CAT Cams - Tune Update?

[svtguy88]

This is pretty much directed at Tom, but anyone who knows anything about aftermarket cams in an SVT/ST170 is welcome to chime in.

I got a tune through you (Tom) a while back, and I know you do free updates, as long as you stay N/A. I'm seriously considering getting a set of CAT Cams, but want to know what to/what not to expect before I spend that kind of money.

Obviously a dyno tune would be best, but have you done a mail order tune for cams?

**edit**

I'm also planning to keep VCT, unless there's a good reason not to.

[Sponsor]

[focusmaniaczx3]

tom will probably pipe in anyway but i think i can help in the mean time. tom is more than capable of doing a mail order tune for cams but YOU will be a bit more involved. there is a procedure to go through with a compression tester and slowly advancing or retarding the timing with adjustable cam gears to get the cams dialed in pretty close at which point tom will be able to get the tune bang on.

if you are planning on changing out both intake and exhaust cams you might want to do away with the VCT. it will open up more options for you for what cams you can run and you will not be able to run an adjustable cam gear on the intake cam with the VCT.

and it would be advisable to buy adjustable cam gears as well in case i missed that

[svtguy88]

The research that I've done makes me want to keep the VCT. It seems like most people do away with it due to the complexity of tuning, but my theory is that, when properly tuned, retaining the VCT should result in a wider power band.

That being said, I have limited access to a dyno, and am not afraid of getting my hands dirty...

[1turbofocus]

With adjustable cam gears you will be able to adjust the cams where they should be , with doing the VCT you could spend 2-22 hours sitting on a dyno to get the cams perfect , now saying that if you install the cams where you dont get an over or under advance it should be very close
Me if I were going to spend the money for the cams I would do adj cam gears , 3 inch exh and a new intake manifold with a 3 inch inlet all the way

Tom

[svtguy88]

Thanks for the reply Tom.

Right now, I'm looking at doing this grind with a Zetec head gasket for a bit more compression.

Do you have any comment on keeping/ditching VCT?

Also, do you have any input on what kind of gains to expect? No one seems to have any idea.

[svtguy88]

Originally Posted by 1turbofocus

..with doing the VCT you could spend 2-22 hours sitting on a dyno to get the cams perfect.

Sounds like fun to me. Dyno time should be cheap for me...I know someone setting up a shop, and he owes me.

[1turbofocus]

I only know of 2 people that ever did cams in a SVT , One was me and the other had a lot of boltons as well
I had almost 13.8 compression , hugh ported head , full 3 inch Exh , custom intake from filter back and made over 210HP to the wheels

I wouldnt raise the compression unless your going with fuel octane above 93 octane , your already 10.2 compression , adding just the cams with nothing else done isnt going to help you a lot , what other mods do you plan on doing other then compression

Tom

[svtguy88]

The only engine related mods on the car currently are a K/N drop in, a high flow cat and Borla catback. Oh, I wrapped the header and it has your tune for 93 from a while back.

I'm not opposed to other mods, but I was under the impression that the majority of other bolt-ons don't really get us too far (throttle body, for example). That's why I was going to try and up the compression a bit.

[svtguy88]

In semi-stock form, is the engine even capable of utilizing a full three inch exhaust?

[1turbofocus]

Yes it is , the more mods you add the more other mods needed to get all you can from then
It isnt mods that make the best HP/TQ its a combination of mods

Tom