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Hey guys I just wanted to let you know the results from my Explorer Cam experiment. I ran at North Star in the sweltering heat several weeks ago with an automatic SN95 Convertible that weighs 4100 with driver. The motor was stock except for 1.72 roller rockers and explorer manifold. I ran 10.42.
I then swapped out to an Explorer cam and ran at the Cruise on the 20th. The car ran a best of 9.80. 6 tenths is a pretty good pickup for just a cam swap.
I know a bunch of folks are sour on the Explorer cam but I really needed the torque down low. The converter stalls at 1700 on my AODE and the factory cam bogs down off the line. With the explorer cam it had enough power to light them up off the line.
I was able to monkey with the shift points using my quarterhorse but didn't get them quite right. It shifts at 4600 on the street every time which is perfect for the explorer power band. On the track it shifted at 5200. I'm not sure what is going on. I think If it had shifted at 4600 I would have been in the 9.7s or faster.
The online calculators tell me that I picked up about 38 horses from 188 to 226 rwhp. That doesn't tell the whole story. The power band was shifted down low so there was a huge gain in torque to have an increase in horsepower like that.
In summary, I really like the Explorer cam in my heavy automatic. It starts and runs like a champ and idles very smoothly. On the highway it doesn't need to downshift to pass. When I put my foot down the extra torque is very apparent. It made my daily driver much nicer for commuting.
Thanks,
I then swapped out to an Explorer cam and ran at the Cruise on the 20th. The car ran a best of 9.80. 6 tenths is a pretty good pickup for just a cam swap.
I know a bunch of folks are sour on the Explorer cam but I really needed the torque down low. The converter stalls at 1700 on my AODE and the factory cam bogs down off the line. With the explorer cam it had enough power to light them up off the line.
I was able to monkey with the shift points using my quarterhorse but didn't get them quite right. It shifts at 4600 on the street every time which is perfect for the explorer power band. On the track it shifted at 5200. I'm not sure what is going on. I think If it had shifted at 4600 I would have been in the 9.7s or faster.
The online calculators tell me that I picked up about 38 horses from 188 to 226 rwhp. That doesn't tell the whole story. The power band was shifted down low so there was a huge gain in torque to have an increase in horsepower like that.
In summary, I really like the Explorer cam in my heavy automatic. It starts and runs like a champ and idles very smoothly. On the highway it doesn't need to downshift to pass. When I put my foot down the extra torque is very apparent. It made my daily driver much nicer for commuting.
Thanks,
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