Life with a Cammed FOXBODY Mustang 5.0 - What You Need To Know! 

Bring the idle up a bit. Makes life easier. Half a dozen cammed foxes over 20 years never had the stalling problem. The bucking at low RPM, sure.

It sux for the neighbors to be fed up with the noise lmao…. One of the sweetest sounds on the face of the globe is lobe separation 💯

After I added all the standard bolt on’s, GT-40 heads, cam, throttle body, etc I ran into the same sporadic idle issue. My problem ended up being the TPS being in the wrong position voltage wise. Mine did EXACTLY what his does in this video too. As soon as I set it correctly with a multi meter, the idle sits perfect, cold or at running temp. No dips or subtle crashes. Look up videos on setting the TPS voltage and you may fix your issue too. It’s also SUPER easy to do.

These intermittent bugs are the hardest to diagnose since they don't do it all the time. Nice to see someone showing the real world expectations of a modified foxbody! Great video bud!

I have the attention span of a small shrub. That being said, I watch all of your videos in their entirety. So well done, great delivery of facts and opinions. Thank you for taking the time to puit these vids together for all of us Fox fans brother🙂

Bumping up the idle to 900-1000 def helps with it's want to stall, running a tf stage 2 in my 93, cold starts always seem perfect, hot starts have minimal idle hunt, but the in between cold and hot has a fair bit of idle hunting but only lasts 5-10 secs before it gets happy. Wanting to get a quarter horse for it and see what leech can do to tune it personally. Another good video bud, and your right, not a lot of people address this.

I had a similar problem, I can almost guarantee it's the positive vent from the tank constantly/ intermittently letting fumes into your intake. Especially after a fill up. A quick test , just un plug that vapor line from tank and seeif it fixes it. Good luck

Fox body guy here would like to thank you for your time and information

Stroke it to a 347 which will make that cam seem a little smaller, but with the added stroke and that cam you would have a nicer set-up

That’s why the Ford Motorsport E303 or F303 cams were the best cams in my opinion for what I had and looks like would be perfect for what you are wanting…

My favorite foxbody channel. Literally relate to everything Lmaoo for the longest i thought my car was just horrible. Now i know all foxbodys have the SAME problems lol it’s apart of owning one

Nice video Mate. Always good to hear some balanced views. There are pros and cons to everything we do to these cars and it helps to get that info before making a decision. Thank you. And yes…please do a video on the old mags! 👍👍👍

I’m sold on custom grind camshafts. The off-the-shelf cams are decent, but nothing beats one cut for your combination, needs and driving style. I’m running a 347 with AFR 185 heads, Holley Systemax intake, 1.6 rockers and Holley Terminator-X. I have posted on your channel the details before but it’s hard to beat one built just for you. Mine is a billet camshaft and for just under $400, it does what I need and want. Plenty of vacuum for the brakes, great idle and snappy response. It’s .600/.595, 227/231 with 112 lobe separation, over 370 lb/ft and 400hp to the wheels, I’m still trying to maximize it.

My 89 has the B303 and had the surging idle, done the base idle reset and now idles at 850-900 at temp with no surging.

Just have completed my nostalgia H.C.I. a few weeks ago with gt40 heads and intake. I chose the E-303 cam because my 91LX is an AOD car. Yes, you totally have to relearn how to drive your car. After about 20 base idle resets to try to find the sweet spot for the idle, I found my car is happy idling around 650-700 RPMs. Anything less than that and it will die when stopping at a traffic light. Conversely I can't go higher than about 900 RPM on the idle or I will loose to much vacuum and the power brake booster will not function. I like having brakes. The E-303 is interesting with the AOD, about the time the torque converter is locking, the cam starts coming alive. So you get a good solid spin free launch before the cam kicks in, but when it kicks in you definitely feel it.

Man you have to be good with the clutch and the gas eh buddy?! Gotta be able to multitask for sure. Great vid!

I had a 92 LX, Same Color, Deep Emerald Green. Currently considering painting my S550 the same color.

ilde plate on the front of the IAC has two allen head bolts to help adjust the added air and lack of vacuum.

Always a sweet looking Foxx, yesssirrrr

Hell yeah just got off work. Gonna get me a beer and watch this. Looking for a cam soon too

Yes unbox the ol Mags!

The color got me, Im a Chevy Boy!

Yes please do a video of those magazines. I have a ton of them.

I was taught the same way... as far as down shifting and using the engine to slow the car down and save the brakes. I got near 100000 miles before having to change brakes on my Mazda 3 hatch commuter car. It has close to 200000 miles on the factory clutch. I sure do miss the Stang....

