Need cam advice?

[Davey G]

Hey Guys,

I'm new here to the forum, but not to Mustangs. I have a 2001 GT convertible with a K&N CAI, 4:10 gears, trans-go shift kit, custom exhaust and a SCT tuner. I really want to throw a set of cams in it but dont want to break the bank doing it. I want a good power increase with a lopey idle while still being able to pass emissions. I am a pretty mechanically inclined person and would like to do this install myself so I need to know what tools and parts I will need besides the cams. My car only has 44,000 miles on it, so will I need to replace the valve springs? Any help here would be greatly appreciated guys!

[Greg@GLD]

Welcome to MMA. :D

A couple guys on here have done 4.6 cam swaps. Tony (Ghost) and Steven (Fatstang)
Both run 12's with 2-Valve GT's and they did the swaps themselves. Hopefully one or both will see this post and reply.

[Ghost]

Hey Guys,

I'm new here to the forum, but not to Mustangs. I have a 2001 GT convertible with a K&N CAI, 4:10 gears, trans-go shift kit, custom exhaust and a SCT tuner. I really want to throw a set of cams in it but dont want to break the bank doing it. I want a good power increase with a lopey idle while still being able to pass emissions. I am a pretty mechanically inclined person and would like to do this install myself so I need to know what tools and parts I will need besides the cams. My car only has 44,000 miles on it, so will I need to replace the valve springs? Any help here would be greatly appreciated guys!


I like and use the VT engines stage 1 cams

I have not had the car on the dyno since they went in but I picked up about 5 mph in the 1/4

with having a 2001 (romeo motor) the swap is not that bad. Fatstang can give you a little more info on the swap and what you will need because I needed a lot more then him since I have a 2000 (windsor motor) he also have dyno sheets to back up his numbers

has for the valve springs VT states with the stage 1s they are not needed but if you go any higher in lift yes they will be need

for the specs on the cams look here www.vtengines.com

[Ghost]

Welcome to MMA. :D

A couple guys on here have done 4.6 cam swaps. Tony (Ghost) and Steven (Fatstang)
Both run 12's with 2-Valve GT's and they did the swaps themselves. Hopefully one or both will see this post and reply.


Greg im shooting for a 12.5 or faster on the 5th and I know the car has it in her it just if i do :thumbs_up

[Greg@GLD]

Greg im shooting for a 12.5 or faster on the 5th and I know the car has it in her it just if i do :thumbs_up


:beer:

[Nick 1]

Torch Red GT has also done the 2V cam swap with good results @ the track.

Valve springs upgrades depend on the cam. Torch did valve springs on his car.

You'll enjoy the extra power of the cam swap. :burnout:

[Fatstang]

I love my VT stage 1 cams. they have a lift of .540intake and .550exhuast, anything above a .550 lift, you'll need to change the valve springs. I rev to 6k-6100 all day and they are holding up just fine. It give a lopey idle, but nothing crazy, but you can tell the car has cams right away. I used to have a small vid posted here with the car idling, i think Dufkis hosted it for me. The beauty about these mild cams is that you can make great power with the stock intake manifold. Headers are a must though regardless, these cams need to breathe. A lot of people i see get the stage 2 cams with the valve springs and have a muscle car idle, but complain about not making big power, that's because they need an aftermarket intake manifold. I gained from these cams, untuned, 24rwhp and 10rwft/lbs! Tony has the dyno vid:D The car idles like a champ on it's own, every once in awhile i'll have to pop rev it when coming to a stop from keeping it from dying. Installing cams are easier than doing headers on the 4.6. If you have a mid 2001, then you have a Romeo motor like myself, which have bolted on cams, the 99-mid 01 Windsor's have pressed on cams and requires more work. I used the AFM (Anderson Ford) Tool. It's a tool, fabricated just for SOHC cam swaps. The harders part really was to remove the vale cover, since there is little room to lift them over the cam girdles. The AFM tool wedges in the timing chains, preventing the timing to be off, (keep from the chains jumping a tooth). Check this out, this should answer a lot of your questions.
http://forums.modulardepot.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=48430&highlight=AFM+tool+cam+swap

[Fatstang]

Comps cams make some cams for the 4.6, but i hear alot of PTV contact problems.

[Davey G]

How can I tell for sure whether I have a mid 2001 or not?

[Fatstang]

count the valve cover bolts, i believe the Romeo's have 11 per cover versus 13 on the windsor, or i may be backwards on that. i'll have to look at mine again.
EDIT, just popped my hood, Romeo's DO have 11 valve cover bolts.

[Nick 1]

How can I tell for sure whether I have a mid 2001 or not?


I can run your vin # @ work & tell you which motor you have. :D

[Ghost]

you can look on the drivers side head/cam cover and it should have a sticker that say romeo or windsor

[Nick 1]

Steve, I have a off road prochamber, and flowmaster exhaust. Is that free flowing enough for these cams or would headers still be a must if so what kind do you recommend shortys or what ?


Longtubes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Fatstang]

Yes longtubes or Mid-Lengths, but only Bassani makes mid lengths and are super pricey! Headers, i'd use, Hooker, MAC, BBK and SLP.

[ponyride00]

I need cams also.

[Davey G]

I dont have headers, but I do have a Bassani X-pipe with custom cat back. This should flow just fine for a set of stage 1 cams because I'm not buying a set of headers right now. Our stock exhaust manifolds are some of the best flowing manifolds EVER created!

[Fatstang]

Better than the 5.0's for sure!