kstall
Member
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2021
- Posts
- 106
- Reaction score
- 78
Hello all, this is my first post here so if I'm doing anything wrong please let me know. I was wanting to get input on installing hot rod cams in my son's GT. We have some parts on order and just waiting to get everything in and thought I would ask for your input on helping us make the right decision and doing things properly. Here is the list of things ordered:
Ford racing hot rod cams
Timing wedge tool
Cam phaser bolts
JLT cai with SCT tuner
Ford racing 4:10 gears
Hurst short throw
Lito tune
Initially we were just going to have a shop install everything so I called the local Ford dealer and they quoted me $2100 for labor on cams and gears. Thanks but no thanks. I've talked to my son and we want to do the cams ourselves and make this a father/son project. The gears I will leave to a shop...but not that one. They want 800 for gear install. Seems a bit pricey so I'm gonna check with my local mechanic. Changing gears doesn't look like a job we need to tackle by ourselves.
I've done some basic repairs before.. like very basic...plugs, brakes/rotors, stuff like that but this will be my first time pulling a valve cover. I'm a little nervous to be honest but after researching what's involved I'm confident we can take our time and do it. So from what I'm reading, we can use the wedge tool and then just slowly back off each cap bolt to slowly ease the tension off the the springs, then remove the caps and pull the cam. I know that's simplifying it a bit but I'm trying to be brief. I guess my biggest question is this, once we get the crank where it should, can we do both sides and leave the crank in that one position or do we have to do it different for each side? I'm going to print out a guide I've found and make sure I read and reread it several times before we attempt this. Neither of us are in a hurry to get it done, we just want it to go smoothly with no hiccups. I do have a couple folks I could call if we run into an issue but I really want us to do this together. I'm sure you dads can totally understand that.
Another question I have is do you think we should order the rocker arm/lash adjuster set and replace them while we have it pulled apart? I don't want to waste money but if the general consensus is that's its a good idea then I don't mind. I'm assuming that would very simple to do with the cam removed. Prime the new lash adjusters, pull the old ones and slide in the new ones? Then just swap out rockers? Again we are open to any suggestions on this and the whole project to be honest.
I don't want to inundate you guys with a ton of questions on my first post but I'm sure I will have more the closer we get to project day. Thank you guys for your time and any help you can give us. I really look forward to hearing from you all and seeing this project through with my boy. I'm hoping this will be one of those memories he can share when he's my age and one that I will cherish as well. Thanks again.
Ford racing hot rod cams
Timing wedge tool
Cam phaser bolts
JLT cai with SCT tuner
Ford racing 4:10 gears
Hurst short throw
Lito tune
Initially we were just going to have a shop install everything so I called the local Ford dealer and they quoted me $2100 for labor on cams and gears. Thanks but no thanks. I've talked to my son and we want to do the cams ourselves and make this a father/son project. The gears I will leave to a shop...but not that one. They want 800 for gear install. Seems a bit pricey so I'm gonna check with my local mechanic. Changing gears doesn't look like a job we need to tackle by ourselves.
I've done some basic repairs before.. like very basic...plugs, brakes/rotors, stuff like that but this will be my first time pulling a valve cover. I'm a little nervous to be honest but after researching what's involved I'm confident we can take our time and do it. So from what I'm reading, we can use the wedge tool and then just slowly back off each cap bolt to slowly ease the tension off the the springs, then remove the caps and pull the cam. I know that's simplifying it a bit but I'm trying to be brief. I guess my biggest question is this, once we get the crank where it should, can we do both sides and leave the crank in that one position or do we have to do it different for each side? I'm going to print out a guide I've found and make sure I read and reread it several times before we attempt this. Neither of us are in a hurry to get it done, we just want it to go smoothly with no hiccups. I do have a couple folks I could call if we run into an issue but I really want us to do this together. I'm sure you dads can totally understand that.
Another question I have is do you think we should order the rocker arm/lash adjuster set and replace them while we have it pulled apart? I don't want to waste money but if the general consensus is that's its a good idea then I don't mind. I'm assuming that would very simple to do with the cam removed. Prime the new lash adjusters, pull the old ones and slide in the new ones? Then just swap out rockers? Again we are open to any suggestions on this and the whole project to be honest.
I don't want to inundate you guys with a ton of questions on my first post but I'm sure I will have more the closer we get to project day. Thank you guys for your time and any help you can give us. I really look forward to hearing from you all and seeing this project through with my boy. I'm hoping this will be one of those memories he can share when he's my age and one that I will cherish as well. Thanks again.