Vacuum behaves differently in different environments. Warmer air is better for it. So, take that into consideration with a cammed fox body. I enjoyed this part of owning a vehicle almost exactly like this back in the day. You got to learn how it wants to be treated. Same with running different drilling rigs. Each vehicle had a mind of it's own and figuring out how to "fix" these quirks ruins the fun.

Not just limited to 5.0. I have a 4.6 2v I dropped cams in a year ago, and run into the same. Granted it's not often, but have have had a few stalled start ups, and remember one in reverse (picking daughter up from school). Also noticed it struggled at idle when I had the heater on back in spring one morning. All in all not terrible, but definitely changes the characteristics. Also did have mine professionally tuned right after I finished, so it's just a thing.

Love your soft top I had the same model wished I never sold it! So much fun!

Great video and demo of the issues! A shop told me the “idle hunt” issue can’t be tuned all the way out. Perhaps it can be tuned out if a person changes from the stock A9L to an aftermarket computer and then has a good tune it will stop the idle hunt. For me the sound of the lumpy idle and other benefits is well worth the other minor issues. 💯👊🏾

These issues can be tuned out with a proper tune or ecu upgrade. I’ve done mine and recommend Leech motorsports, they have an account on here. They are very good at stock ecu tunes and terminator x.

Depends on your cams duration . My 86 capri is still speed density. I have a old school crane 2030 cam . 533/544 lift cam . With 224 duration . Had same issue . Got 98% of the issues tuned out of it . Bumped idle to between 750 and 850 . And fixed all vacume leaks . Sometimes it will still surge at idle but no longer dies at a red light . It's a real pain in the a$$ but can be done .

This is why, even with efi, I went with a stock speed density cam and quality 1.7 rollers on my TW heads. I don't need max power and like the long runner grunt.

Mine was the aftermarket fuel pressure regulator

Love the channel. I drove a f cammed mustang years ago for 4 years in mn winter. It was awsome😀

I can say when ford designed the 5.0HO and was shooting for TQ they really killed it. I know the part selection to build TQ in an engine How in the hell did they get so much low end TQ in a little engine with a tiny 3" stroke?? My 95 5.0 even with 2.73 gears has tractor type low rpm TQ. There's a road I have to turn onto going home it's very very steep and I can turn onto that road going around 30mph and I can chug up that hill in 3rd gear turning 1100rpm all the way up without any bucking just blub blub all the way up, I've found on secondary roads I can chug around in 3rd almost like a one speed trans. I will miss that a bit when I mod the engine but I'm also used to driving temperamental cammed vehicals, imo switching up to a 3.55 gear when I do the C.H.I. swap will help significantly and where I daily it in warm weather I'm trying so hard to force myself to be conservative with the heads and cam, I don't hot rod everywhere just drive with just get on it a bit from stops now n then not all the time and I'm still think go with the afr 185s heads even tho im sure for drivability I'll be happier with the 165s because there little better choice, I think people make more of a thing about runner size to s certain amount I really don't think that 20cc difference would make a huge difference...?

Funny I have the same issues! I have an e-Cam nice lumpy idle not to aggressive, but do have some issues like you are saying like an old two stroke. I found that if I keep it in gear as I roll up to a light or stop sign almost till I come to a dead stop it doesn’t stall. And I do need to nurse it from a start kind of rev it as I let the clutch out. Most of the time can’t just let clutch out without feathering the gas or it falls on its face. I’ve noticed here in Michigan as it’s gotten less humid it seems to run much better. I’ve been thinking of the ProM system because of it. Glad you addressed this cause It makes me feel like I constantly need to tinker with it to make it perfect. And there probably is no such thing!lol

All good things! Hehe. FOX mustangs are Driver’s cars to be sure. My first FOX was in 1994, I have had a 93 GT since 2000, overall my fourth FOX mustang. It’s powered by a CHP 331 with a trick flow stage 2 542/563 split pattern cam. Fun car and yes it does the typical things you’ve showcased. Although I haven’t had any issues on restart after a gas & go and hope it stays that way. Again these cars are meant for drivers once they’ve been modded to this extent. That’s the simplicity and one of the many reasons I enjoy them. Nice video and I’m a new subscriber now. Thanks

I just cammed a 5.0 and it’s stalled twice when starting up. I don’t mind….I mean most people can’t even drive manual nowadays haha. Plus you know why it stalled, might be embarrassing, but you know why it happened. Mine grinds 98% of the time going into 3rd gear, but I know it’s because it needs an adjustment lol

I went with a trickflow stage 1 I like it

Great clip Gary. I know of those issues that stem down to all makes and models and it's the most manageable with a manual car. When you put those cams in an AOD car it's even worse. That's the only reason why I haven't cammed my car really is just for driveability. Other than that it sounds great and am sure runs strong.

I would like to see a cam Thunderbird and also a cam crown Victoria

if you think its vacuum related and your not getting enough then you could add a electric vacuum pump to give it more vacuum. if you turbo the car you would have to add one anyways.

