In car camshaft replacement for V8 Explorers

[BrianB31]

Hi all I'm having a problem with my camshaft and idle quality. I checked all the other things like vacuum leaks, IABs, etc and it didnt help. I read an article in 5.0 mustang about cam lobe seperation on EFI engines
Just a heads up if you want a performance cam DO NOT buy the FMS E303. The specs are out of the range for the Mass EFI.

What I need to know is how hard is a in vehicle cam swap on the V8 Explorers? I know I'll have to pull the FEAD, radiator, a/c condesnor and front rad support to get at the cam. Do I need to drop the oil pan as well?

 

[jssong]

can i ask why the e303 cam isnt a peformance cam? i know itz not the best out there.. but expo has it on his and said he notcied improvement

 

[BrianB31]

It is performance above idle, but it idles like crap because the lobe seperation is 110 degrees. The minimum from various cam manufacturers for a EFI is 112. Stock cams are 114-115. Tee 110 seperation cause the PCM to freak out and it will never idle smoothly.

 

[expo5.0]

doh... lol

 

[james t]

Brian- what you are describing fits the old speed density setups, but not the MAS setups. the MAS type computer can and will compensate, and the E cam will idle smooth in an X. speed density was the older setup that was not mod friendly, especially with aftermarket cams. i bet expo5.0's truck idles as smooth as a stocker.

 

[expo5.0]

truth is the idle is plenty good, but it does have a little bit of a nastiness to it (but who wouldn't want a little nastiness in their idle? a little bit of that subsonic rolling shaking built small block seat of your pants feel is something that everyone can appreciate)

 

[DarkFox1]

I agree with expo on that, I would want alittle roughness.. especially if it was the roughness of a performance engine.. instead of.. well whatever it is..

I really dont think an explorer idles that smooth anyway.. I dont see where making it alittle worse to gain some power for a change would be a bad sacrifice

 

[blk mk8]

i think the statment at the top is very wrong. i do know through experiance that a e-cam runs great in these trucks. i also have to say i have used that cam and one very similar in more then 10 mustangs. also my brothers explorer probibly has the biggest cam in a explorer and his run fine.

 

[TimestandStil77]

You probably need to get the computer setup for the modification , major engine mods usually require that. . . My cousin had a cam installed in his mustang , and he had idle problems after he got his computer programmed for his mods, it was much smoother. . .

Look into it ,

Nick -

 

[PUR PONY]

I have been running my E303 cam in my X for 5 years now without any problems. It gives it a nice mean idle but nothing to wild.

To anwser your first question though.... you can do the cam swap with the motor in.

I removed my front bumper, grill, header panel, radiator, condensor.....

there is a vertical bar on the radiator support that you swear would not allow the cam to slide out.... right when the cam is going to hit this support on the wau out there is just enough room to **** the cam and it slides right out perfectly.

good luck

 

[BrianB31]

My Meeting with Ford Racing concerning the E-303 Cam

Well I had my meeting with Ford Racing Technology and it went as well as I thought it would. I met the engineer who designed the cam, a calibrator and an applications engineer. They came outside and looked at my truck and listened to it. As soon as I poped the hood the app engineer said. "Is this an Explorer setup?" I said yes and he gave me the news right there. He said the Explorer PCM will not work with the E303. They tried it before and were planning on offering a header/cam and header/cam/supercharger kit for FRP, but they could not get the Explorer calibration to take the cam. The 110 degree lobe seperation was a factor. Its more picky on EEC-V versus the EEC-IV. It would do EXACTLY what mine is doing that with the rough idle and stalling.

After this I was initally offered a custom calibration, but the calibrator said he had no time to do this and didn't know when or if he could do it. So that idea died.

I did ask for a recomendation for a another cam and the app engineer said go back to the stock Explorer cam. I requested they install it and was turned down even when I pressed that their catalog did not state any stipulations on applications. I did not bring up the Crame Cam description versus the E. I did request that for the '04 catalog they put that Explorers can not use the alphabet cams. We'll see how that goes. I'm also going to talk to my attorney and see what other recourses I have.

So here are my choices:

1, Go stock Explorer cam or another aftermarket cam and install it myself. I've been told Crowler cams makes an excelt cam for this problem

2, Try the different ratio rockers on my exhaust ports to make fake the larger seperation.

3, Go custom calibration IF I can find a shop to do it.

4, Live with it <--not happening

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[section525]

What did he mean by "Is this an Explorer setup?" Wasn't this IN your Explorer?

From what I've read, I'd go with the 1.6 Roller Rockers and a custom chip (if you don't have one). Obvioulsy this cam works in Explorers as about four members here are using it.

 

[BrianB31]

Nope it's not in a Explorer. It's in a Ranger

I'm also a engineer for Ford and I knew they wouldn't be bs'ing me.

This same issue is aparent on some '94/95 Mustangs with the quasi EEC-V. Some run great, others run like crap like mine does.


Do you recomend a chip and tuner do program it?

 

[james t]

Originally posted by section525
Obvioulsy this cam works in Explorers as about four members here are using it.

why are you the only one having trouble with this? why does everyone else's computer work.... yet your's gives you fits? i assume you could get a custom chip burned to work with your setup... but it does not explain why you are the only one with the problem.

i knew 2 guys that ran a E cam in their 95 stangs.... and neither of them had trouble either.

 

[BrianB31]

Like I said, some people have problems and some don't. You can go to stangnet.net or corral.net and type e-303, e303, poor idle. etc..and you'll see the patern.

 

[james t]

do a search here for Apten or troll/blk mk8. either of them will be happy to work with you in burning a chip to possibly fix it. www.speedfreak.cc is the web adress of troll/blk mk8. you can get their phone # there. i would not give up...... if you switch back to a stock Xplo cam you will be taking 10 steps backward.

 

[section525]

Originally posted by PUR PONY
I removed my front bumper, grill, header panel, radiator, condensor.....

there is a vertical bar on the radiator support that you swear would not allow the cam to slide out.... right when the cam is going to hit this support on the wau out there is just enough room to **** the cam and it slides right out perfectly.

Hey Shaun.. lets just say the motor sat 3" lower in your X. Would you still be able to do the swap? As far as the vertical support and whatnot being in the way.

 

[BrianB31]

I've emailed Apten and I'll email this other company as well. Thank you for the info.

 

[rocket 5979]

Originally posted by section525
Hey Shaun.. lets just say the motor sat 3" lower in your X. Would you still be able to do the swap? As far as the vertical support and whatnot being in the way.

Why does your motor sit 3" lower??????

 

[Apten]

I met the engineer who designed the cam, a calibrator and an applications engineer.

who was the calibration guy, I may know him. The EEC not taking the cam is a load of bs, I've done a whole bunch of EEC-V cars with the E303 cam. If anything you need to change the IAC percentage air flow, but I've done it before and although it won't idle like a stock cam, I've never seen any issues

Brian