[Regulator]

Hey guys. First off thanks for your time and info. IV got a 03 Mustang with the 3.8. Car has about 158k. Motor was rebuilt at a 150k. Has a band new gear star trans - manual. IV ran compression checks and hooked up a aftermarket oil gauge. Everything looks good!
Gss. Motor sports talked me into a cam [I'll post specs in a bit]
IV got long tube headers - full roller rockers - tunner. From Bama - 3.73 gears - windstar. Intake mod -cai. - 40 series flows divorced. In all iv got juts under 1000. In parts.

I need advice on doing the cam swap. I'm a little fuzzy on how the camshaft balancer works and how to set in when I drop in the cam.

For the rockers - I was told I need to put the engine to TDC. CYLINDER 1 and torque to 28 foot pound and then rotate the engine to Tdc. Cylinder 2 and torque again. And so on until iv made it threw all the rockers..... is this correct?

My main concern is the balancer. IV also been told by gss. That the timing chain is a.pita.

Gss. Set the cam wear it would work with my stock set up..... but said he doesn't like CAN tunes.... He said I should get a dyno. tune..... Bama swears up and Down I'll be fine for the street with the tune they are giving me for the new set up. Any advice on this?

IV done Manny engine builds but this is the first for the 3.8 or any mustang.
Is there any advice for the job that some one can. Give me.before I mess up and have a huge headache? Thanks! God bless AFM-FORUMS!

 

[Regulator]

218/226 112lsa. Cam specs!

 

[car5car]

del

 

[Regulator]

Let me guess, you are going to spend $1000 to get extra 3 HP? You'll gain more power at high RPM and lose at low RPM.

I guess so but I don't recall that being the topic. It's my choice and I'll live with it. But for your info. According to gss and everyone else iv spoke to ill see a lot more then that. A buddy of mine did just a tunner and true duels and picked up 30hp and iv seen it.on the dyno personally! Any advice on the actual topic?

 

[JonR2006]

Gss. Set the cam wear it would work with my stock set up..... but said he doesn't like CAN tunes.... He said I should get a dyno. tune..... Bama swears up and Down I'll be fine for the street with the tune they are giving me for the new set up. Any advice on this?

I can only provide insight on this...you should be fine with a Bama tune. If you don't like how it drives, you can datalog with your tuner and send Bama the datalog file and they will revise based on the datalog file. Obviously, a dyno tune is recommended but not necessarily needed.

I also agree that 3hp a bit of a low-ball number. I would anticipate probably 10-15ish on the top end.

I would look into buying a book for the 3.8L and how to rebuild it. Surely someone has written one...that will guide you on how to install the cam, set the cam balancer, and torque the rockers. Good luck. Post pictures of the install and final product, would be cool to see.

 

[Regulator]

I can only provide insight on this...you should be fine with a Bama tune. If you don't like how it drives, you can datalog with your tuner and send Bama the datalog file and they will revise based on the datalog file. Obviously, a dyno tune is recommended but not necessarily needed.

I also agree that 3hp a bit of a low-ball number. I would anticipate probably 10-15ish on the top end.

I would look into buying a book for the 3.8L and how to rebuild it. Surely someone has written one...that will guide you on how to install the cam, set the cam balancer, and torque the rockers. Good luck. Post pictures of the install and final product, would be cool to see.

Thank you sir for the info. I looked around for a write up but never rally found one. I'm currently stuck mobile so that maybe part of the issue. Thank you again for your time.

 

[metalman302]

Are the stock springs going to hold up to the extra lift? Maybe call comp cams and ask about their equivalent cam just to get a second opinion.

You said you saw your buddy's gains on the dyno... does they do dynoo only and no tuning? Only way I would trust a Bama tune for that would be if you have a wideband running to the input on a SCT and datalog it so they can make legit adjustments instead of just guessing. Or if you already ran it on the dyno and had the graph with dyno wideband readings that Bama could reference.

 

[Regulator]

Camshaft Upgrade on 01 v6 3.8 mustang - MustangForums.com

Cam swap on a '98 3.8L Mustang


https://www.v6mustang.com/threads/how-to-the-compilation.270133/

You sir are my new best friend and shall receive a beer from me just as soon as the beer telaporting. App comes out!ack.gif
Thank you!

 

[Regulator]

Are the stock springs going to hold up to the extra lift? Maybe call comp cams and ask about their equivalent cam just to get a second opinion.

You said you saw your buddy's gains on the dyno... does they do dynoo only and no tuning? Only way I would trust a Bama tune for that would be if you have a wideband running to the input on a SCT and datalog it so they can make legit adjustments instead of just guessing. Or if you already ran it on the dyno and had the graph with dyno wideband readings that Bama could reference.

I got the cam today. It's actually a comps cam - cam..... I called them and they verified what gss. Said. Yes he had his car tuned by dyno. But they ran it with bama tunes and seen big gains. ... Dyno. Tunning. It increased It even more. I think in all he got 45 extra hp. I will have to ask.

 

[Markstang]

you don't get 45 horses just from a cam. You need head and intake work for that kind of number..

 

[Regulator]

you don't get 45 horses just from a cam. You need head and intake work for that kind of number..

I don't recall anyone saying you do? I said he did a tunner and true duals. That being said again. I guess it would be something you would have to fight it out with - with the dyno.

 

[TerryProTech]

I agree with WhiteStang on the horsepower numbers with the cam upgrade and everything 40-50 is probably about right....Pretty respectable numbers considering the heads on these engines just don't flow that great unless they get ALOT of rework done to them....Good luck it does sounds like a cool ride once everything is done!

 

[metalman302]

45 HP I'd have to see it to believe it. True duals isn't going to add a lot when the exhaust wasn't restricting the engine in the first place.

Do you have a baseline dyno? When do you plan on having the cam installed and dyno'd?

 

[Regulator]

There might be a little there, I think 360 mustang reported that when they tested without the exhaust system from the Y back (open pipe) and they gained 10hp. So there maybe a little to be had.

And like I said, it would be nice to gain 45-50hp with all he's doing. He's already bought all the stuff and if he gives it every chance and is tuned right he might get lucky.

Page 4 - BBK Exhaust System - 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords Magazine


Ford V6 Mustang Dyno Graph Database

At the end of the day as long as I have a good running and sounding mustang I'm having.


Can someone tell me how to remove and reinstall the timing chain tensenor? IV got the motor Down and just need to remove the tensenor and then the chain and so on from there.

As of right now the time chain. And everything is still together.

Thanks guus!

 

[Regulator]

I've never done it, but I did find this 4.2 industrial engine service manual a while back, you might find what you need in there (it's very long), the basic information should be the same for the 3.8. Good luck.


http://www.coulsoncompression.com/resources/docs/194-309 ESG642 Service Manual.pdf

Yea. I don't get it.... iv read threw the manual you linked and iv searched all over the net.... I can't Find anything informing me on how to release the tension to remove the chain or how to reinstall it.

Sticks being mobile..... but at least it's on a note 2..... come on guys someone out there has to know what I need to do!

Appreciate you guy's! cartman2.gifpray.gif

 

[JonR2006]

This is a complete guess but an educated one at that...the 3.8L is based on Windsor SBF correct?...could it be the same process as the Windsor 5.0/5.8L OHV V8s?...just a thought is all...and someone can definitely correct me if I'm wrong.