Aftermarket Cams

[nastang87xx]

I’ll confirm that heads/cam talk. I went down that rabbit hole with my C5Z06. Wanted a medium budget build. Heads/cam. That’s it. Ended up with ported heads, cam, ported FAST intake, all new components in the heads, new lifters and trays, new timing chain, oil pump, LT headers, beefed up transmission - upgraded shift forks, billet shift keys, and bronze pads on the forks - new monster clutch, puck style (mistake), I’m probably forgetting something, and several hours of tuning.

I was about to go with a 402 stroker but I sold it for a C6Z06. I’m scared to even consider cams again. It’s almost cheaper to go FI lol.

All of this. I know this is nit picky but a lot of us don't want to add another 110lbs to the nose of the car. They say the most expensive tuning you can do to a street car is weight reduction and oh my god is it ever true. A relatively bulletproof NA build on a 350 will probably be ported heads, sweet spot cams, MMR or TSS billet cam sprocket gear and billet oil pump gear, cam chain replacements, MMR chain guides and that's really about it. As @honeybadger found out, the rotating assembly, while a bit quirky in consistency, is very very good.

Ford seems to do a pretty darn good job with valvetrain, springs should be replaced if you're tearing down anyway though. Upgrade if you're revving higher than 8800. The rotating assembly is good for 9000 reliably, 9500 is the hard limit and the computer will need to be cracked if going any higher. I think only one car has done this and it lived for a bit. Then died lol.

The OEM clutch can take a decent beating. Seems to be good to about 800 RWHP reliably. Anything after that, spend the money and get a Mantic. And because you're at 800 RWHP you can afford it. Speaking of, has anyone heard of a TR3160 blowing up???? I haven't.

I have a vision that might be done this summer. We'll see what my job situation looks like and parts availability. Crank sprocket gear and OPG set from MMR, fresh chains, fresh springs, ported heads, and cams. However if cams are not available, I will not be doing any of this. Do it once, do it right. Now you'll also notice I didn't mention long tube headers and cat deletes either. This is a bit controversial because there are some, and rightfully so, who would say why do all of this if you're going to cork up your exhaust? Well two reasons, while I'd rather do long tubes, this day and age, factory cats aren't THAT bad. Yes they are restrictive but realistically we're talking in the range of high single digits to the wheels. It's not like we're using cast iron log manifolds here either. Forced induction is a different story now but even so, Roush's cars and trucks are at 600 - 700+ horsepower EPA certified and on OEM cats with a warranty. I'd rather not smog myself out if I can help it. The other reason is sound control. It's just so goddamn loud without cats and I need to be conscious about that at one of my tracks. I need to be under 103dB and autocross requires 100dB limits. I have a good source that has tested FE Dynamics' ported heads on a bone stock car with a full factory exhaust and they're still good for well into the 30s RWHP range over baseline. We're talking 500+ RWHP on 91/93 octane fuel.

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[Mjc1241]

I am following nastang87XX on this. I would like to take the same route based on our PM exchanges with the only variation being the cat deletes which I already have. I do not need to worry about sound control since I do not track the car. Once I put the P51 wheels on the car, with the cat deletes, Fathouse Fab lightweight battery kit, stock resonator and x pipe replaced by Shiftek h pipe, and carbon fiber driveshaft, I will have taken over 60 pounds off the car. BTW, I did not realize how heavy the stock cats were in comparison to the cat delete pipes. And the P51 wheels; WOW!!!! Got them yesterday and they are super light! I think stockers are 33 pounds per wheel per Auto Fanatic on YouTube versus 22.6 pounds per front wheel and 21.3 pounds per rear wheel. I also found that the 305/30/19 Conti's that nastang87xx has recommended to me as a street tire are actually 2 pounds lighter than the stock 295/35 Michelin Pilot Super Sports on the front of the car for an additional weight savings of 4 pounds. I'll give back 1 pound per tire on the rears with the 325/30 but that's cool. Back on topic though, looking forward to seeing who is the first to take the plunge and by what shop. Might have to ship my car to the shop that seems most capable.

 

[honeybadger]

Spoke with Comp Cams this morning and basically hit a brick wall. Very interesting. I was told they're not developing any cams for the GT350 and they even denied me offering mine for measurements. Super bizarre.

