RFC: Intake, Cams, Cam Gears

frinkster · Feb 11, 2001

I've been thinking of doing some mods to my sedan, and I have always just put them off, thinking "no money, no parts." Well, I'm graduating in 3 months and my spring break will consist of looking for apartments in the Chicago area. I've read that the average college grad has a credit card debt of $1000 - $2000 when leaving school, and I feel left out with my measly $0 balance. I've already accepted a job, and will start drawing a real paycheck around the 2nd Friday of June. With my bonus and relocation benefits, that first one should be over $5000 after taxes. I think I should reward myself, get close to the average student figures, and then pay it all off when that first paycheck arrives. Sound like a good idea? It does to me.
So this is the plan:
Get that Esslinger intake that is supposed to come out soon, the Esslinger cam gears, and the Esslinger street cam. I've already got the short shifter on order, and I think that that should about do me. I don't race, but I would like some extra power without making my car louder. I know that the intake will make it a little louder, but hopefully not much. I really don't want an exhaust, as I think they tend to be too loud and draw attention to me. So, I guess I have a few issues that hopefully some smart people could comment on.
1. These mods should give me 10-20HP more, right? Will the stock exhaust be fine for this? I don't want to add some parts only to have their gains taken away by the exhaust, but still don't really want to add an aftermarket exhaust.
2. Can I do these myself? I know I can do the intake, but the cams and the cam gears?
3. If I don't take this all the way, will adding the cam gears without the cams be a waste of money?

Thanks in advance for the answers.

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Good judgement comes from experience. And where does experience come
from? Experience comes from bad judgement.
-- Mark Twain

dru2002 · Feb 11, 2001

im no expert but from what i hear the cam installition is quite labor intensive and takes quite a bit of skill. The others if or mechanically inclined at all should be easy. With those upgrades i couldnt see the exhaust being tht big of a problem shur u would probably get more results with a new exhaust but i couldnt see u losing that much.

Silk · Feb 11, 2001

Actually if you get the exauhst it should give you a good amount of more power with those mods.

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-Silk

dru2002 · Feb 11, 2001

menace Duncan or Noresull will probalby give u the best advice here.

Ducman69 · Feb 11, 2001

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>menace Duncan or Noresull <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I am Duncan Macleod...of the clan Macleod.

The cam gears are the best "bang for your buck" mod. Menace reported higher gains with the performance cams, be he also said they were expensive and a pain to install. The performance cams are also run straight up on his car, so its quite the opposite of what you posted. Combining the cam gears along with the cams would be a waste of money at that point (although you could tweak some more power out in the future). It's cheaper, easier, and better just to run the stock cams with something around 2 degrees retard on the intake and 5 on the exhaust...it varies though so you will need some dyno time: http://www.teamfocaljet.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000203.html

If I were you I would go with the cam gears, a nice cold air intake (not the ractive...its loud), and UDP. You should be able to tackle the intake, cam gears, and UDP yourself, provided you are a little mechanically oriented.

And remember, I'm immortal and 500 years old, so I know what I'm talking about (met Henry Ford...nice guy). There can be only one.

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00 Ford ZX3 / 96 Ford Cobra
90 Yam FJ1200/ 85 Yam RZ350 / 84 Yam RZ350
Engine Forum Moderator

[This message has been edited by Ducman69 (edited 02-11-2001).]

eric · Feb 12, 2001

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Ducman69:

menace Duncan or Noresull <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I am Duncan Macleod...of the clan Macleod.

Click to expand...

And remember, I'm immortal and 500 years old, so I know what I'm talking about (met Henry Ford...nice guy). There can be only one.

[/QUOTE]

lmao!!!

Generic Focus · Feb 12, 2001

About combining, Cam gears and Cams... every company that I have E-mailed has recomended that I install the Esslinger Intake Cam with adjustable Cam Gears, because the exhaust cam doesn't make much gains without heavy engine work.

vavenom · Feb 12, 2001

the cam gears also remove 2 lbs of rotating mass, this is not a useless mod, removing rotating mass will will also lessen the load on your cams end bearings. IMHO

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01 silver ZX3, Intrax 3 inch drop springs, Koni shocks, Vibrant cat back with dual DTM tip, FS flex pipe, B&M shifter w/carbon fiber knob, clear corner lites, platinum window tint, eibach sway bars, poly bushings, FS 8mm plugwires, Esslinger intake cam, cam gears and UDP

When in doubt, gas it!

Ducman69 · Feb 12, 2001

*IGNORE*
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>, because the exhaust cam doesn't make much gains without heavy engine work.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Then why put the time and money into them in the first place?
*IGNORE* Read next post...

