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Thread: cam upgrade.

  1. #1

    Default cam upgrade.

    who all has upgraded there cam .and what did you go with .im looking into changing mine .nothing wrong with the factory one in it just thinking about something to add some more excitement to my drive.
    I would rather be juged by 12 than carried by 6

  2. #2

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    Everyone has a different definition of "upgrade". Most people think just changing something out for something else is an upgrade. Depends on your goals I suppose. If you're looking for more power I would want to see before and after either timed runs or before and after dyno runs or even fuel mileage comparisons if that is your goal to conclude a cam change is an "upgrade". "It feels a lot stronger" does not qualify as an improvement to me. I know a lot of people swap in a Ranger cam. I don't believe I've ever seen any dyno tests of a single one with only a cam change from before and after. They swap out a Boport head AND cam, header etc. I know I've owned 2 2.3 roller Rangers and I would have to add weight to either one to actually get it to hit the ground if I shoved them out of a tree. I would start with more gear if you are in search of bang for your buck but I understand that is not what you asked about, just a suggestion from a former Huntington resident! Good luck on your search.
    Last edited by homer302; 09-09-2018 at 02:07 PM.

  3. #3
    FEP Power Member Ourobos's Avatar
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    On a stock engine, not a lot to be gained by JUST swapping the cam. It should be the brain to the rest of the heart of the car once it's upgraded. You could get a custom cut and dyno tune and maybe gain 20+ hp.
    1986 CHP SSP Coupe

  4. #4
    FEP Super Member erratic50's Avatar
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    The focus when it comes to cam needs to be area under the curve. The stock HO cam works exceptionally well for what it is. You actually go backwards on performance with most of the alternatives like letter cams on a Stock motor.

    stock E6 Heads flow 155 CFM intake, E7 flow 160. Meanwhile the intakes are 110 front and rear cyl, 130 for the other 6 holes.

    Get rid of the air restrictions and the car will perform vastly better.

    Port or replace the Stock headers

    Ditch the stock intake. If your funds are constrained buy used. Explorer is great for 5800 RPM or less. Cobra and tubular GT40 are good to 6500. Trick Flow and Edelbrock are idle - 6500.

    I run a Typhoon EFI on my 1986GT that I sourced on EBay new for $200. Idle - 6500


    Get a bigger throttle body. I converted an Explorer 65MM with a FMS EGR spacer


    if you run MAF EFI ditch the 58MM MAF meter. It needs to be bigger to flow enough air.


    If you want more cam, 1.7:1 rockers will give you less separation, more duration, and more lift

    If you do a head swap then it nakes makes sense to consider cam, but only if you are not getting what you want. There are many documented cases of a 302 shortblock with AFR165’s or Edelbrock heads or Trick Flow with good induction and exhaust making over 400 HP wit the Stock cam

    If you decide to do a cam swap, do it once and do it right. Get your heads and intake and gears all well defined. Stroke it if you are going to. Then call up Flowtech and get one custom ground


    Bigger is never better when it comes to cams. Right size is what you want

    good luck!

  5. #5

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    It's a 2.3 l turbo four-cylinder. Intercooled about 18 pounds of boost
    I would rather be juged by 12 than carried by 6

  6. #6
    FEP Super Member erratic50's Avatar
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    That thing sounds pissed off. It might start screaming ‘I coulda had a V8’ if you’re not careful. Lol


    missed which thread it’s in. My mistake.

    probably eating V8’s for breakfast anyway
    Last edited by erratic50; 09-10-2018 at 11:10 PM.

  7. #7
    FEP Power Member Ourobos's Avatar
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    My last 2.3T I had was running 18psi as well, I just went with a Ranger roller cam. I ran the stock IHI to the max, was a blast from 1500 RPM up. What's in it now and what's the goals?
    1986 CHP SSP Coupe

  8. #8

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    Factory all the way around. It came with the small van 30 pound injectors and I changed that. I repinned and La 3 computer out of a 87 Turbo Coupe. Installed 35 pound injectors and a big van that goes with it. Added a front mount intercooler. Because the factory car did not come with an intercooler. Added a boost tee and boost gauge. 3 inch elbow from Turbo all the way out the rear with a Magnaflow Muffler. Other than that it's all stock stock flat tappet camshaft that came with it it runs pretty good but I'm sure a little better cam would make a big difference from mid to Upper range. Lots of guys ran the a 234 flat tappet or a 237 roller from Ford Racing or Motorsports whatever. But those cans are very very hard to find now I haven't been able to find any. I do have a guy that does custom grinds. May go that route
    I would rather be juged by 12 than carried by 6

  9. #9
    FEP Power Member SchoolBoy's Avatar
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    Ok there were different stock cams the 84-85 svo cams might be the same as the 83-84 turbo Gt/Rs, but the 85.5-86 cams are bigger. When I rebuilt my first motor I had deltacams cut me a New Blank to stock 86 spec. Do Not accept a reground cam unless you have longer valve stems! The dyno results of that cam can be seen in the link in my signature. But I love it in my svo thats daily driven. I've always been tempted to try the boport 1.1 or 1.5 but I've never seen a dyno chart to compair the tq curve to mine.

