Upgrades???? Need advice!!!
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
Upgrades???? Need advice!!!
I put a 302 short block from a newer model mustang(only had 50k on it) in my 1989 f-150 4x4. I only used the lower half and stayed all stock using the origanal heads, a new stock cam, etc. I have a set of gt40 heads and shorty headers that came withthe motor. The heads were just redone by a machine shop to be placed in a mustang with a 512 cam so I suspect the springs will be too tight for the stock cam. Will it be worth my money to change the spings and go to these heads? Will doing so improve gpm and or improve hp? I also have the shorty headers he was going to put in the mustang. Will using these help much? Oh, because of cost would it be better to get a cam to match the heads or would that destroy my mpgs? Any help in deciding what I want to do would be greatly appriciated. Just not sure what effects the changes would make.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
The cam you have now is it a stock HO cam or stock '89 truck cam? If it's the latter then an upgrade is a good idea, find a '94+ truck roller cam and add 1.7 rockers. The GT40 heads are better than the stock truck heads as well, if they have double springs that's a bit much so swap on a new set of single springs. Headers of any type are better than the manifolds but to realize any gains the stock cats have to go, if that is already the case then you're good to go.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
I bought the cam new to replace the 512 that was in it. I specifically asked for stock cam for my truck so I assume it is a stock '89 truck cam. This cam thing is greek to me because of so many different "generic" terms like " HO, Stock,and RV cam" etc. The srings are single but arn't there differences in the tension? I asked the shop that did the work but it had been so long they could not remember what spings they the used.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Yeah there is an endless variety of cams available and some terms like "RV" are way to generic to really tell you anything, but you can find out a lot about a cam with some simple measuring tools and basic observations.
Starting with what can be seen... that HO motor should have had a roller cam in originally, the cam would have had a polished finished on all lobes and bearing surfaces like in the pic below..
The lifters would have rollers on the tips..
And there would be a spider assembly in the lifter valley with dogbones around lifter pairs to prevent them from rotating in the bores..
Does you motor have these parts now or did it have it when you first got it?
Starting with what can be seen... that HO motor should have had a roller cam in originally, the cam would have had a polished finished on all lobes and bearing surfaces like in the pic below..
The lifters would have rollers on the tips..
And there would be a spider assembly in the lifter valley with dogbones around lifter pairs to prevent them from rotating in the bores..
Does you motor have these parts now or did it have it when you first got it?
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
Yes it had these parts but I went back with the old style lifters. I guess that answers my question, I don't have the HO setup. Any idea how much better off I'll be with performance and GPM if I change to the HO setup with the gt40 heads and the shorties?
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
What is this GPM you keep asking about?
Did you give away these parts to the engine builder or keep them? A complete factory roller cam assembly is easily worth several hundred dollars used since it can be reused in another motor and could cost $500-600 to replace while a flat tappet cam and lifters is only worth $150 new and cannot be reused.
If it were my motor I'd put a roller cam back in it, get a used mustang HO cam or stock '94 truck cam, both of these will produce much better power than what you have in there now.
Did you give away these parts to the engine builder or keep them? A complete factory roller cam assembly is easily worth several hundred dollars used since it can be reused in another motor and could cost $500-600 to replace while a flat tappet cam and lifters is only worth $150 new and cannot be reused.
If it were my motor I'd put a roller cam back in it, get a used mustang HO cam or stock '94 truck cam, both of these will produce much better power than what you have in there now.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
Sorry my fingers get crossed, I meant MPG(gas milage). Yes, the buddy I got the motor from only wanted the cam parts back. He got the motor from a wrecked mustang, changed cams and started putting it in his. Unfortunaetly some of the neighborhood hoodlems liked his intake and several hundred dollar carb systems and releived him of it when he wasn't home. So he gave me the motor less the cam for 300. A lot less than it was going to take me to rebuild the one I had.
I think I'll take your advice though and find a 94 or newer f-150 and get the cam and other parts I need from it. Surely it will help some. Just not sure how much. I currently get 14.5 pretty consistantly and that is with a nagging 41 code I've been fumbling over for months.
I think I'll take your advice though and find a 94 or newer f-150 and get the cam and other parts I need from it. Surely it will help some. Just not sure how much. I currently get 14.5 pretty consistantly and that is with a nagging 41 code I've been fumbling over for months.
