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FRPP Stage 2 cams vs. SCT XCal2

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What should I spend my precious money on?

  • FRPP Stage 2 Cams

    Votes: 12 55%

  • SCT XCal 2 flash tool

    Votes: 9 41%

  • Another item that would better match your current mods (please list in reply)

    Votes: 1 4.5%
  • Total voters
    22
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zslaton

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Okay, with two kids and a wife that no longer works (not even part time), I am on a restricted budget this year for mods. And no, I am not bitching, I'm just giving you all some context. I plan one major mod this year of between $300 and $400. These were the two I was thinking of...

1) FRPP Stage 2 Cams
OR
2) SCT XCal 2 Flasher

PROS AND CONS

FRPP Stage 2 Cams
PROS:
1) Good low to mid range torque bump, which is what I want for daily driving
2) Keep everything else stock (no fuel octane change, etc.)
3) Nice sound change (from what I have heard)
CONS:
1) PITA to install compared to flash tool
2) Requires adjustable cam gears and dyno tune to take full advantage of

SCT XCal 2
PROS:
1) Easy to install
2) Custimizable for vehicle
3) HP and torque bump across the RPM range? (anyone have a dyno curve of their tune?)
CONS:
1) Have to run 91 octane
2) Don't have confirmed gains across RPM band... I don't want all of the benefit coming from 3000 to 6000 rpm revs.

Okay, so weigh in and help me out. Feel free to point out something I missed, and also feel free to recommend something else for me if you think it would work better with my set up (check my profile for set up).
 
#2 ·
hmm...i would say the flasher mainly because theres no strings attached..your gonna end up spending around 1k before its all said and done with the cams..i spent 1300 after installation and everything
 
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Discussion starter · #3 ·
How much would it cost a shop to install the FRPP 4.06 gears? That is another attractive option to boost at-the-wheels torque. Anybody do this mod through a shop?
 
#5 ·
If I were you and in your particular situation, I'd wait to get the X-Cal2 and go with the cams. After you get the cams installed and buy a few more bolt-ons, then I would buy the SCT X-Cal2 and take your car to the dyno to get your cam gears dialed in and your sct programmed properly.

If you decide to go with the cams for now, they aren't necessarily a 'PITA' to install, but I think it's definitely worth the DIY job. I bought my FR Stage II's from McNew's and I was able to install them myself in about 2 hours time. Though if you go with the SCT, you could always dyno your car at a later time and have the tune reprogrammed then. Either modification is definitely worth doing though.

Cheers!
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
W~Phoenix~{RC} said:
If you decide to go with the cams for now, they aren't necessarily a 'PITA' to install, but I think it's definitely worth the DIY job. I bought my FR Stage II's from McNew's and I was able to install them myself in about 2 hours time.
Click to expand...
Did you install the FRPP Stage 2's with or without cam gears? If you had cam gears, did you dyno them to dial in the proper timing? And do you have a how-to for install. The rest of my mods have been DIY, but as an engine engineer I am a bit reluctant to start diving into the guts of the engine. Sounds relatively easy, at least from the time commitment you put in.
 
#8 ·
I voted for the sct first. reason being you can optimize fuel & ign. maps plus get rid of a few annoying things: like the shift lite, EGR, speed gov., change revv. limiter.
you can also add a second base file on there for when you do get cams & just fine tune from there, you will want the idle raised with the cams. pulls like a SOB when you hit 2700 RPM and above, wow! I love mine[:D] just be sure to get the cams tuned when ya get them, I plan to do that soon also.[;)] enjoy[thumb] BTW cams not that bad to install, just take your time!
 
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Discussion starter · #9 ·
Okay, so does anyone have a dyno chart for cams w/o tuning? And how about the same for an SCT with EGR off? I am still strugling to understand if EGR off really does anything, as EGR is already off at WOT conditions.

If someone can show me cams with decent gains w/o tuning, I may be swinging that direction. DIY install doesn't sound TOO bad. Cams sound like fun. How's the idle and sound? Can I keep the base idle speed and still have it run?

