Cams!

GTStatus

GTStatus

Well-Known Member
#1
#1
Hi guys :]
I decided that I need the Muscle Car sound in my car, so I wanna Cam it. Besides the Cams themselves, what else do I have to do?

My boyfriend's neighbor has a 1972 'Cuda and all she has done to it is a Cam. It stalls all the time. What would I need to do to make sure my car doesn't stall out?

Thaaaanks! :D

GT Status :awesomework:
 
EHA Racing

EHA Racing

Member Plus
#2
#2
You need to tune the car to the cams. Depending on how big of a cam you get you may need to change the convertor to a slightly higher stall.
 
C

Chris2kGT

Well-Known Member
#3
#3
If you want to cam the car go with Hitech motorsports. They have produced the best cams thus far for the 2v motor.

You can use the stock springs but it is just added insurance to go with an aftermarket setup. Nextek is considered by car the best spring to go with.

I really hope you are understanding how much a cam install is going to cost you! You are looking at with labor around 1100 dollars when all is said and done. That is unless you or your boyfriend can do it yourself.

The stalling is caused from a drop in vacuum, a chip or hand held tuner can take care of that but again you will need some dyno time and that will cost another 200-400 dollars.

Cams in the modular world are nothing like the old pushrod cars. If you want a muscle car sound I would recommend getting and off road H pipe and magnaflow mufflers as that is much easier on the wallet.
 
GTStatus

GTStatus

Well-Known Member
#4
#4
Yeah, I work for a mechanic and I looked up the labor to do Cams today and it's a little ridiculous. I already have a Bassani catback exhaust, but now I'm unsure whether to just get rid of the cats altogether or if I should go with an X or an H pipe. There's just so many options and possibilities I really have noooooo idea. :(
 
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FRKCHICAGO

Well-Known Member
#5
#5
Gears are the best bang for the buck.(4.10s) They will really perk up your car.Plus it wont cost an arm an a leg too install and you dont need a tune. IMO
 
T

ThePope

Well-Known Member
#7
#7
I had Mustang Magic install FRPP 3.37 gears and change the gear in the transmission for like $400 something bucks. Gears are definitely a good mod.
 
EHA Racing

EHA Racing

Member Plus
#8
#8
GTStatus said:
Yeah, I work for a mechanic and I looked up the labor to do Cams today and it's a little ridiculous. I already have a Bassani catback exhaust, but now I'm unsure whether to just get rid of the cats altogether or if I should go with an X or an H pipe. There's just so many options and possibilities I really have noooooo idea. :(
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X-pipe definately. At higher RPM's the exhaust gasses will blow by the bypass tube in a H-pipe. In an X pattern the gasses have no where to go but by each other. This balances out pressures on both sides of the engine and helps create a scavenging effect resulting in higher HP #'s. The sound of an X pipe is really cool too!
Uncork the intake side, let the gasses out faster and get some gears! Those are the best way to add some natural HP.
BTW: I recommend the Anderson Ford Motorsports power pipe for the cold air. Proven up to 25HP increase.
 
GTStatus

GTStatus

Well-Known Member
#9
#9
I'm definitely looking for a mean sound, obviously. Now with X-Pipes, can I or should I do headers? I'm looking for performance, too. My friend has a 1999 Trans Am WS6 with 430 HP and I can't hang out with him if I can't keep up with him!
 
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FRKCHICAGO

Well-Known Member
#11
#11
GTStatus said:
I'm definitely looking for a mean sound, obviously. Now with X-Pipes, can I or should I do headers? I'm looking for performance, too. My friend has a 1999 Trans Am WS6 with 430 HP and I can't hang out with him if I can't keep up with him!
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Unless you S/C,Turbo or shoot some Nitrous you will not keep up with your friend with just bolt-ons.
 
