Checking in... getting new cams

[FordNut]

Hey there Marauderers!

I've been preoccupied with life events and haven't been Marauding for awhile.

This spring when I was getting my car out I ran into problems. Long story short, my cams got messed up so I'm getting new ones.

What I had was 222/224 duration at 475/450 lift, spec'd for setup at 112 IC and 114 LS which should be 116 EC. They are the same as a Comp 106260 with slightly different indexing. I did some research and decided on a different setup for replacement.

The new setup I'm planning on is 226/232 duration at 475/450 lift, setup at 110 IC and 120 EC which comes out to 115 LS. This is a Comp 106300 intake and 106400 exhaust.

I just ordered a degree wheel and adapter, TDC tool, dial indicator extensions, adjustable lifter so I can properly index the cams. I've looked at all the forums I can think of for degreeing instructions so I think I've got it pretty well figured out.

Anybody who has done in-the-car cam degreeing please chime in with tips, pointers, and tricks that might be helpful.

Updating signature, the wife's car just went over 250k!

edit: The current cams were spec'd by the engine builder when I first went with the 5.3 bb/s and I had a centrifugal setup, so they weren't optimized for a twin screw.

[Nightcrawler]

How much power are these cam expected to add?

[Zack]

I will have na svt contact you

[FordNut]

How much power are these cam expected to add?

Dunno, only one way to find out.

[justbob]

Patience is your friend Brian! I spent almost a week trying to degree my off the shelf Crower stage 2 blower cams just to give up and yank them out due to the grind being WAY off..

I was pretty well rehearsed, set up, and ready to rock just like you and besides them not working out, it was a pretty straight forward process.

Do you already have a spring compressor? The crank adaptor is just a small block Chevy, hopefully that's what you ordered. Keep us tuned in!

How ya been?


Builder Of Badassery

[Black Terror]

Glad to see you back into making performance changes. Haven't seen you and your wife in quite a while. One of our Breakfast guy's has 300K + on one of his Marauders. Changed engine at 300K and rebuilt transmission.

[Marauderman]

So glad to hear from you again Brian---many happenings to us all since our earlier days--but still aware of our friends--always great to hear what your up to and doing--even though I admit I don't always understand---you have always been a great source of information and a Marauder Family Part--

Hope all is /are doing ok-

Tom

[chief455]

Interesting change in cam specs. Can't wait to read your results!

[FordNut]

Patience is your friend Brian! I spent almost a week trying to degree my off the shelf Crower stage 2 blower cams just to give up and yank them out due to the grind being WAY off..

I was pretty well rehearsed, set up, and ready to rock just like you and besides them not working out, it was a pretty straight forward process.

Do you already have a spring compressor? The crank adaptor is just a small block Chevy, hopefully that's what you ordered. Keep us tuned in!

How ya been?

Builder Of Badassery

Sorry the cams didn't work out. I've read about some problems with Crowers on other forums, sounds like they're hit-n-miss on their quality. I didn't get a spring compressor, Zack sent me a link to a screwdriver technique for follower removal & installation. I have an adjustable lifter for degreeing, I figured I could adjust it all the way down then install the follower and adjust it back up.


So glad to hear from you again Brian---many happenings to us all since our earlier days--but still aware of our friends--always great to hear what your up to and doing--even though I admit I don't always understand---you have always been a great source of information and a Marauder Family Part--

Hope all is /are doing ok-

Tom

Still doing ok, it's just been a challenge changing careers a couple of times in the past few years. I'm too old for this s**t!


Glad to see you back into making performance changes. Haven't seen you and your wife in quite a while. One of our Breakfast guy's has 300K + on one of his Marauders. Changed engine at 300K and rebuilt transmission.

I miss the breakfasts. It was quite a drive from my other residence, now it's another 1-1/2 hours. I sure hope her car makes it to 300k! ONE of his Marauders, eh... Another multiple-Marauder guy!

Maybe when I get the car back together and I bring it down for a tune I can arrange the schedule to fall on a breakfast day.


Good to hear from y'all.

[justbob]

The screwdriver trick works fine, that's what I always do.

Sometimes it can be a real PITA getting down in the lifter to adjust. I think the angle of the follower intrudes on it sometimes.

Other than that and finding a good place to set up the dial indicator and be able to reach the retainer at the proper angle and adjust the dial all in the same place the rest goes quite easily.

Don't disappear this time! [emoji4]


Builder Of Badassery

[FordNut]

Cams came today. Ahead of schedule.

[FordNut]

TDC tool didn't work, so I just setup a dial indicator to find TDC. The threads weren't long enough to reach the threads in the head.

Didn't get much done today, too many distractions from the boss.

[FordNut]

Looks like more keyway grinding is going to be needed to get them degreed in. Not enough play to get the driver's exhaust to my 120 target, best I can get is 116. Sucks when you file the wrong side of the keyway and put it back together...

[babbage]

Hey there Brian! Good to see your posts, nice job on your other MM with 250k.. Ever do the guides tensioners on that one?