If I am going to tune, I am going to try and only do it once - i.e. get the cams, the gears, and the SCT tuner and THEN go to the local dyno.

BTW, no one has answered my question on 4.06 gears. Seems like a pretty simple way to get more torque at the wheels, but it's likely a costly install. Anyone have experience in how much it would cost?
 
#10 ·
you can get the xcal2 tuned for any octane not just 91. 91 is mainly for the ca people because thats the highest shit gas they sell at the pumps out here unlike on the east coast where you can get some good 93.
 
#11 ·
zslaton - Don't think you want to get cams and no tuning. IMO The best thing to do is get the XCal2 from Wanye, b/c he gives you 6 months of tuning free. That way when you get cams later on, he can whip you up a new tune to get your car optimized for your cams.
 
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#12 ·
zslaton said:
Did you install the FRPP Stage 2's with or without cam gears? If you had cam gears, did you dyno them to dial in the proper timing? And do you have a how-to for install. The rest of my mods have been DIY, but as an engine engineer I am a bit reluctant to start diving into the guts of the engine. Sounds relatively easy, at least from the time commitment you put in.
Click to expand...
I do have FC Adjustable Cam Gears installed and I will be going to the dyno this Wednesday to dial in my gears and retune my SCT X-Cal2. I'll be sure to post up my base-line dyno and the final dyno pull.

As far as installing them, all I did was buy some Royal Purple Engine Lube, an E10 Torx Bit (other tools for the install I already had), and I dove into the engine. I was a bit reluctant at first because I didn't know exactly what I was doing, but it's a pretty straight forward install. Make absolutely sure that you put Piston 1 at TDC before you remove the stock cams though.

Cheers!
 
#13 ·
get both
with cams you can run without a tune but it is next to unbearable to drive, and if you get the setup together take it and get it all tuned up, i have the fr2's with a sct xcal programmed by wayne and i have done some hand tuning of the cam gears to a comfortable range, im waiting on the dyno tune as f/i will be goin on the car within a few months
 
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#14 ·
i thin on steedas web site they show a 9 hp gain fro cam gears and 15 gain with both.

i think it woud be a good idea to go with cam gears tuned on a dyno then get a hold of wayne.

honestly if your on a budget 9 hp compared to 15 for 1/4 of the price isnt bad at all in my eyes.

im in the same boat as you kids and all except i have like a grand to spend. my plans right now are buy a 2k manifold junk yard tb to port then decide on the same ? as you even on the 4.06 gears i have a cf clutch to put in so if i decide to go with the gears ill buy a ighter flywheel.
 
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#15 ·
I would go with the cams now and get the Xcal later. Once you have the cams in and tuned an Xcalibrator will do a lot more good than it would if you buy it before cams.
 
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Discussion starter · #17 ·
Okay, I may be leaning towards cams at this point. What about FRPP Stage 1's? They sound doable without the cam gears at first. Sound like a more logical place to start from, and then build upon with cam gears at a later date, and then an SCT flash w/a dyno tune. What do you guys think?
 
#18 ·
jzbarton has a locked sctII for sale cheap. You can get it and have it unlocked alot cheaper than a new one.
 
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#19 ·
I got the FR Stage 2 Cams from ^^^ Mike and i love them. Get the gears with it. It makes life SOOOO much easier. I havent taken it to a dyno yet, I just tuned the gears a little by changing timing then going out on the back road, run the hell out of it for a few blocks and go change the timing again. It works. And the cams, not a big deal to install. I was like you, nervous as hell when the first bolt broke loose. But when it is done and it starts right up, that is the happiest I have been in a LONG time. I am not very engine savy ( I learned my engine building on a 1928 Model A) but I did it on my own. Deffenently worth the time.
 
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#20 ·
I would save up & get both at the same time, but I think the FR2’s are being phased out & don’t know how much longer they will be available especially at their present price, so for that reason alone you should buy the cams now & don’t install them until you can afford the XCAL.

Unless there’s been some changes, I don’t think Wayne is any longer in business.
 
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