So far L&M seems to be the closest to reality from what I've heard.

 

[nastang87xx]

So far L&M seems to be the closest to reality from what I've heard.

Agreed. I kinda gave up on Comp. Too specialized for them to be honest.

 

[Dominator961]

Agreed. I kinda gave up on Comp. Too specialized for them to be honest.

Comp already told me no cams because they believe that most GT350/R owners are swapping to CPC!
Lmao.
Plus they said hey don’t believe enough market is out there because of the limited production and most add FI.

I begged but got shot down.

I also been trying to get some more info from Plazmaman for a intake.

 

[honeybadger]

Comp already told me no cams because they believe that most GT350/R owners are swapping to CPC!
Lmao.
Plus they said hey don’t believe enough market is out there because of the limited production and most add FI.

I begged but got shot down.

I also been trying to get some more info from Plazmaman for a intake.

Hit up Michael at L&M. He has a deposit down on cores and is 6 or so weeks out .

 

[Dominator961]

I’ll wait until I see real world testing. Installing cams is a big job and if the gains are minimal I’ll pass. If they are good I’ll move forward and install at that time.

 

[nastang87xx]

Comp already told me no cams because they believe that most GT350/R owners are swapping to CPC!
Lmao.
Plus they said hey don’t believe enough market is out there because of the limited production and most add FI.

I begged but got shot down.

I also been trying to get some more info from Plazmaman for a intake.

So we've got three different stories from three different people. Wonderful ha.

 

[nastang87xx]

Hit up Michael at L&M. He has a deposit down on cores and is 6 or so weeks out .

I called L&M but unfortunately wasn't able to speak to Mike directly. Did he say they're going to just do intake side or a full kit? Is exhaust side really even necessary? Seem to be that the exhaust side is actually pretty stout unless I've been poorly mislead.

 

[honeybadger]

I called L&M but unfortunately wasn't able to speak to Mike directly. Did he say they're going to just do intake side or a full kit? Is exhaust side really even necessary? Seem to be that the exhaust side is actually pretty stout unless I've been poorly mislead.

I did not ask about intake only vs full kit, but my guess would be intake only. My understanding was exhaust is only really ever needed for boost applications. I did confirm that they'll be compatible with road course use and than he has a big deposit down on cores and felt about 6 weeks out. I'll probably put the engine back together with the stock cams and then add these at later date.

 

[Dominator961]

Lol.
Comp cams, ATI, and others have also given me multiple answers for other questions.
Nobody at either place knows what the other is doing.
I will say that for a fact, going by what I was told that comp cams and ati will not be offering anything for the voodoo.

 

[nastang87xx]

I'll probably put the engine back together with the stock cams and then add these at later date.

Are you getting your heads ported while they're off the block?


EDIT: so intake side only also means LESS money...

 

[Dominator961]

I’ve yet to see anyone provide any power gain on a set of voodoo heads.
I seen a FB member with a new voodoo build and his rwhp was 538 rwhp with claimed ported heads.
His stock baseline was 467 rwhp.

He added Kooks headers catless.
Eliminating the cam phasers.
Dyno tune.
Port and polish heads.
Full engine build for durability. (Rods, Pistons, rings, bearings, sleeved cylinders, etc)

In my opinion porting the oem voodoo heads isn’t needed while running stock cams and induction.

 

[nastang87xx]

I’ve yet to see anyone provide any power gain on a set of voodoo heads.

FE Dynamics's test car had long tubes and off road X pipe only on it. If I remember right I think the baseline with the headers was something like 510 RWHP on E85. After porting out to 405cfm on the intake side, with stock intake filter and housing, stock snorkel, stock intake manifold, and stock valves, cams, springs, lifters, crank sprocket, and TIVCT still operating, the car was making 525 RWHP on 91 octane on a heart breaker Mainline Dyno. That 538 RWHP sounds about right. I know what car that is too. JPC shared it on social media.

 

[honeybadger]

Are you getting your heads ported while they're off the block?


EDIT: so intake side only also means LESS money...

Yep. RGR is doing full head work with Ferrea super alloy exhaust valves, Ti retainers, bronze guides, stiffer PAC springs and porting. Can't wait.

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