Cam questions/recommend?

Nightmare · Aug 6, 2013

Car is a 2004 GT

Looking to do cams over winter however I don't know what one I am looking for to hit the intended results.

Right now my mods are as follows:

Accufab 75mm TB
Accufab 75mm plenum
JLT Cold Air Intake
bassani off road x pipe
borla stingers
3.73 gears
stage 2 clutch
Ford Racing Billit steel flywheel
SCT tuning

On Saturday I am picking up a set of Bassani Mid Length headers.....

So here are my questions.....What would be the optimum rpm range for a car that is street driven and spends a lot of time on the freeway? I am assuming that when they have a range of 2200-6000 rpm, that is where it really starts making its power, however wont fall on its face below that, right?

Are cam gears needed? How about replacing the intake?

Will I need to get a base tune first then a custom tune or will I be able to just drive it there when it is done then get it tuned?

Average hp gain?

About what would be the idle speed?

Fuel economy loss?

Any help would be appreciated....The goal is to be able to drive it on the street, but be able to drive it on a road course in the morning then turn some quick times at the drag strip in the afternoon.

DropTopPony · Aug 6, 2013

Sounds like a mild cam would be perfect for you. I I have used the comp 262ah and 270ah as well as vt/cms stage 2 na. I really liked the vt cams and swapped to their stage 2 blower cams when I changed my setup. You can't go wrong with cms Cushman motorsports stage 1 na cams. The stage 1 na are very street friendly and have a nice sound to them. You will gain @ 25hp but more when you get more mods. Gas mileage will go down because you will be hitting the gas pedal more.

Nightmare · Aug 7, 2013

DropTopPony said:
Sounds like a mild cam would be perfect for you. I I have used the comp 262ah and 270ah as well as vt/cms stage 2 na. I really liked the vt cams and swapped to their stage 2 blower cams when I changed my setup. You can't go wrong with cms Cushman motorsports stage 1 na cams. The stage 1 na are very street friendly and have a nice sound to them. You will gain @ 25hp but more when you get more mods. Gas mileage will go down because you will be hitting the gas pedal more.

Good info, and the gas mileage thing goes with out saying lol...25 hp.....that should put me damn close to 300 at the tire!

MustangChris · Aug 7, 2013

damn. 300 RW will feel awesome!!

Nightmare · Aug 8, 2013

MustangChris said:
damn. 300 RW will feel awesome!!

I hope so.....This is how my math works out:

Currently 261 rwhp
after headers 271 to 276 rwhp
after cams 296 to 301 rwhp

tq numbers should be in the 330's or better

DHGBullitt#193 · Aug 15, 2013

I currently have Houston Performances 292 cam. Nice sound a lope to them and made great numbers. Went with these bc i didnt have to do springs with this specific cam. Put down 303hp/304hp with longtubes, off road h, borlas and a JLT ram air intake. Also with mine being a Bullitt has the Bullitt intake so prob will differ from the stock PI intake.

chris91 · Aug 15, 2013

Im running the Hytech Stage 2 Cams in mine. LOVE them. Sound wicked and definitely has power all the way around. BUT I do have Fox Lake Stage 2 heads too. No need to notch your pistons or anything with them.

Nightmare · Aug 15, 2013

Thanks for the input guys....keep them coming.....

duff daddy · Sep 4, 2013

Car is a 2004 GT

Looking to do cams over winter however I don't know what one I am looking for to hit the intended results.

Right now my mods are as follows:

Accufab 75mm TB
Accufab 75mm plenum
JLT Cold Air Intake
bassani off road x pipe
borla stingers
3.73 gears
stage 2 clutch
Ford Racing Billit steel flywheel
SCT tuning

On Saturday I am picking up a set of Bassani Mid Length headers.....

So here are my questions.....What would be the optimum rpm range for a car that is street driven and spends a lot of time on the freeway? I am assuming that when they have a range of 2200-6000 rpm, that is where it really starts making its power, however wont fall on its face below that, right?

That is where the car will make power, normall not that large of a large of a range.

Are cam gears needed? How about replacing the intake?

No cam gears need unless you want to be super cool and use degreeable cam gears ...
http://www.cloyes.com/Portals/10/News Items/New Products HP/2009-12-04/4-6L_2012_with_2v_and_4v.pdf

Replace the intake? no need, as long as you keep the cam smaller then a comp 270, you will keep it in the sub 6400 rpm range then the stock PI manifold will still breathe fine with the Accufab up top.

Will I need to get a base tune first then a custom tune or will I be able to just drive it there when it is done then get it tuned?

Yes you will need to get a tune. also need slightly larger injectors and a larger pump, I think the hot setup is the focus pump.

Average hp gain?

I went from stock hp to 285ish, final tune put me at 304/310

About what would be the idle speed?

I left my idle at 1000-1050 just so it wouldnt have any type of issue idling. I didnt care how it sounded at idle but it did sound good.
I had shorty bbk header, bbk off road h, magnaflow mufflers and some normal tail pipes. Here is my youtube account
http://www.youtube.com/user/12secsn95

Fuel economy loss?

I would see 300 mpg with a full tank of drag radials and skinnies on the car.

Any help would be appreciated....The goal is to be able to drive it on the street, but be able to drive it on a road course in the morning then turn some quick times at the drag strip in the afternoon.

You should be able to but you need see what type of course your running, what type of speeds, tire size and rear gear.....all of this plays a factor in what cam and how the car will perform.