    Also keep in mind what turbo you have as that will play a roll in how and when boost come in and for how long.
    If you blink at the end of the straight away you'll miss the twisties and what fun would that be!
    1982 Capri RS 5.0L
    Suspension Build http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...tion-and-Build
    1985 SVO 2A & leather. Stolen & Destroyed 2022
    Motor Build http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?t=63505
    Dyno stats and exhaust install http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...Dyno-d-finally
    My FMIC build http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...-amp-D-project
    Electronic boost controller and bypass valve
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...d-Bypass-Valve
    Opperation SVO Tunes http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...51#post1148551

  10. #10
    FEP Power Member SchoolBoy's Avatar
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    Also most people who have the a234/237 (same cam grind just flat vs roller) say the car is worthless till you get above 3k rpms and its very peaky power band.
    If you blink at the end of the straight away you'll miss the twisties and what fun would that be!
    1982 Capri RS 5.0L
    Suspension Build http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...tion-and-Build
    1985 SVO 2A & leather. Stolen & Destroyed 2022
    Motor Build http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?t=63505
    Dyno stats and exhaust install http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...Dyno-d-finally
    My FMIC build http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...-amp-D-project
    Electronic boost controller and bypass valve
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...d-Bypass-Valve
    Opperation SVO Tunes http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...51#post1148551

  11. #11
    FEP Power Member 86-TC/SVO's Avatar
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    My 86 "Low Mile 30k" SVO almost bone stock w/Gillis valve and an open K&N air filter on dyno was 185hp to wheels @18psi. My Dad's 88 TC w/Ranger roller cam and stock T3 Turbo upgrade from stock IHI was on dyno 225hp to wheels @18psi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM0OsJSPbuc and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpkGLuKrVSo
    86' SVO 1C # 17 of 3379 86's #6475 of 9837
    86' SVO 1C #497 of 3379 86's #6955 of 9837
    84' GT Turbo #4 of 3241 GT Turbo HB's #560 of 3935
    87' Thunderbird TC 1 of 10
    http://www.foureyedpride.com/content...e-of-the-Month

  12. #12
    FEP Power Member SchoolBoy's Avatar
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    Only thing I can think of is the la3 might have pulled smoother than the svo PE got to aggressive and pulled some timing. That or bigger exhaust on the bird?
    If you blink at the end of the straight away you'll miss the twisties and what fun would that be!
    1982 Capri RS 5.0L
    Suspension Build http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...tion-and-Build
    1985 SVO 2A & leather. Stolen & Destroyed 2022
    Motor Build http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?t=63505
    Dyno stats and exhaust install http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...Dyno-d-finally
    My FMIC build http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...-amp-D-project
    Electronic boost controller and bypass valve
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...d-Bypass-Valve
    Opperation SVO Tunes http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...51#post1148551

  13. #13
    FEP Power Member 86-TC/SVO's Avatar
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    The SVO has stock everything except what was mentioned. 88 TC has a 3" down pipe, no cat, 2.5" dual exhaust w/ Dynomax ultra flow mufflers.
    86' SVO 1C # 17 of 3379 86's #6475 of 9837
    86' SVO 1C #497 of 3379 86's #6955 of 9837
    84' GT Turbo #4 of 3241 GT Turbo HB's #560 of 3935
    87' Thunderbird TC 1 of 10
    http://www.foureyedpride.com/content...e-of-the-Month

  14. #14
    FEP Power Member SchoolBoy's Avatar
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    Ok so ya the exhaust made the difference in power then. Do you happen to have both graphs?


    FYI you post 2 vids of the TC. Not sure if that was a mistake.
    If you blink at the end of the straight away you'll miss the twisties and what fun would that be!
    1982 Capri RS 5.0L
    Suspension Build http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...tion-and-Build
    1985 SVO 2A & leather. Stolen & Destroyed 2022
    Motor Build http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?t=63505
    Dyno stats and exhaust install http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...Dyno-d-finally
    My FMIC build http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...-amp-D-project
    Electronic boost controller and bypass valve
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...d-Bypass-Valve
    Opperation SVO Tunes http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...51#post1148551

  15. #15

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    Yes I got on xr4ti site and was checking info. The GT Turbo cars have the little cam. And the late model SV0 have the bigger cam. So I'm looking for one I guess
    I would rather be juged by 12 than carried by 6

  16. #16
    FEP Power Member SchoolBoy's Avatar
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    Well I wouldn't trust a used one unless you pulled it yourself. They are slider cams so the followers are mated to the cam lobes. A new one through deltacams will be in the $250-300ish range (I'm guessing, been 10yrs since I bought mine.) So for $150 more your now into a boport roller. I urge you to weigh your budget, vs the lucky junk yard find, vs new....
    If you blink at the end of the straight away you'll miss the twisties and what fun would that be!
    1982 Capri RS 5.0L
    Suspension Build http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...tion-and-Build
    1985 SVO 2A & leather. Stolen & Destroyed 2022
    Motor Build http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?t=63505
    Dyno stats and exhaust install http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...Dyno-d-finally
    My FMIC build http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...-amp-D-project
    Electronic boost controller and bypass valve
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...d-Bypass-Valve
    Opperation SVO Tunes http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...51#post1148551

  17. #17
    FEP Power Member 86-TC/SVO's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SchoolBoy View Post
    Ok so ya the exhaust made the difference in power then. Do you happen to have both graphs?


    FYI you post 2 vids of the TC. Not sure if that was a mistake.
    I'm not sure on my Dad's graph's. Mine are some where do not know where, I stopped carrying them in the car awhile ago.

    The first vid has the 1rst and 2nd pull. The second vid had the 3rd pull. Both different vids.
    86' SVO 1C # 17 of 3379 86's #6475 of 9837
    86' SVO 1C #497 of 3379 86's #6955 of 9837
    84' GT Turbo #4 of 3241 GT Turbo HB's #560 of 3935
    87' Thunderbird TC 1 of 10
    http://www.foureyedpride.com/content...e-of-the-Month

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