Suggestions Please

[d98gt]

Already looked it over a few times before I just hope I don't run into the problems that you had

Can you go into further detail with the new PI Cam gear bolt for me? Surely I can find it cheaper than $80?

Im thinking about getting a local person to do the install for me, though the more details/specs I can give him, the better

 

[COramprat]

If you can get the install done cheaply then it is worth it. The cam swap can get expensive if you take it to a shop so you probably want to get it done as a side job.

The cam swap took me and a buddy two days with just basic tools. Originally I had planned on just using the cam tool but after my friend dropped a cam washer through the timing cover and into the oil pan we had to pull the cover. If you go that route you will need a pulley puller. Craftsman was 25 bucks. Other that that the swap is pretty basic with no real special tools. The only other thing I can think of is the fuel line tool that disconnects the line couplings. They are about 5 bucks for a set of 5 in different sizes.

On the intake swap I bought some custom adapter plates. Basically they just smoothed out the transition between the PI intake and NPI heads. The success people had with just the RTV is documented. I would just hope if there was a problem they would come out and say so. I did the intake swap by myself over two days. Pretty easy mod there too.

Results of my swaps were not dyno'd but I did go to a Dyno Day where there was a 97 GT with generally the same mods as I had except for the intake and his 3.73's compared to my 4.10's. He hit 197 while mine was at 213. I gained 2 tenths at the track going from 14.7-14.5 after the swap.

The cams (Comp 262's) netted me another 2 tenths while a tune got another 2 tenths. Add ET streets and I have what you see in my sig.

I've done both swaps myself. If you have any questions just ask.

 

[d98gt]

I know that the intake install isn't hard at all (put a replacement on with the alum crossover not long ago) and I shouldn't run into problems doing it as long as I am patient with the RTV and allow it to seal properly.

I've never dealt with cams before which is why I shy away from the install. The guy that I plan on using (he told me to come by whenever I purchased the parts and he'd help with everything) has done multiple head/cam swaps on foxbodys, and he has a few friends that have messed with the modulars. So pretty much it's a friend of a friend kinda thing

Being that you have done the install before Comp, and you used the cam tool as I see, though do you feel that I could do it just as well with vice grips?

 

[Pennywise2]

Well I already turned them down due to others being interested The price was good, though I imagine a headswap install would cost an arm and a leg

I'm just looking for a low 14 second car, so I can pass on the heads for now.

If that is the way you are going the PI cams and intake will land you
into the low 14's in the 1/4 mile with a average driver though I belive high
13's are possible indeed with lots of practice at the track.
I will tell you the Ford cam tool is best to use over the AFM cam tool
and vice grips.If you don't trust yourself installing the PI cams then don't
because you could screw up your car easily.The PI intake is a straight
forward install really you just need to know the correct places to put the
black RVT at and you shouldn't have a coolant leak.Also make sure you
get the torque specs for the intake bolts if you don't already know.
Check www.ebay.com for good deals on the cams and intake.

 

[d98gt]

Already have the cams bought just haven't picked them up yet

I'll begin looking around locally for a PI Intake for sale, though its likely i'll just buy a new one.

As for the install, I'm not going to tackle it by myself. I'm going to "assist" with someone that has done it before, that way I can see how it is done

 

[COramprat]

Already have the cams bought just haven't picked them up yet

I'll begin looking around locally for a PI Intake for sale, though its likely i'll just buy a new one.

As for the install, I'm not going to tackle it by myself. I'm going to "assist" with someone that has done it before, that way I can see how it is done

We went in "blind" on my car. I had all of the write-ups and the Haynes. I followed the instructions and labeled everything. The cam tool really just held the chain in place to keep it from getting slack. Not sure how vise-grips would help. Two people are a must on the cam install. Especially someone with some experience. The PI's should give you any trouble. If you keep everything in place you should be OK without pulling the timing cover. Of course you always take the slight chance that the timing may be off and you will have to tear it down again. I'm sure you know the drawbacks of not timing and degreeing the cams. I didn't have any trouble with mine and the only problems I've heard were ones who went with the more aggressive aftermarkets.

PS...Didn't I buy you old headlights? They are still on the car.

 

[d98gt]

I received a quote of $350 from a shop in Houston. I feel this is a decent price and he said he'd have it ready in a day. Sound about right for price/time?

Not having the proper tools is what bothers me. I'm hesitant to even do my midpipe install because I don't want to be half-way done and then need a part

btw- You must have bought from someone else

So now I have to debate-- Taking an entire weekend (and possibly more) to tackle the job locally, or just pay the $350 to have a mustang shop do the work for me

 

[Dusstbuster]

D98---I don't believe the cam gear bolts were $80...I might have mistyped something...I'll have to check. You obviously know though that you will need the bolts from PI cams since the NPI cam bolt is bigger than the PI cam bolt...Call Steve at Tousley Ford in White Bear Lake MN, the guy I refer to in that thread from SVT performance...just tell him you saw his thread on SVT performance and we wanting to know the price on PI cam bolts from say a 2002-2004 mustang GT and he should hook you up.

 

[d98gt]

I'll call Tommie Vaughn Ford first and see what they'll charge. I could pick it up from their part department rather than have it shipped. I'll get the price from both and see which would end up cheaper

The shop told me that it would only take them a day---that I could drop it off in the morning and pick it up later that day and be ready to go-- does that seem about right?

Now here is where the cheap ass comes out of me. Right now I just have a intake manifold with the alum. crossover (Not a PI man). This manifold isn't all that old and i'll be keeping it after the PI swap, but anyways, since I am able to do the intake swap myself would it be appropriate for the shop to reuse my NPI manifold then me change it out later on to the PI manifold?

What i'm basically asking is Can I use my NPI manifold for now until I get around to purchasing the PI manifold?

 

[Dusstbuster]

You can use the NPI manifold w/ PI cams, you just won't notice that much of a change since the manifold will still restrict the amount of air flowing to the cylinders even with the slightly more agressive cams. I'd ask them what the price difference between having them swap the manifold and cams vs. just the cams, I don't think there should be that much of a change since the manifold comes off fairly easily and makes the cam swap much easier to do too...

 

[d98gt]

Yeah I guess I can atleast get the qoute for it. He's done the swap on a few other NPIs so he should know where to RTV and such. I trust his work but I would just feel more comfortable doing the intake myself since i've read about where/how to put RTV and such.

 

[Dusstbuster]

If anything you could see if he'd let you help him with the install...that would allow you to oversee the install and ensure it's done to your standards as well as possibly allowing you to get a lower rate due to the help.