Hey guys,
I've got a big 'ol smile on my face after the Stage 2.5 cam kit was installed from Vector Motorsports this week. Just picked up the car today. Got a little preview of what it sounded like last night though and I was pretty anxious to drive it! My mechanic Tommy at T&L automotive once again did it right and put in the new cam and all the hardware. The cam is a Comp cam 227/239 on 114 and it's moderately aggressive I'd say. It came with dual valve springs, hardened pushrods, and titanium retainers. All for less than $1k. It's a pretty detailed install taking a full 2 days with all the components that have to be removed, radiator, fluids flushed, put back in, etc. You can expect to pay for about a 16 hour install if not doing it yourself. The most time consuming part of the install is the valve springs. I got a nice little break on the price since I get all my work done there and did the sway bar install at the same time, so paid around $1100 altogether for the cam and sway bar install. I wasn't able to get a side by side comparison of the stock and new cam unfortunately.
The sound is awesome and truly sounds like an old muscle car with a big block. Now mind you, it already sounded pretty darn good (and loud) with the K&N intake, DT headers, SOLO hiflow cats and Magnaflow exhaust. So if you are just replacing the cam, it may not neccessarily sound the way mine does. The cam really didn't make mine too much louder at idle, but definitely on hard acceleration
RPMs fluctuate a couple of hundred idling. If you run the A/C, you'll notice it more. Got a good shake to the engine! Just in driving the car back, got all kinds of looks and thumbs up. At idle of course, it's most noticeable. People know you have something lurking under the hood. Good thing is that cruising, especially on the interstate the sound and ride quality is really no different than before. I took a video of it the car this morning so you can hear it at idle and a few revs. Open it up WOT, and hold on to your pants!!
the increase in throttle response especially between about 3000 and 5000 rpms is an eye opener. Claims of 50 rwhp/rwtq gains? I believe it and maybe more. The 'ol butt dyno doesn't lie, but I'm getting it on the dyno and running the HP tuning program on it tomorrow morning which is supposed to be a lot cooler and drier than my last dyno run.
CEL light? yes, had a code 300 misfire but that is taken care of for now and we'll check it on the HP program. Make sure you bleed the fluids well, had to get the air out a couple of times in the power steering fluid, but is nearly back to normal now and the smoothness of the power steering will come back in time as any small amount of air works its way out. Since the line runs around the front through the condenser, there is more travel and more places for air to stay.
I've got a feeling the fiance won't like to ride in the car as much now with the rougher idle! but hey,that's ok, then I can play a little more often since I won't have to baby it when she's not riding with me!
Photos and video are attached. I don't know it Tommy is trying to tell me something with the photo of the cam with the BC headache powder was a headache to install or maybe it's just for scale!
If anyone can imbed the video, that would be great. The video does not do the car justice. You really have to be there. It shakes the house
Thanks Vector Motorsports, Comp Cams, and T&L Automotive!!