JBA also, not sure on the clearance though

 

[GA_StangGT]

oh, there is JBA also, not sure on the clearance though

Thanks, I'll take a look at them. I know there shorty headers are really expensive.

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

cam may depend on how drastic you want to go with your TC. for anything 2800-3200 a stage I cam with benefit you very well, you maintain low end torque and that torque is multiplied by the TC. IF you want a stage II cam, then most recommend 3400+ (i recommend a 3600) - when you get this high in stall you want to make sure you get a very well built stall TC which doesn't have to mean 3 disc, but does mean smaller size which gets more expensive.

IMO it's like this:
a stage 1 like 262's:
- $500-575 for new cams
- $450-550 for a 3000-3200 10.5" (or so) stall TC
- maintain low end toque, but not quite as high gains in higher rpm's as a stage II
- not as lopey in sound

stage II like 270's:
- $500-575 for new cams
- $160-200 for new valve springs
- $600-900 for a 3400+ solid stall TC 9.5-10"
- definitely need to degree cams
- lose some low end torque (some cases more than others) but gains in quite high rpm's
- nice lopey sound

 

[GA_StangGT]

cam may depend on how drastic you want to go with your TC. for anything 2800-3200 a stage I cam with benefit you very well, you maintain low end torque and that torque is multiplied by the TC. IF you want a stage II cam, then most recommend 3400+ (i recommend a 3600) - when you get this high in stall you want to make sure you get a very well built stall TC which doesn't have to mean 3 disc, but does mean smaller size which gets more expensive.

IMO it's like this:
a stage 1 like 262's:
- $500-575 for new cams
- $450-550 for a 3000-3200 10.5" (or so) stall TC
- maintain low end toque, but not quite as high gains in higher rpm's as a stage II
- not as lopey in sound

stage II like 270's:
- $500-575 for new cams
- $160-200 for new valve springs
- $600-900 for a 3400+ solid stall TC 9.5-10"
- definitely need to degree cams
- lose some low end torque (some cases more than others) but gains in quite high rpm's
- nice lopey sound

Good info! What TC are you running. The shop i use was suggesting a triple disc that costs $1000 i think that it's overkill on a n/a street car.

Are there any cams that fall somewhere between the 262 and the 270 made by another company? What is the 270 like in normal driving conditions...how bad is the torque loss? I'd hate to get the 270 and have it be a dog on the streets with "normal" driving.

Who makes the most aggressive stage 1...comp...crower...crane?

Thanks!

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

Good info! What TC are you running. The shop i use was suggesting a triple disc that costs $1000 i think that it's overkill on a n/a street car.

Are there any cams that fall somewhere between the 262 and the 270 made by another company? What is the 270 like in normal driving conditions...how bad is the torque loss? I'd hate to get the 270 and have it be a dog on the streets with "normal" driving.

Who makes the most aggressive stage 1...comp...crower...crane?

Thanks!

Im running a TC made by a semi-local company called Spec-rite (starting at price is not actual price, lol):
http://www.specriteconverters.com/pro_series.asp
a tripple disc (IMO of course) is not needed unless running boost or nitrous. the only one in between a 262 and 270 is a cam made for NPI heads, which is a 268. Don't pay TOO much attentions to "stages", look at the specs of lift,duration, and LSA. You wont lose too much down low, the cam IS a power boost overall so you wont be too disappointed (it wont be a dog)- just the main increase it pretty high in the rpm's.

 

[Winters98GT]

Thanks, I'll take a look at them. I know there shorty headers are really expensive.

yeah, I was gonna say that....

 

[hotstang_46]

remember too....just in case your thinking about stge II comps...you'll need to degree the cams..which I'm sure a shop will charge you more for

Don't see many people on here running the 268's/ crowers/ cranes..... pretty much all VT 262'or 270's...

I have seen several people on here with long tubes......Don't waste your time with shortys....I know I have them.....but only reason I bought em was because when doing the head swap I was tired of f-ing around with the stock rusted azz bolts practically fused to the rusted azz headers.... I spent the $300 for convenience knowing hp gains would be minimal.

 

['13_ImpactBlue_GT]

Thanks, I'll take a look at them. I know there shorty headers are really expensive.

If ya want expensive, go look at Kooks LT and x-pipe combo, $1200 give or take a few pennies