Cam question

jojo22 · Mar 2, 2011

Goals this summer are fix fuel pump, 4.10 gears, and a PI intake with a cam change.

Question is what cam to run. I want something that will not require a tune yet will sound more aggressive than stock. I recently heard a clip of a set of Comp 270's on here and loved it, so something close to that (or that if it will work with my NPI heads).

So what are your thoughts?

MadStang · Mar 2, 2011

jojo22 said:
Goals this summer are fix fuel pump, 4.10 gears, and a PI intake with a cam change.

Question is what cam to run. I want something that will not require a tune yet will sound more aggressive than stock. I recently heard a clip of a set of Comp 270's on here and loved it, so something close to that (or that if it will work with my NPI heads).

So what are your thoughts?

I recommend getting tuned for any cams, the car will not run great if you don't.

I run HP292's currently. I gained 50rwhp alone with the cams and under the power curve is high torque and decent power. The have a nice lope and are a very drivable set of cams.

Most aggressive cams like 270's will not idle at the stock 750rpm's. Just FYI.

jojo22 · Mar 2, 2011

So if a tune is in order then would the 270's work and produce good power?

MadStang · Mar 2, 2011

jojo22 said:
So if a tune is in order then would the 270's work and produce good power?

I just looked up the specs on the 270's, I don't think youll be able to run them without PTV issues. they are high lift cams and mid length duration. They're meant for PI and I just don't think it'd be possible to run them on an NPI headed block.

Check out MHS or Houston Performance (HP292's). MHS sells NPI grinds and HP292's are receives so they retain stock lift which an NPI can handle.

jojo22 · Mar 2, 2011

Just for my learning here, I thought the PI heads had issues with PTV clearance over the NPI heads due to the valves on the PI heads being "thicker" for lack of a better word, and that the NPI heads had more clearance.

jojo22 · Mar 2, 2011

So if I went with the ported PI intake from MHS and got their NA stage 2 cams, what type of gain would I see over gettign the PI intake and the regular used 2V romeo cams? Also is the porting worth the $74 extra dollars, and if I bought their "parts kit" would there be anything else I needed to install the intake?

MadStang · Mar 2, 2011

jojo22 said:
Just for my learning here, I thought the PI heads had issues with PTV clearance over the NPI heads due to the valves on the PI heads being "thicker" for lack of a better word, and that the NPI heads had more clearance.

The lift is too high for NPI heads it will have PTV issues.

jojo22 said:
So if I went with the ported PI intake from MHS and got their NA stage 2 cams, what type of gain would I see over gettign the PI intake and the regular used 2V romeo cams? Also is the porting worth the $74 extra dollars, and if I bought their "parts kit" would there be anything else I needed to install the intake?

from stock NPI you're going to pick up a bit of horsepower, the real gains would be swapping to PI heads which honestly I recommend doing before choosing cams. you'll gain at least 50whp just from heads, add a set of cams and a PI intake and youll be upwards of 70-100rwhp gains. I believe there kit comes with everything you need and honestly if you're not blown it wouldn't really help to much to port the stock manifold it already provides sufficient gains as is.

jojo22 · Mar 2, 2011

Thanks!! That answers one question but opens up more..LOL..sorry to be a thorn in the side, but from what I had read researching the PI headswap wasn't worth the money??

If I did swap heads then I would need to purchase PI cams to go with correct?? I only want to break this thing down and put it together once, so if the heads ARE worth it I might as well save up and do them at the same time. Also if I got the stage 2 package (heads and cams) with the PI intake and install kit, would I need anything else, will these fit under stock valve covers and such or does it leave me changing more stuff??

MadStang · Mar 2, 2011

jojo22 said:
Thanks!! That answers one question but opens up more..LOL..sorry to be a thorn in the side, but from what I had read researching the PI headswap wasn't worth the money??

If I did swap heads then I would need to purchase PI cams to go with correct?? I only want to break this thing down and put it together once, so if the heads ARE worth it I might as well save up and do them at the same time. Also if I got the stage 2 package (heads and cams) with the PI intake and install kit, would I need anything else, will these fit under stock valve covers and such or does it leave me changing more stuff??

if you can find yourself a set heads for cheap it's worth it. I'll be throwing mine up for sale late this year once I swap in my new motor. I have hp292's on them and I'd probably sell the whole setup for $450 plus shipping which is what I paid for the cams alone. Just gotta know where to look for some deals.

Yes you'll need to run PI cams. That would be all you'd need, I'd speak to nick at MHS before you buy just to make sure you've got everything you need. Yes they'll fit under the valve covers so long as the heads you buy are 01-04. 99-00 mustangs are windsor motors and they have a different bolt pattern for the valve covers.

jojo22 · Mar 2, 2011

Thanks!!

red95r · Mar 2, 2011

Hmm I was under the impression the the PI heads only added 10-12hp at best. And that the cams and intake were the money shot as far as Hp goes.

good to know.

MadStang · Mar 2, 2011

red95r said:
Hmm I was under the impression the the PI heads only added 10-12hp at best. And that the cams and intake were the money shot as far as Hp goes.

good to know.

the heads boost the compression ratio through the roof which helps pwer a bit but yes the cams and intake as a package with the heads will net the most gains because it's maximizing the higher lift the PI heads are capable of. So basically yes, the intake and cams are what bring the power the heads supplement by being capable of the higher rpms where modulars make most of the power.

duff daddy · Mar 3, 2011

10.2ish:1 is not "through the roof"

Ported heads, comp 270's and pi intake on a STOCK npi bottom end made 304 and ran a 12.6 in the 1/4. Ran pump gas, idled 1,000 perfect, never had a hot soak issue, never had an issue starting hot or cold. Didnt lope real bad at an idle but it was more important for the driveability then "what it sounded like"

Duffy

MadStang · Mar 3, 2011

Duff Daddy said:
10.2ish:1 is not "through the roof"

Ported heads, comp 270's and pi intake on a STOCK npi bottom end made 304 and ran a 12.6 in the 1/4. Ran pump gas, idled 1,000 perfect, never had a hot soak issue, never had an issue starting hot or cold. Didnt lope real bad at an idle but it was more important for the driveability then "what it sounded like"

Duffy

compared to the stock, it's a relatively big jump. You didn't have any PTV issues with the 270's and NPI heads?

duff daddy · Mar 3, 2011

I had Pi heads, thought I put that on there.

MadStang · Mar 3, 2011

Duff Daddy said:
I had Pi heads, thought I put that on there.

Roger Dodger.

Willis_98GT · Mar 3, 2011

Duff Daddy said:
10.2ish:1 is not "through the roof"

Ported heads, comp 270's and pi intake on a STOCK npi bottom end made 304 and ran a 12.6 in the 1/4. Ran pump gas, idled 1,000 perfect, never had a hot soak issue, never had an issue starting hot or cold. Didnt lope real bad at an idle but it was more important for the driveability then "what it sounded like"

Duffy

i'll second this,

my 98 has pi heads, comp 270s and full bolt ons and rapes.. you will love it bro

jojo22 · Mar 3, 2011

So I guess my final question here is if I went with the stage 2 heads and the stage 2.5 cam from MHS with the ported intake and a set of long tubes what type of gains should I expect??