cam debate.
wild or mild?
what are the benefits (preformance wise)?
what are the um...un-benefits?

and how rad would we sound at idle?

Rman

 

Cam theres a cam? Who makes a cam for a 4.2!!!!

 

Cams:

RPM Mustangs, Morana Racing, Super Six Motorsports.

They range from 200-500 dollars.

A great cam for NA guys is the 207/215 cam. I cant explain cams for much, so do a google if you dont understand what I mean with those numbers.

Ive heard of 40rwhp gains from these kind of cams. I personally like the cams from RPM for na, and SSMS for blown applications. You also needs gaskets and a couple other pieces to replace when you do the install. I imagine you could get it installed, done yourself, for about 500. Id guess around 800 if you had a shop do it.

The lope is awesome. For those of you who have not heard talleys truck at idle, its awesome.

Garrett

 

For a street application I'd stick with mild...especially if you want to get SOME fuel economy outta your vehicle.
I have a 207/215 cam that I'm gonna install next spring. Unfortunately I'm an idiot, and I didn't do it when I had the engine apart for the headswap anyway
The main drawback for a cam (that I can think of anyway) is the install. How comfortable are you with pulling parts off your engine and putting them back on the right way? If you plan to have someone else do it then you'll have to figure that cost into your budget as well. Your truck will use more gas...not sure how much more though, ask me in the spring Shouldn't kill it too much though.
Look for cams that are made for the 3.8 Mustang.
Blah...gotta go to work...I will write more later

 

So, if I understand this engine correctly, the 4.2 is simply a stroked 3.8. So, the cams are interchangable?

What else is interchangable between the 4.2 and 3.8?

 

Everything except exhaust systems and headers...although you could get the headers to fit if you had a shop work with them. There would be a couple of clearance issues with them. Other than that I think most everything else pretty much changes, but I'm not 100% on that.


Back on the cams, the downside to the cams is that you usually loose low end power. The up-side is that your high-end will kick some tail. The best combe you could do (and spend about $1500-$1800 on) is to do a 4.10/locker install with the cam that Garrett listed, and then get the chip/tuner to set the balance between the 2. That's a definate 35-50 rwhp gain plus your low end wouldn't suffer because of the 4.10's. I would say you could drop AT LEAST a full second if not a little more off your 1/4 mile with that setup. That's my intentions at least.

I have the chip and gears. I need to get the locker and cam gears, and then pay about $1000 bucks to have it all installed correctly. Is it worth it? I dunno...the cams would almost certainly void my warrantee, so I might never do it...but I like modding like a dog likes fire-hydrants.

Also, Talley's truck sounded like a freakin' V8 when he had his cams done. He basically did (all at once I think) the cams, ported heads, ported and polished lower intake, and the 4.10 gears with LSD. I think he gained like 60 rwhp with that setup, and it sounded awesome! You would have never guessed it was a 6.

 

The cam is easy to install, just takes a little time pulling all the stuff off the front of the motor, everything seems like it's stuck on the block =)

 

i want! where do i sign up? and whos gonna pay for me?

 

Just gotta remember on the 3.8/4.2 there is a little bolt hidden right by the oil pump. I ended up breaking the front cover cuz I *KNEW* I had all the bolts out and thought it was just stuck to the engine so I tried to pry it off
You will probably also have to pull the radiator so you can pull the cam out.

I suggest if your going to do ported heads/intake, some kind of blower or any other kind of major modifications you do them first. A cam can make or break a motor combo. When you're ready you should email the guys at either of the sites that Garrett listed, tell them what you have and what you want performance wise. They will recommend a grind for you that will best suit your application.
I've dealt with Mikael at RPM many times so he is the only one that I can personally recommend. I've never dealt with SSX or Morana, but I have never heard anything bad about either of them.

 

He only has 4.10s, a cam, and heads, oh, and an LSD.

Garrett

 

I'm pretty sure you don't have to pull the radiator, I don't remember pulling the radiator out when I helped put a cam in a '97 F150.

 

He's had a P&P's lower (or maybe it was the upper intake) intake for a long time now. He mentioned it to me when I went to H-town with him. He did it before he ever got the gears and stuff.

 

Okay, what's a good mild choice for a cam? If I have to buy a shortblock, I'm gonna get a little more juice outta this engine. Bear in mind, that I only want a "one step up from stock" type cam. I don't care if it lopes or not, just a little more pep.

 

If you had to buy another 4.2? Is that what your asking? I'm kinda confused...anyways, the cam (even mild cam) will affect your low and high end from what I understand. Your low end will be slower, but your high end will kick some tail. Our redline is about 5500 RPMs. Talley got a cam for his truck plus the Ported heads and his redline jumped to like 6200 RPMs. He HAD to buy 4.10's to get his low end correct. Just some food for thought.

 

I've been chasing a knocking noise at cold startup. It could be a rod bearing, wrist pin, or lifter. If it's a wrist pin, then I'll just run it 'til it croaks. I can do a rod bearing in the driveway. A lifter won't kill the engine, but maybe damage the cam,and necessitate a change.