explorer cam

[Archangel]

The cam from a 5.0 explorer uses the HO firing order, right? What performance gains should I expect from such a cam when used with a Mark VII computer, lo-po heads and injectors, and HO untakes?

[mrltd]

If you are pulling the motor that far apart get some better heads! The explorer uses the 351W(5.0HO) firing order.

Don't mix and match computers and injectors. Get some E7s and 19 lb injectors and have an HO motor. At least use 19's with the crap heads. It'll run better.

[gadget73]

HO firing order, yes. You'll need the 19 lb injectors to work with the Mark VII computer. It has good bottom end and midrange, right through the WOT shift point. I'm pretty happy with mine, but you'd be a lot happier if you swap out the heads. The E6 heads will become a major restriction.

[CheeseSteakJim]

Would the Explorer cam be an improvement over the stock HO cam?

[nitroracer]

The explorer cam is less performance oriented than an HO cam.

[87vicFIVEO]

Performance oriented....

So an explorer cam produces less HP with a stock motor than an HO cam????

[88MercWagon]

Performance oriented....

So an explorer cam produces less HP with a stock motor than an HO cam????

The Explorer cam produces less peak power, but has MUCH better low end torque and power than an HO, therefore making it better in heavier cars such as ours. I believe in an identical motor, it would produce more peak torque.

[88MercWagon]

I've never driven 2 differently equipped cars to compare, but it logically makes alot more sense. It will also allow you to run longer rear gears b/c of the better low end, allowing better highway mpg.

[Archangel]

Well, I know about the heads, but a set of E7s is not in my financial future unfortunately, while the intakes I already have and the cam can be obtained for real cheap. Thanks for the advice tho

[88Vic]

I'm sure you can find a set of E7's in the junkyard for cheap. Gotta be a Mustang or Mark VII in there sometime.

[CheeseSteakJim]

All right, so let me get this straight... in a Town car with an HO conversion, an Explorer cam would:

- provide more torque at lower RPMs (and more peak torque), but
- provide less peak horsepower

How much of a difference are we talking in torque and horsepower vs. a stock HO cam?

[gadget73]

Its not a really substantial change in horsepower. Explorers made 215, Mustangs made 225. Explorers have better heads and intake, but horrible exhaust. The power rating method also changed slightly, and I've heard several people say the HO power rating was slightly optimistic, and 215-220 was more realistic. All things being equal, the horsepower difference really would not be substantial or significant in a daily driver using stock type intakes. Adding more flow will probably start showing more of a difference, but unless you're running heads and an intake that can move a pretty solid amount of air, it won't be all that much of a change You'll notice the torque a lot more around town. Torque curve on the Explorer is better down low, but the numbers really don't show it as being substantial. Having driven cars that are pretty similarly equipped other than the cam, I can tell you there isn't a huge difference. Where its most noticeable, most people that have driven an HO powered car notice a "kick in the ass" feeling around 2500-2800 rpm when the cam starts making power. Its almost like plugging in an extra cylinder. The Explorer cam doesn't do that, it just makes power off idle all the way up.

Oh heck, this is what I came up with using flow data from my heads, and picking a few other things I thought should roughly approximate my setup. I'm not entirely sure the intake values are correct, the 178 cfm is the average per-runner flow on an Explorer lower. The numbers come out where I can believe them as realistic though.

[91LTDProject]

MLSC, heads are pretty cheap round here. If you pull em yourself at the yard, $45 each canadian, got mine off a low km MKVII. Theres a guy on a local buy and sell website sellin a cam, new oil pan, 8 new pistons and 8 new rods (1 rod is fucked) set of painted E7's, and a whole bunch of other crap for $175 obo canadian. He wouldnt sell me just the cam, so I had to pass. Probably a good Idea to have them rebuilt, but not tcompletely needed if they came off a running car.