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Old Nov 14, 2009 | 11:11 PM
  #1  
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cam swap

ok guys here it is. i wana do a cam swap on a 2002 4.6 4x4. i know that the timing gear is on the can an i have found some at rpmoutlet.com. i really love the sound of cams plus i want more tourque. any info will help, specs or anything.
 
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Old Nov 15, 2009 | 11:14 AM
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Loping cams = less torque so it's one or the other!!!!
 
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Old Nov 15, 2009 | 01:13 PM
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I think you have probably done all you can for your 4.6. You have an intake, exhaust and headers correct? I would now have a custom tune done and accept that you have reached the limit of the engines potential, short of spending thousands on forced induction.

The above is correct, cams you can hear are going to eat away at the torque you have. They function to move power up the rpm range while sacrificing the bottom end. HP would go up, torque would move up the rpm range. That isn't what you want on a truck.

Doing a 5.4L swap would get you ~50 lb/ft.
 
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Old Nov 15, 2009 | 04:28 PM
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hmmm, okay well i thought all cams loped but the cams i found were for 4x4's. guess i wont get the loping of cams but i can live with that if i can turn my 35" tires better in the mud.
 
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Old Nov 16, 2009 | 02:51 PM
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I SAY GO WITH A STAGE 1 COMP CAMS OF SOMETHING THAT STARTS TO WORK @ ABOUT 1500 RPM'S TO 4000 RPM IF YO WANT MORE TQ.
 
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Old Nov 27, 2009 | 09:31 PM
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A cam can be spec'd to produce comparable low end torque to the stock cams but run away as power climbs. They won't be big lopers though.

You'll want an intake biased cam grind with less than 220 degrees duration on the intake side. Something like a 216/212 (@ .50) .550"/.525" on 109/111 LCs.

The limits to that 4.6 have hardly been reached.
 
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Old Nov 28, 2009 | 09:37 AM
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Originally Posted by Big Bad
The limits to that 4.6 have hardly been reached.
Right...all he has to do is invest the amount of moeny he already has into the truck, say at least $5k, and then you could really see some power from that 4.6. Not much torque, but plenty of power.

Or, for the same money, transplant a Lightning engine and trans which makes 360/440 stock. Show me a 4.6 NA that makes 440 ft/lbs that didn't cost $10k to build.

You can do anything with enough money. You just might want to consider your options and find the most cost effective mods. Unless you have plenty of money that is, then play away.
 
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Old Nov 28, 2009 | 01:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Big Greenie
Right...all he has to do is invest the amount of moeny he already has into the truck, say at least $5k, and then you could really see some power from that 4.6. Not much torque, but plenty of power.
2V custom grinds can be had for ~$600 new. It is possible to improve torque over the stock PI cams.

Or, for the same money, transplant a Lightning engine and trans which makes 360/440 stock. Show me a 4.6 NA that makes 440 ft/lbs that didn't cost $10k to build.
Reaching the limits of the 4.6, and matching the output of the s/c 5.4 are two entirely different goals. How about not shifting targets to prevent from being wrong?
 
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Old Nov 28, 2009 | 09:11 PM
  #9  
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Where exactly was I wrong? He asked for loping cams, I suggested such cams would eat away at his torque not improve it. If I am not mistaken, you agreed with that. I never said you couldn't find a grind that improved torque.

Fact is, the 4.6 is way too little motor for a lifted truck trying to turn 35's (or any full size truck).

What are you going to pick up, 20 lb/ft? is that worth $600 and the hassle to replace them? Not in my book, but to each his own.
 
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Old Nov 28, 2009 | 11:55 PM
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it was my fault, i thought all cam had a loping to them, but i see other wise i was wrong. but swaping motors is to much of a hassle and i dont have that kind of cash. i really dont care about gas milage,10mpg rite now,i dont drive that far. all i want is more power on the low end to get me through the thick stuff. if you talking big power i can get a twin turbo setup for about 1800 bucks and istall it in about a day- instead of getting a lightning motor which is just a supercarged 5.4L- imo. but like i said, no money. ive done all the small stuff- intake, exhaust, gears and now finnally a programer.
 
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Old Nov 29, 2009 | 02:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Big Greenie
Where exactly was I wrong?
Originally Posted by Big Greenie
I would now have a custom tune done and accept that you have reached the limit of the engines potential, short of spending thousands on forced induction.
In bold...
 
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Old Nov 29, 2009 | 09:19 AM
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Well gee...that happens to be my opinion. There is very little that can be done to cost effectively increase the power of his engine. If you read the OP's posts, cost effective is the focus, not what you could or would do with unlimited funds.

This isnt the Mustang forum last I checked. Doing cams in a 4.6 fitted to a 3000 lb car would make sense to me and give you a boost you could feel. Fitting cams to a 4.6 in a 5500 lb truck turning 35" tires isn't going to give you a boost you can feel. Hence, for all practical and cost effective purposes, the engine has reached its potential with the bolt ons he has used. The headers were certainly a better move than cams I go go on and on. If you want to be "right" and have the last word, go for it buddy, show us what and expert you are. Post up some dyno sheets showing impressive torque gains on a 4.6 for cheap. I'd love to see them, might even lend some creedence to your posts.
 
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Old Nov 30, 2009 | 06:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Big Greenie
Well gee...that happens to be my opinion. There is very little that can be done to cost effectively increase the power of his engine. If you read the OP's posts, cost effective is the focus, not what you could or would do with unlimited funds.

This isnt the Mustang forum last I checked. Doing cams in a 4.6 fitted to a 3000 lb car would make sense to me and give you a boost you could feel. Fitting cams to a 4.6 in a 5500 lb truck turning 35" tires isn't going to give you a boost you can feel. Hence, for all practical and cost effective purposes, the engine has reached its potential with the bolt ons he has used. The headers were certainly a better move than cams I go go on and on. If you want to be "right" and have the last word, go for it buddy, show us what and expert you are. Post up some dyno sheets showing impressive torque gains on a 4.6 for cheap. I'd love to see them, might even lend some creedence to your posts.
Headers and cams are complimentary. For $600 plus a retune I can promise a set of cams spec'd for torque preservation will make a bit more torque than the PI cams down low along with a top end increase you will definitely feel.

Cams do not equal torque loss. Off the shelf cams spec'd for a Mustang intake manifold will result in a turdly F150. You and I clearly aren't talking about the same thing.
 
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