Thoughts on a possible combo

zenboy99

Founding Member
May 12, 2002
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Madison, WI
I'm currently on a real tight budget saving money for a house, however I just found out that I have a $1500 bonus coming soon that can go to my Stang. I'd love to go the successful FTI/AFR route but don't think my bonus will get me there. Here's what I had in mind, all prices are through Summit

-Trick Flow TW heads $939
-Trick Flow Stg 1 cam $140
-Trick Flow gasket set $87 (includes, exhaust, intake, head and valve cover)
-pushrods (size?)
-FMS lifters $120
-FMS timing chain $66
-ARP head bolts $38

I already have a set of stud mount roller rockers and Fox valve covers.

How do you think that cam will work with my computer? #'s are 275/279 and .499/.510 lift w/1.6 rocker and 112 LSA. I can also trade my rockers with a friend so I can run 1.72 or 1.6 ratio, any thoughts?
 
Zen, thats basically the same setup I am currently running except I have FelPro gaskets. The cam works fine with the stock computer. For a few weeks I had to adjust the IAC to raise the idle to around 1000rpm because it would stall when I stopped, but after a few weeks I lowered it back down and it's been working fine ever since and sounds :nice: I'm also running the TFS 1.6 rr's and fo VC's.

I don't have any new times for my combo yet but I should be going to the track next wednesday or friday and I'll be posting the results. But what I can say is it pulle like a raped ape from 3000rpm and up.

I have an audio clip of what the idle sounds like if you want to hear it... just let me know.
 
Are TW heads stud mount or pedestal mount? Which ever they are, make sure that the 1.72 rockers you are buying are also stud mount. The reason I say this is because the only 1.72 ratio rockers that I know of are Crane's Cobra rockers and they are pedestal mount. The duration numbers are great for a stage 1 cam, and I personally would get a set of 1.7 rockers to bring the lift figures up from .499/.510 to .530/.542, which would put the TW heads in their maximum flow range. I also wouldn't screw with the lifters unless they have a lot of miles on them.

Joe
 
The low end torque is still there. It'll light my nittos up without a second thought. I'm just going to put a link up here for the audio file. Its 3.22mb and I cant send anything larger than 3mb with my e-mail account.

If it doesnt work, or asks for a user name and password let me know.
TFS Stage 1 Cam Idle
 
My rockers are Scorpion 1.72 stud mount, my friend has a 1.6 ratio lying around that he's willing to trade me.

What would be the difference in driveability going from 1.6 to 1.72?. Would .530/.542 work with stock pistons?
 
zenboy99 said:
My rockers are Scorpion 1.72 stud mount, my friend has a 1.6 ratio lying around that he's willing to trade me.

What would be the difference in driveability going from 1.6 to 1.72?. Would .530/.542 work with stock pistons?
Keep the 1.72 rockers, they will help the car breathe much better. The difference in rockers will not change how the car drives. Duration is what affects the manners of the car, and a change in rockers does not affect duration, just the lift. Theoretically, you should not have PTV clearance issues, but I would clay the pistons just to make sure. The stage 1 cam with 1.72 rockers will have less lift and less duration than a stage 2 cam, and since the stage 2 cam has no PTV issues, then you shouldn't with your planned set up, but I would check to make sure.

Joe
 
The TW only come in stud mount. They used to be available in both, but after TF had the problems with the valve guides they dropped the pedestal versions.

That said, the TF combo is good for the money. Some run very well with it. I do think the extra money is worth it for the AFR/FTI setup due to my personal experience as well as other AFR/FTI users. Check out white94 from the corral, he runs a set of TW heads and a FTI cam and put down 320rwhp which is still one of if not the highest RWHP numbers I've seen from a stock bottom end H/C/I setup in a 94-95. He trapped over 110mph on street tires.
 
First off, when someone says an "fti" combo, it does NOT mean you HAVE TO run afr heads. You can run trickflows and buy a cam from ed. You will be paying about $200 more for the cam and it will be worth it. You can buy the trickflow track heat heads as they come w/ good springs that should be fine with ed's fast ramped cam. Can you afford about $200 more towards your combo? If so, do it and you'll be doing it right the first time.
 
FTI has a deal where you can get a custom cam, lifters, timing chain and gaskets for $575 shipped. Thats not too bad. What would be the major difference between an FTI cam and the Trick Flow cam?
 
zenboy99 said:
FTI has a deal where you can get a custom cam, lifters, timing chain and gaskets for $575 shipped. Thats not too bad. What would be the major difference between an FTI cam and the Trick Flow cam?


The major difference with the fti cam or any custom grind is that it is exactly that, custom for your car. It is not an off the shelf cam that will work with a bunch of combinations.
 
Look into Anderson Cam's they make some really good grinds themselves. I used a b2 with my Stage II, TFS heads and made 324RWHP on a stock bottom end. The b2 cam is a nitrous cam but I was running it N/A if you get the N21 which is a NA cam that might net better results. That cam was lumpy as hell. Still remember pulling up to Taco Bell (the local street race hangout) and drawing a big crowd based on that cam. Everyone was wondering what the hell happend to my car. Seriously, I would recommend the AFR heads and a different cam then what you are proposing (based on FFMM articles that comprared heads). Trust me once you feel the power of the new motor it will leave you wanting more. Saving up ~$500 more bucks will leave you a happier in the end. However, if it means not getting anything go with the TFS heads and try a different cam. There are tons of aftermarket cams besides the ones by TFS that go with TFS heads out there.

I don't know if anyone here runs the Anderson Cams but I swear by their performance.

As far as the low end torque lots of that has to depend on your intake. I was using a ported Edelbrock Performer and that gave me lots of bottom end torque. I actually have that on sale (as it wont' fit my new 331 combo). It has been ported by Anderson Ford (AFM) Stage II flows ~275cfm. I got the exact numbers someplace.