I am looking into doing cams sometime in the next few months. I would like to do the VT stage 2 n/a cams, but money might not permit it right now. If I could do the install myself I would do the stage 2s but I dont really have space to do it. So I'm looking at getting the stage 1s. What kind of gains will I see with them with the mods I have and a new tune? Also, How well do they lope? I'm not one to buy cams just for the sound, but if I'm doing it, I want people to at least notice when I pull up to a light. Any help would be appreciated and if anyone has sounds clips that would be awesome. Oh and if anyone knows of any install prices around the northern cali area?Thanks.

 

it'll cost about 600-1000 to install them. VT's probably won't pass smog in California. Comps from 270's and down have been known to be able to but I don't know how much damage you have to do to the tune to accomplish it.

 

Yeah I figured they wouldnt pass smog. My car as is wont pass anyways. I have a year to figure that one out. Have you installed cams before r3dn3ck?

 

Dang dude, if you put cams in your ride I might be in trouble the next time I see you on the mean streetz of P town! ha ha ha

 

I just might have to get the cams and find out! haha

 

i have the comp 262 i think they are called saw a couple horse on a dyno but you will not have much lope at all they helped a little but not enough to recommend that small of a cam, do the comp 272's they sound awesome and they help a lot the will work on stock valve springs also

 

What do you mean you dont have the space to do the stage 2's? The only difference is you have to swap springs, that doesnt take up more space though.

 

I meant by space, is that I don't really have anywhere to work on the car. I live in an apartment.

 

Ok, now I understand. If you had space to install them youd get the stage 2's, but since you dont you want the stage 1's to bring labor costs down. The stage 1's will give you a noticable idle, but nothing like the stage 2's. People will notice them. Expect to gain about 20-25rwhp with a tune. Itll be on the low end of r3dn3ck price estimate since you arent doing springs. Just make sure the shop pulls the front cover and times them correctly. You dont want to let them use the "cam tool".

 

I've seen people with stage 1's make about 290ish horsepower with all the basic bolt ons.

 

Thanks guys and girls for the replys. I would love to do the stage 2s but I think for the price and also having to get gears would just be too much. I will get gears eventually, but man, the price for cams, gears, and install would kill me and not to mention the girlfriend!

 

you may be able to talk my neighbor into throwing a set of gears in on the side. He's the big cheif wrench at one of the local stang tuners. He lives just across the street from me... occasionally he'll do side work on the cheap. He does all my welding and drivetrain work. Probably cost you 150-200 for the install plus parts.

I have installed cams but only on my mockup motor. I can't imagine doing it myself with a motor inside the car. The springs can be a total rat bastard to get out and there's precious little room to work when you're trying to pop the follower fingers in (have to put them in after the cam is torqued down). I've always had the luxury of tinkering with cams on motors out of cars. Besides... that's why my neighbor is around. He's a pro and I can pay him to do it and know it's done right.

 

Damn I wish I had hookups like you r3dn3ck. I would love to know someone that would do work on the side and all that good stuff. Well as soon as I figure out what I'm gonna do, I just might have to look into seeing if your neighbor wouldnt have a problem doing some gears on the side.

 

Youll need gears before cams anyways.

 

I'll be getting cams installed here in about a week and a half now... I"m going with a stage 3 custom grind from a local shop they made 305rwhp and 315rwtq on an 01 gt A/T wiht LT's and full bolt ons. we'll see what it does for my car 5pd with same "mods" i was goign to install them myself but decided not to mess wiht swapping springs. the install is going to cost me 650 so its really not too bad ..i'll let you know what the numbers end up being

 

650 isn't bad for the cams and springs. Yeah let me know what you put down when its all done. What are the specs for those cams? Will you have to worry about PTV issues with a stage 3 cam?

 

there is no piston to valve issues unless you miss a shift and run it to 7k which i've seen done before with these cams... it didn't do anything to the motor just scarred the **** out of the guy driving did it coming out of the burnout box and the momentum of the car pushed the motor over the rev limiter.. so i'll be sure to check out the rpm when at the track... the specs are 238/232 duration 110 lobe sep .550/.500 lift

 

when me and my dad did the install of the stage 2's and valvesprings, the hardest part by far was getting the keepers back on the valves. Popping the followers in and all that goodness was simple after experiencing the keepers lol

 

Are LT headers a necesity if you go with Stage 2's?

 

you don't HAVE to have them.. but you're about crazy if you dont go with something besides the stock manifolds at least. You'll be missing out on some awesome hp/tq gains

 

+1. If you don't get longtubes at least put some FRPP or JBA shorties on. At least they're better than stock.

 

which makes you think.. especially if you're doing the install yourself and going through all the trouble.. why not just do LT's lol I love mine obviously

 

I'm glad I went with the LTs,I love them. It's jsut gonna suck next August when I have to get the car smogged. Damn California and their emissions. Not that polluting is good or anything, but I can't help but laugh sometimes when pulling up next to a prius and knowing that I'm making up their lack of pollution and then some.