Just found your channel. Great job on this video. I am also having same issues with the cam. I have thought maby it was a mass air or timing issue. My car runs great but like you said, can be frustrating. Anyhow thanks again and really appreciated this video! Love the emerald green lx coupe! I have a 93 lx silver coupe.

U have to tune timing just right and also check TPS Voltage

Vacuum you say? Hmm that is interesting, I myself would have probably guessed that your valve springs were not the right ones to be running with that cam. I also would look at the TPS module with a multimeter and dial that thing in to the proper spec for your cam. BTW did you reset your idle after you changed the cam? If not be sure you do that before you mess with the TPS. Finally if you feel certain about it being caused by low vacuum you can always put a vacuum booster on it from Hoover, LOL. Anyway I hope this helps you solve your problems. BTW damn good looking cars you have man, good luck

Ya I think that would be a fun video pulling out the mags and looking at some of the old articles. My father in law gave me a mag from 1986 where they compared the 86 GT to the grand national. It really brought me back

Coming from someone with a cammed 5.0 but in an Explorer platform knew just from the title what this would be about and was right lol. I too deal with intermittent stalls if I don't two pedal. For me it occurs going from P into D / R, or vice versa especially with the wheel turned. I just live with it as a tradeoff for having a choppy cam. Drives good otherwise but do wish my torque curve was a tad lower. Great video!

saw more 5.0s with surging hunting idles or stalling than I could count in the 80s Place called B and D opened up in sfv who were expert tuners with these. Nice peopleMost times when camming you gotta gear the car accordingly, it will drive through a lot of it.

Have you considered the additional load on the engine when off the throttle, turning the steering wheel, and on the brakes? My 91 has edelbrock heads, intake, etc with a trick flow stg1 and I love it. The larger brake booster helps this also. The IAC restriction plate also helped. I've been messing with this thing for 12yrs...lol

@KASL Customs i just recently found your channel. A lot of good info. My dad bought a 90 convertible lx brand new, one of the manual 7/up cars. It was just handed down to me. Loved that car when i was a teenager. It’s extremely low miles, all the factory paperwork/window stickers/ pictures of the car on the dealership floor, original car cover, convertible cover, factor ford leather bra etc etc etc…., in perfect condition and bone stock. been wondering what to do with it tbh. i was told because of what it is and its condition to leave it stock. It’s been under cover its whole life and i cant take it anywhere without someone trying to buy it. i want to do a few things to it but still debating if i should. After seeing the one they auctioned off that was an auto with more miles and with mine being in better condition that it…. Makes me pause and wonder if i should leave it alone. but i really want to cam it, regear the rear end, do a 5 bolt conversion with wheels, and lower it two inches and just have fun with it like i did 25 years ago. if you know what i should do please let me know because i cant make up my mind lol. just took it out of its sleeping spot for its annual fluid changes and detail just to cover it back up for another year… thats been its life for 20 years. Seems wrong to not drive it and have fun…

Adjust your timing! The 5.0 Fox body is one of the last cars where you could set the timing!

Could you just add a vacuum canister and see if that helps? That's what I would try.

Awesome video brother!!! Yea those Mags would be awesome to see!!! A Fox can definitely make you develop a Love/hate relationship with it if you don’t learn how to drive it. Lol

Try the Lunati Voodoo 20350710. I'm running that in my stock block GT40 top end and it is amazing. The voodoo line was developed by Harold Brookshire one of the top cam designers in North America. If you start reading around (forms) the voodoo lineup out preforms the equivalent comp cams extreme energy cam with area under the curve which is more important than a single peak number.

I have the same cam in mine. Yes, it did the same, thing especially when it's still cold. I noticed when I unplugged one of the connections on the vacuum tree it stopped. I have the holley terminator x in mine. Its speed density anyways so it's like cracking open the throttle body a bit more. It purrs now. Great video bro! I liked the b303 a bit more. It might throw that back in.

I might be trippin’ but that looks like the Okanagan.

Yeah that’s the Throttle Position Sensor.

That news video clip you used was next to my house where I live in Austin TX.... LOL

Nice Fox 👍

Idle air control mod ford makes a kit for the throttle body! I had 306 E cam Afr165s on a DSS 306 stroker cured my idle issue

Overall good video but you touched on the issue. It’s your ecu. I have a much more radical build and have more issues with the twin disc than I do the cam hunting and surging. Not everyone can afford or wants to but a Holley EFI stand alone will give much more accurate timing control and no more issues.

Put in a new maf sensor and the correct size tube ect that lets in the proper amount of air to get the afr right.. These cars are fueled off Mass Air Flow, you prob are not correct on your low end fueling.. Mine would also start acting funky when the TPS throtlle position sensor was starting to go out.. It will start rev hanging ect, dipping throttle.. I changed about 1-2 per year..