EHA Racing

EHA Racing

Member Plus
#12
#12
GTStatus said:
I'm definitely looking for a mean sound, obviously. Now with X-Pipes, can I or should I do headers? I'm looking for performance, too. My friend has a 1999 Trans Am WS6 with 430 HP and I can't hang out with him if I can't keep up with him!
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I would definately run headers. Long tubes will give you the best peformance but short tubes are great too. This month's feature of 5.0 and Superford did a test of 7 different long tube headers. I believe Kooks was the best and MAC wasn't far behind. BBK's are OK too but stay away from JBA!!
Like I said in the last post. I would install a Cold Air (not a cheap one), Good exhaust to include headers, x pipe and good flowing mufflers, and a nice set of gears. Those can be the foundation for any future upgrades because if you do anything radical like cams you are going to need those to help the cams work.
 
C

Chris2kGT

Well-Known Member
#13
#13
Well I would look at mustangexhuast.com to see what you like best, they have hundreds of sound clips. The x is raspier but will produce more hp up top. You said muscle car sound so I mentioned the H-pipe. Either way if you go with a midpipe you need to make sure you get the one for the correct manifold/header that you are going to run(shorty or longtube). Pypes headers are stainless steel and under 400 dollars. They are about the best performance to dollar ratio of the headers. Shorties unless tuned(equal) length are pointless on these cars as the factory logs are pretty good at flowing the lousy bit of air that our heads can manage to pass.

As for a CAI I would just drop in a K&N filter and remove the rubber snorkle unless you are looking for "bling". The best intake setup if you are looking for every little bit of hp is a short ram air intake with a plastic housing but that will only give you like 2-3hp more than the stock tubing with a K&N. DO NOT put the filter in the fenderwell there is more heat there believe it or not. This comes directly from the Modular know alls over at modulardepot.com and with that site still holding the record for N/A 2v I would give it a listen.

Gears installed if you find a good shop shouldn't cost more than 250-300 dollars for the install. With your auto and statement about not wanting to set it up for drag I would go with 3.73s gears. If you were to have it for drag I am all about big gears. I run 4.30s.
 
GTStatus

GTStatus

Well-Known Member
#14
#14
Well I already have a CAI, K&N actually like you mentioned. I know I wouldn't be able to keep up with the Trans Am with just bolt-ons. I was planning on doing a Supercharger but that's gonna be a little ways down the road. Right now I'm just trying to add a little HP at a time.

Long-tube headers are what I'm thinking about doing. Like I said, I have a Bassani Catback exhaust. Would an H- or and X-Pipe work with my catback or end up getting rid of it? 'Cuz I like the sound it makes already, I just want it louder!

Gears I've been told too, and a few people mentioned 3.73's so I guess I'll be looking into those. And on the Pipes -- should I try to match them up with my Catback and get Bassani's, or does it not matter? (I'll probably end up looking for Bassani's unless someone advises not to.)

And I assume the guys at Mustang Magic can take care of the Gears, right? Are they super expensive for stuff?
 
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FRKCHICAGO

Well-Known Member
#15
#15
You live in Long Island so gears will cost you around 400-450 thats parts and labor. With Long tubes you will need a tune, thats not cheap plus the install is a pain.At 90 hr it adds up but it is something that you will eventually need too do especially if you S/C your car. I dont really like quoting prices thats why I always suggest giving Joe a call and find out directly from him.
 
SSChris NY.

SSChris NY.

Member Plus
#17
#17
Cams are not worth the investment for the gains, plus your automatic you'll need a stall converter depending on the Cams, Gears are the way to go, your Ride is Auto, so do 410 and never look back, never fear the gears is what I always say, A Blower would be the way to go for the most gain for your bucks and like I said your Ride is Automatic, I would do a Centrifugal Pro-charger Stage II with air to air inter-cooler, thats the only way to go IMO
 
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FRKCHICAGO

Well-Known Member
#18
#18
GTStatus said:
lol Does that mean it costs more/less elsewhere? :p
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Parts cost the same pretty much everywhere but labor rates vary depending where you live. Labor rates are cheaper in certain parts of the country. Because NY state is so large labor rates say in Buffalo might be cheaper then LI.
 
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