------------------
00 Ford ZX3 / 96 Ford Cobra
90 Yam FJ1200/ 85 Yam RZ350 / 84 Yam RZ350
Engine Forum Moderator

[This message has been edited by Ducman69 (edited 02-12-2001).]

frinkster · Feb 12, 2001

Ok, I'm now getting a little more confused. I've read that the intake camshaft is the only one I need to replace unless I want to spend big bucks, and that was my plan. Ducman69, I'm a little confused by your response. When you say "performance cams" are you referring to the Esslinger street intake cam that I see on Focus Performance, some more expensive, higher performance ones, or both? If you are referring to the Esslinger one, then are you saying that I should not get both the the camshaft and the cam gears because I will end up running the gears straight up, and the extra time and money wont be worth the gain (I assume there is a small advantage when running the gears straight up because they weigh less)?

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but you are saying that I would get the most bang for the buck by going with a cold air intake, cam gears, and a UDP instead of a cold air intake, cam gears, and a new intake camshaft. I think thats cheaper too

And I'm pretty sure that I have the mechanical skills to do these things (I wasn't sure about the camshaft, but the UDP should be cake), plus I can get my brother-in-law to help out. He's been itching to do engine mods ever since he got married and had to get rid of his old Cougar (67 I think) for a mom-mobile (I mean minivan). Yet another reason not to get married

Menace, Noresull - do you agree with Ducman69?

Ducman69 · Feb 12, 2001

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Ducman69, I'm a little confused by your response. When you say "performance cams" are you referring to the Esslinger or... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Any aftermarket cams. I used such a general reference, because I honestly don't know which is best.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>I should not get both the the camshaft and the cam gears because I will end up running the gears straight up, and the extra time and money wont be worth the gain <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Yup. Seems silly to have adjustable gears if you aren't going to adjust them.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>I assume there is a small advantage when running the gears straight up because they weigh less)?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Not sure. I wouldn't think so. Might rev faster...like a lighter flywheel effect.

Ok. I understand now what Generic Focus was saying. They recommend the Essligner intake cam, and recommend AGAINST using the exhaust cam since it doesn't do much. On top of that, they tell you to get the adjustable cam gears with the intake cam. Gotcha.

I was thinking that they wanted you to get the cam gears because the exhaust cam doesn't do much w/o it.

Be kinda dumb to get the exhaust cam in the first place then huh? heheh

BAracer · Feb 12, 2001

We recomend using Adj. Cam Gears when
using aftermarket cams. I have yet to see
an engine, no matter what mods, that doesn't
gain power from adjusting the cam timing.

Why not use the Cold Airbox Intake, Cam, UDP,
and Adjustable Cam Gears?

Brian
Esslinger Engineering

focusZoomin · Feb 12, 2001

UDP, cam shaft, cam gears, and intake. sounds good.

but... i'm a firm believe of more air in needs more air out. i still would suggest an aftermarket exhaust. just look for one without a huge gawdy tip, one that isn't too loud.

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T. Lowe : TEAM Mid-Atlantic
INFINITY Sport Tuned Performance
Proud customer of: Modern Performancehttp://www.modernperformance.com
focusZoomin@infinityx.cjb.net

Ducman69 · Feb 12, 2001

Ok fine! UDP, cam shaft, cam gears, exhaust, intake, intercooler, and turbo!

I understand that you can pick up a lot more power with the adjus.cg on the very mild stock cams.

But quick question for Brian...shouldn't the street cams (since you have racing cams for heavily modified cars) be designed to run straight up (and if so why not)? The only modifications added in the previous scenario include an intake and UDP. Why would they be off by more than a degree, unless they are really meant as a later addition to a more modified Focus? And in any case, about how much deviation is required on average and how much power is picked up from your experience? Thank you.

------------------
00 Ford ZX3 / 96 Ford Cobra
90 Yam FJ1200/ 85 Yam RZ350 / 84 Yam RZ350
Engine Forum Moderator

frinkster · Feb 12, 2001

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Ducman69:
Ok fine! UDP, cam shaft, cam gears, exhaust, intake, intercooler, and turbo!

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Why stop there? Oh yeah, I forgot. Not that much cash! Seriously, though - I was really only looking to spend $700 or so. Going all the way for me looks like an intake, cam gears, and UDP. Remember, I'm not even a stoplight racer. I just was looking for a little more spirited ride. I agree with everyone here that there is a plethora of ways to get more power and that the power/cost curve is positive. I'm just looking to get the cost part to around $700.

BAracer · Feb 13, 2001

There are a few reasons that cam gears are
needed with aftermarket cams.

1. Sometimes the size of the lobe dictates
it's placement inside the cam blank.

2. When trying to make more power in part
of the powerband, timing changes are
necessary.

3 There are more, but those are the main
reasons.

Brian
Esslinger Engineering

RFC: Intake, Cams, Cam Gears

frinkster

dru2002

Silk

dru2002

Ducman69

eric

Generic Focus

vavenom

Ducman69

frinkster

Ducman69

BAracer

focusZoomin

Ducman69

frinkster

BAracer

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