Need feedback on my list of parts

[SuxToBeMyTires]

I've retired my 89 5.0 to the garage to do some work and wanted to check up and see if my choice of parts will work well together. I'm looking for a nice street car. I don't need a track car that can run 10s, most likely won't ever take it to the track, so just a ballsy cruiser I guess I could say. Some of these things are already on the car, but most I have still to get:

MAC shorty headers (already have on the car)
MAC exhaust from headers back (already on the car)
BBK Fenderwell cold air intake (already on the car)
BBK off-road H Pipe
Ported E7 heads (maybe GT40s if funds allow, but probably not)
e303 cam
1.7 rockers
New lifters
8.8 3.73 rear conversion
Cobra Intake (figured this was all i needed with the stock e7s)
(not sure which size throttle body)

My list evolves around my own choices and also my budget of course. There is more to this list such as ignition, new underdrive pullies, etc. It is open for critique since I have knowledge, but I'm not a technician/mechanic and this will be my first major project with my car.

 

[nibik91]

what made you choose an e cam? a cam and 3.73 and a intake and you will have all the fun you need.

 

[nibik91]

an by all the fun you need i mean for now hahaha

 

[SuxToBeMyTires]

from what i've been reading what ppl are saying, an e cam is a great balance between low end power and street worthiness. I looked at the B cam and i was seeing that u lost some low end to gain top end. On the street, for me at least, low end is more desirable. Correct me if i'm wrong though.

So is this a good list or should I be making some changes? And what I mean by changes is staying within the same price range, not adding $1500 heads, etc., lol

 

[Bryan83taco]

Don't even waste your time and money on ported E7's. For the money it will cost you to freshen up/port the E7's you can have GT40's. But if you search hard you can find some used aluminum heads for only a couple hundred more over the GT40's. And a 65 or 70mm throttle body should be fine.

I know it may be out of the budget but if your gonna do a H/C/I swap, you might as well put some good flowing parts in there the first time. The HP bug will bite you sooner or later and ported E7/GT40's can only give you so much.

Just my $.02

 

[NIKwoaC]

I just don't know why people waste their time with FRPP letter cams anymore. There are much better off-the-shelf offerings out there these days. Comp's XE line and AFM to name a few. The letter cams are completely obsolete anymore.

And I agree, don't waste time porting the E7s. Don't spend a dime on them. Save up your money for a better set of heads and swap them out when you can.

 

[Ratchet27]

I agree about the heads. I wouldnt waste your time with ported E7's. I probably wouldnt even go with the GT-40's. I would wait till you could a nice pair of used aluminum heads.

 

[RAYZEN CAINE]

To the OP you can save alot of time and money by just installing the

B-CAM

10 out of 10 times the B cam FTW!!!!

 

[SuxToBeMyTires]

Well i'll spring for the better heads then. Would rather do it right instead of trying to save a few bucks. Whats a nice mild cam that is street worthy but still gives me a nice idle and hp gain over stock if not one of the letter cams?

 

[reldla1996]

Depending on the cam you select, 1.6 roller rockers may be the better choice. On the cam, something around 0.500 lift and 220 duration at 0.050 will give you a decent idle and nice pick up in power. A decent set of aluminum heads should be first on the list, but combined with the other parts, may drive you to needing larger injectors and fuel pump. Your lifters may not need replaced; i reused mine for the first rebuild, with a new cam at the time. Have you replaced the mass air flow sensor as well?

 

[SuxToBeMyTires]

I see. No I have not replaced the mass air flow sensor since the only actual engine work done to the car as of now is just a cold air intake system.

 

[reldla1996]

I remember first doing things to my car, and first on the list were full exhaust, including headers, pullies, 1.7 roller rockers, mass air flow sensor, and finally the intake. Each item made a noticeable difference, but when the car really got fun was when I did the heads (and cam, ignition, injectors, and fuel pump), along with the suspension work. I recently went form the 306 to a 369, replaced darn near eveything (to bigger sizes), and that made another huge leap in power. If you research each step before you buy, you will notice the performance difference from each item you put on your car. Good luck!

 

[NIKwoaC]

On the cam, something around 0.500 lift and 220 duration at 0.050 will give you a decent idle and nice pick up in power.

Ohhhh, you can do better than that. With a good set of heads, I would consider .550" a minimum lift for both I&E. Duration @ .050" between 215 and 220 for the intake and 225-230 for the exhaust. LSA around 112. That would be a nice street cam.

 

[Pod]

I'd add full length subframe connectors and decent lower control arms.