Post up a video of the idle when you are done, not sure but by the specs they should sound "lumpy"

[Fastbob]

Not sure if you needed assistance on degreeing your cams, but here is a helpful link.

http://www.seanhylandmotorsport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/caminstall4v02a.pdf

[FordNut]

Hey there Brian! Good to see your posts, nice job on your other MM with 250k.. Ever do the guides tensioners on that one?

Post up a video of the idle when you are done, not sure but by the specs they should sound "lumpy"

Nancy's has never been opened. A tensioner, a belt, plugs and coils. Everything else is original.

I believe the new cams will thump.

[FordNut]

Not sure if you needed assistance on degreeing your cams, but here is a helpful link.

http://www.seanhylandmotorsport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/caminstall4v02a.pdf

That's one of the many sources I referred to.

Got them done today. I understand why most people just install them on the marks. What a pain! Took all day.

[chief455]

That's one of the many sources I referred to.

Got them done today. I understand why most people just install them on the marks. What a pain! Took all day.

yes, but they were not as desired when aligned by the marks ;)
Can't wait to read/hear your results!

[Fastbob]

That's one of the many sources I referred to.

Got them done today. I understand why most people just install them on the marks. What a pain! Took all day.Yes, I have heard it is a real b1tch on a DOHC. Glad you were able to get it done.

[Marauderjack]

What's a day in the life of a true engine builder??;)

How ya been Brian??

Hope it pays off for ya!!:beer:

[na svt]

The 115lsa is awful wide for a heavy, auto trans car.

[FordNut]

Hopefully it will work out ok. If I lose a little down low it's not a big deal, I have to wait until after it shifts to 2nd or 3rd before I give it any gas or it just blows away the tires.

[RacerX]

Brian, you're grinding the keyways? The adjustable cam and crank gears are really easy to work with.

[FordNut]

Brian, you're grinding the keyways? The adjustable cam and crank gears are really easy to work with.

Yep, it's all done now.

[MOTOWN]

I just watched Jeff degree a set of Comp cams on a Marauder , that's an all day job for sure, adjustable cam gears would make it an easier job.

[FordNut]

I guess all the internal work is done. Put the followers back on today, ready for the timing cover to go on and close it up. The screwdriver trick works, just gotta make sure and bleed down the lifters. Sure does make it harder to turn over when the cams are opening the valves...

[FordNut]

Buttoned up and ready for the intake manifold/blower to go back on.

I switched from a underdrive to a standard size accessory drive pulley, figured I would need a belt but the old one worked ok. It went from tensioner almost at one end of travel to tensioner at almost the other end of travel.

Anybody looking for an underdrive pulley? Innovators West SFI approved.

[FordNut]

It's alive!

[babbage]

sweet how is the thump?! how do you like the results?

[FordNut]

I'm surprised. It has a barely noticeable shake at idle. I haven't taken it off the jackstands yet, probably do that tomorrow. The tune needs a little work, it wants to die when you rap the throttle a little and let it go back to idle.

[justbob]

Any difference in vacuum? With mine I was all the way down to 13 IIRC


Builder Of Badassery

[FordNut]

I didn't notice vacuum, I'll watch it a bit more tomorrow.

I finished assembly and drove it around today. The idle seems ok now, I guess hooking up the air filter changed airflow past the MAF. Previous testing was without the air filter. The exhaust does have a lot more thump to it.

Anxious to get it strapped down and get it retuned. Driveability seems ok, but I think it could use a bit more spark at part throttle.

[FordNut]

Any difference in vacuum? With mine I was all the way down to 13 IIRC


Builder Of Badassery

I finally paid attention to vacuum. It's about 10 inches idle in park, about 8 inches idle in drive.

[justbob]

I finally paid attention to vacuum. It's about 10 inches idle in park, about 8 inches idle in drive.


Oh wow. I was around 11-13 if I recall Brian and the BBV REALLY didn't like it as they are designed to start closing at 10hg. I ended up gutting mine and cutting two coils off the spring and it helped but only a tad. It now started closing at 5hg. Boost came on strong and held still. Your blower is going to be working overtime and creating a LOT of heat.

The only source that I found for low vacuum 5hg BBV's is Kenne Bell.

I'm sure you aren't off on the timing. Any chance on a vacuum leak? Otherwise, this is quite common for cams on mod 4V's.

Good luck.


Builder Of Badassery

[FordNut]

I don't believe I have any leaks, I'll look it over more closely. Anything is possible.

The Whipple bypass valve was upgraded last year when the blower was rebuilt. I'll make sure it's operating as it should.

Gotta get the fuel pump voltage table tweaked and I guess it's ready for a tune.

[justbob]

What I was trying to say is your bypass valve might be rocking between open and close at just idle. While driving it the valve will be closing anytime you lose even a one digit of vacuum.

For me it was a heat soaked nightmare and you could here the blower whine at any speed. Also remember I was over spinning it slightly at 20#'s [emoji6]

But with the bypass always ready to shut, that did me no favors.


Builder Of Badassery

[FordNut]

Gotcha... I'll see if the bypass is opening/closing like it should.