MS4 cam?
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Joined: Feb 2011
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MS4 cam? Hey guys i'm new here. I've read over this site soo much and want to say thanks for giving me the info that i have. I am not a gearhead at all. I am a wanna be gearhead. I love cars and going fast i'm just not a good mechanic at all. Anyway my question is about a cam for my car a 2002 z28 A4 with exhaust and a tune only. I will not be putting heads on the car ever, so i want as much from a cam as i can. I've tried and tried to read up on cams, and i just plain don't understand all the terms. Is the MS4 or MS3 cams produce good power for my setup? Could me and a more inclined friend do the install ourselves? What will I need along with the cam, is there a full package that includes everything? Thanks guys
The MS4 is a huge cam. Though you can daily drive that cam no problem at all as long as your tune is spot on. I would honestly throw a more smaller cam in there. Somethinng like the TSP 233/239. Being an auto, you will need a good converter. No smaller than a 3600 before throwing in a cam.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
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go to ls1howto.com for instructions.go to the used parts section for a rear axle .the ms4 is big and radical cam,and needs many supporting mods and a great tune.check the dyno section and find out what you want to get and do.TSP sells the cam pkgs and all the stuff you need for a cam install,go to their website.read alot more threads before you buy any thing,and plan you build .
Please do more research. Throwing the biggest cam possible in your car is not going to yield good results, especially on stock heads. A mild cam with some cheap 243 or 799 heads is going to make better power than a donkey dick cam on stock heads and be more streetable.
Teching In
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 28
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From: Edmonton AB
I had a stock ls1 bottom end with the PRC 5.3 2.5 cnc heads and ms3 cam. It made 505hp with the stock ls6 mani and tb. It made 530hp with the fast 90 mani and tb. The ms4 will require fly cutting the pistons. I know when I bought my 5.3 heads I told tsp I was running the MS3 cam, and they told me they had to machine the valve to bring the PTV in spec.
I had a stock ls1 bottom end with the PRC 5.3 2.5 cnc heads and ms3 cam. It made 505hp with the stock ls6 mani and tb. It made 530hp with the fast 90 mani and tb. The ms4 will require fly cutting the pistons. I know when I bought my 5.3 heads I told tsp I was running the MS3 cam, and they told me they had to machine the valve to bring the PTV in spec.
Teching In
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 28
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From: SF bay area
MS4 is big. if you dont plan on spending alot of money on mods or racing the car frequently , i wouldent recoment it.
im currently daily driving a 2000 ss with a MS4 , 6 speed . its not bad , but my commute is only 2 miles or so.
if your keeping stock heads i would go with a smaller cam , you will be glad in the long run,
regardless , its allways good to at least replace
Springs
Pushrods
LS2 timing chain
Oil pump ( not a must but llingenfelter' makes a good unit for only $120 i belive)
headers will definitly help most any cam out , good mod anyways
installing a cam on a ls1 is not hard at all , just take your time , keep track of all your parts (bolts)
it can easily be done in 4 to 8 hours as long as you dont run into any problems. do you research , or just call up a Cam manufacturers and talk to them about your needs. no one knows the cams better then the people who make them
im currently daily driving a 2000 ss with a MS4 , 6 speed . its not bad , but my commute is only 2 miles or so.
if your keeping stock heads i would go with a smaller cam , you will be glad in the long run,
regardless , its allways good to at least replace
Springs
Pushrods
LS2 timing chain
Oil pump ( not a must but llingenfelter' makes a good unit for only $120 i belive)
headers will definitly help most any cam out , good mod anyways
installing a cam on a ls1 is not hard at all , just take your time , keep track of all your parts (bolts)
it can easily be done in 4 to 8 hours as long as you dont run into any problems. do you research , or just call up a Cam manufacturers and talk to them about your needs. no one knows the cams better then the people who make them
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Feel free to give us a call if you would like to talk over some cams and different setups. We can make sure to get you setup with everything you need to install the cam and have it run properly. Valvesprings and pushrods are a must anytime you do a cam in these motors. A lot of guys also install ported oil pumps, timing chains, and lifters depending on how much mileage is on the motor.
Like I said don't hesitate to call us, we are here to answer your guy's questions!
Like I said don't hesitate to call us, we are here to answer your guy's questions!
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Verdad Gallardo TECH Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,445
Likes: 4
what stall and gears will you install?I feel the torquer v2 is a good street cam needing less radical mods .it will make a little more power under the curve.get the compcam trunnion bearing upgrades also,sold at TSP.
maybe flywheel, not rwhp
as for that big a of a cam, thats fine but you better understand that it will be hard on the valvetrain, will need a bigger stall converter in your transmission, and you will need rear gears. I mean you could run it without the gears but those would help a lot.
as for that big a of a cam, thats fine but you better understand that it will be hard on the valvetrain, will need a bigger stall converter in your transmission, and you will need rear gears. I mean you could run it without the gears but those would help a lot.
An MS3 or MS4 shouldn't be your first cam. Every newbie wants the biggest cam possible. It'll be a dog to drive on the street, and won't make **** for power on stock heads.
Just buy a TR224 or something similar in size. EPS has a baby cam that makes great power while being easy on the valvetrain.
Just buy a TR224 or something similar in size. EPS has a baby cam that makes great power while being easy on the valvetrain.
Cam aside... for a sec. What are your goals, here? I would almost bet you would be pleasantly suprized, with a 3.42 gear swap and a 3500 stall. Then, when that gets "old", you'll be in better shape for the cam swap...
That is my $.02
That is my $.02
Very yes! I've got a "mild" grind and it has great street manners and makes some surprising power. I just gotta wait for the new 102 numbers this spring. 