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TOP END

  • Thread starter Thread starter NOTCH_GUY
  • Start date Start date Feb 15, 2011

NOTCH_GUY

New Member
Jul 11, 2009
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N.E. PHILLY
Feb 15, 2011
#1
  • Feb 15, 2011
  • #1
Hi everyone, I am currently looking to upgrade my top end while sticking to some what of a budget. My bottom end is stock, as are the heads & cam.
I currently have 1.7 roller rockers, cobra intake w/spacer, 75mm tb, 80mm pro-m, powerdyne 8-9 lbs boost, 42lb injectors ( not installed yet), adjustable regulator, 255 lph fuel pump,long tube headers, tci c4, 3.55 gears.

My plans are to change the heads, cam, timing chain, rockers & push rods.
Now being that im working with a budget I was thinking either Edelbrock E-Street Heads, or Flo Tec heads ( based on price & valve size ).
The cam choice is where i'm have some trouble. I spoke to a guy at AFM and he said the b-31 should work good. Any opinions about this cam or any others ?? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
 
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bgoins

Member
Feb 23, 2009
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hampton roads, virginia
Feb 15, 2011
#2
  • Feb 15, 2011
  • #2
E Street heads and even a ford performance letter cam would do the trick on a budget.
 

NOTCH_GUY

New Member
Jul 11, 2009
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N.E. PHILLY
Feb 16, 2011
#3
  • Feb 16, 2011
  • #3
Thanks for the reply.
I've done some reading about both heads but it seems that nobody is using them. I was thinging maybe an "F" cam but i'm still not sure. There are so many choices out there. I would like to get as much power for the buck you know. Still wondering about that b-31 cam from Anderson Motorsports. I've read their cams are pretty killer but I would really like to know from someone that is actually using one.
Anyone else here using Edelbrock or Flo-Tec heads. What about Anderson Motorsport cams ??
Thanks...
 
B

bgoins

Member
Feb 23, 2009
130
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hampton roads, virginia
Feb 16, 2011
#4
  • Feb 16, 2011
  • #4
The reason I mentioned the ford letter cams is that they and Trick Flow sell proven cams for just under $200 new while an AFM cam is about $300 new. Since ur on a budget and all. If u have the extra $100 to spend I would spend it on ur heads and not the cam.
 

NIKwoaC

中國製造
15 Year Member
Oct 31, 2006
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Feb 16, 2011
#5
  • Feb 16, 2011
  • #5
bgoins said:
The reason I mentioned the ford letter cams is that they and Trick Flow sell proven cams for just under $200 new while an AFM cam is about $300 new.
Click to expand...

There's a reason for that... The letter cams are outdated tech and use an inferior core material.
 

stykthyn

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.
15 Year Member
Jul 6, 2006
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gainesville
Feb 16, 2011
#6
  • Feb 16, 2011
  • #6
I used to run a tfs1 and it was killer. the anderson b-31 is another great cam, it offers superior driveability and power gains over any of the letter cams.
 
B

bgoins

Member
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hampton roads, virginia
Feb 16, 2011
#7
  • Feb 16, 2011
  • #7
NikwoaC said:
There's a reason for that... The letter cams are outdated tech and use an inferior core material.
Click to expand...

I don't know about the core material, but even if the letter cams are old profiles, they still produce good results, and would be a good choice for a budget build.
 

NOTCH_GUY

New Member
Jul 11, 2009
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N.E. PHILLY
Feb 16, 2011
#8
  • Feb 16, 2011
  • #8
I really appreciate all the replies & info. I would love to buy better heads but I seem to be limited due to my stock pistons. I was considering AFR 165s but they are 1400 bucks which would kill my budget since I will need to buy new rockers etc.. After researching different heads I realize I'm limited to smaller valve sizes. I was also looking to stay at the 2k range and would assume that if I'm changing the heads, a cam swap would help increase power as well. I'm open to all of your opinions. Any other suggestions would really help. Thanks Again..
 

stykthyn

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.
15 Year Member
Jul 6, 2006
5,232
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gainesville
Feb 16, 2011
#9
  • Feb 16, 2011
  • #9
Gt40 heads from an explorer/mountaineer. Can be had dirt cheap and are good for close to 50hp. Throw a cam on top of that and get even more. An explorer top end with a tfs1 cam will dyno close to 300hp if everything is assembled correctly and tuned.
 
B

bobwb

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Dec 11, 2009
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Feb 16, 2011
#10
  • Feb 16, 2011
  • #10
how about a supercharger?
 

NOTCH_GUY

New Member
Jul 11, 2009
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N.E. PHILLY
Feb 16, 2011
#11
  • Feb 16, 2011
  • #11
The car has a Powerdyne on it. Its pushing about 8-9 lbs. Now I know they aren't great but its was on the car when I got it.
I also intend on buying a Vortech later. But I feel helping the engine breathe with a new top end would be more of a benefit at this point.
 
B

bgoins

Member
Feb 23, 2009
130
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hampton roads, virginia
Feb 16, 2011
#12
  • Feb 16, 2011
  • #12
I vote for TW heads, E cam and Explorer intake. Spend money where it counts.
 

NIKwoaC

中國製造
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Oct 31, 2006
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Feb 16, 2011
#13
  • Feb 16, 2011
  • #13
bgoins said:
I don't know about the core material, but even if the letter cams are old profiles, they still produce good results, and would be a good choice for a budget build.
Click to expand...

It all depends on what you classify as "good". You can get a letter cam and have "good" results, or you can spend $100 more and have "great" results.
 

NOTCH_GUY

New Member
Jul 11, 2009
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N.E. PHILLY
Feb 16, 2011
#14
  • Feb 16, 2011
  • #14
Don't the twisted wedge heads have 2.02 valves. I'm just being cautious, correct me if i'm wrong but i've read and have been told that 2.02 valves are too large for stock 5.0 pistons. I don't want have clearance issues. I don't think i'll gain much by changing out my cobra intake for an explorer manifold. I'm sure the "E" cam is good but I'm just trying to make as much power as I can for the money.
 

NIKwoaC

中國製造
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#15
  • Feb 16, 2011
  • #15
Twisted Wedge heads have repositioned valves compared to most other heads, and that's why you can get away with their bigger valves on stock pistons.
 

NOTCH_GUY

New Member
Jul 11, 2009
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Feb 16, 2011
#16
  • Feb 16, 2011
  • #16
Thats pretty cool. I didn't know that. But the price is still way higher than I can afford right now.
 

2000xp8

SN Certified Technician
Aug 8, 2003
8,015
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NJ
Feb 16, 2011
#17
  • Feb 16, 2011
  • #17
NOTCH_GUY said:
Thats pretty cool. I didn't know that. But the price is still way higher than I can afford right now.
Click to expand...

Keep an eye out, summit had them on sale for about $900 not long ago.
That's a bargain.
Summit owns Trick flow, so expect to see them on sale again (if they aren't now, i didn't look).
 
B

bgoins

Member
Feb 23, 2009
130
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hampton roads, virginia
Feb 17, 2011
#18
  • Feb 17, 2011
  • #18
NikwoaC said:
It all depends on what you classify as "good". You can get a letter cam and have "good" results, or you can spend $100 more and have "great" results.
Click to expand...

This is true for ALL performance parts. Faster equals more $. If the OP kept increasing his budget I'm sure he could put together an awesome top end.

To NikwoaC, you're right, my mistake, you wouldn't get any gain by changing to an explorer intake from a cobra intake.
 
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