Ive owned my 91 emerald green coupe for over 20 years and when i put a cam in it i noticed when i would come to a sudden stop the car would stall. My dad being a mechanic for over 40 years grabs a copperhead bb from his bb gun and removes the vacuum hose to the egr and stuffs in in the there. Problem solved ha never had another stalling issue.

Thanks for the informative video 🇨🇦 🇺🇸

Lol . Actually, my car loops out a lot . I have 94GT yeap and cammed top end built lower stock . Nothing sounds better than a push rod motor . I named my car Cybil, lol . She acts up now and then . 2 stroke driving hits the nail on the head .

Hi , Thank you for all your videos and your channel. I have watched this video a few times very informative, however my car like yours has a HCI with Trick Flow 170 11R's, Trick flow track heat intake, an Erson camshaft slightly larger than than Trick flow stage 1 cam, but very similar though, also a Pro M 75mm Mass Air with Pro M 30 LBS fuel injectors and a BBK 155 LPH fuel pump and BBK 1 5/8 Shorty unequal headers, 373 gears... just to give an idea of my mods. My car had all the very same problems mentioned in your video here. Plus it would stall randomly while cruising, or at speed, VERY dangerous to say the least!! So I went to Leech Motorsports, and had Matthew Harrison remote tune my car, as I am in Ontario, Canada. He IS an absolute tuning genius let me tell you. I installed a Moates Quarterhorse Datalogger/chip, yes it does both and holds up to 8 tunes that can be switched on the fly, you cannot do this with an SCT chip. I ditched my SCT chip. I would then data-log in my 1989 Fox Body coupe 5 speed, with a laptop. I'm on tune number 8, and with each and every data-log and tune update, the car has gotten better and better. And let me say when Matt built the 1st tune, all my cars drivability issues stopped, completely. It idles and drives so smooth let me tell you. Sounds like your tuner created a good tune for you, but I think it could be improved.... I talked with Tec Motion. Great guy he is. But there is a tuning parameter in the Ford Software called Dashpot. It is responsible for idle air control, and throttle tip in and tip out, and decel, this is where a vehicle spends most of it's time, where tuning a proper fuel map and timing with accurate dashpot tuning works out these bugs. This is what your car or anyone's modified Fox Body Mustang needs, this will be the icing on your cake, trust me. I have learned a lot from Matt about tuning parameters. Dashpot tuning through datalogging and tuning can and will fix these problems. And a good tuner should know this. My car no longer suffers from the problems mentioned in this video...at all!!!! Also most tuners turn off the factory O2 sensors, mine are functional in the tune, and adjust and fine tune the cars fuel needs. We are going to continue in the spring after the winter is over, we are finalizing the tune for WOT. We have been doing this with a Innovate Wide-band O2 sensor. Dashpot tuning can be achieved better through data logging and real world driving of your vehicle, not so much on a Dyno unless multiple dyno pulls are made, and not all at full throttle. Some must be made at part throttle and cruise simulation on the street. A data log is used to work out the final finesse of part throttle cruising and in town driving, so with data-logging, and with real world street driving this can be achieved. No one should have to settle for less. So far my car makes 323 horse and 323 LBS torque to the wheels and gets decent mileage, with spirited driving and cruising I can achieve 390 to 425 KM's per tank with zero issues and all with with in town drivability. My Erson Cam.320 lift at .050, .512 lift intake and exhaust with 1.6 roller rocker, 60 degrees overlap, and an 112 LSA. It pulls 16 inches of vacuum at idle. It has and Rpm band of 2500 to 6500. Your cams vacuum should have about the same, about 15 to 17 inches of vacuum, which is more than enough for operating brakes, with decent idle, and while giving great drivability around town and on the street at low RPM and part throttle cruise. Hope this helps you, or any Fox Body Mustang 5.0 owner who is ready to rip out their hair!!!! Remember it's all in the tune!!

Intro is 🔥 🔥 🔥

I just got a foxbody for 2k and it has a cam (I think?) that or the engine is fucked could be ether way LOL. It immediately tries to stall when I go into reverse which is annoying because I'm not confident in reverse let alone having to constantly try to prevent it from stalling. I see some of the vaccume lines seem wrong from the previous owner but I'm not sure what's been changed for a reason versus ignorance. The guy welded the muffler on with a pole of rebar instead of a hanger and put a hole in the gas tank in the process. Not kidding. Replaced the gas tank made a new muffler. Seems to work. No power at all though has a lot of trouble in first.

My terminator is like this and not cammed . It’s a pain in the backside . You have very good friends if you toss the keys to them lol

My 93 notch does the same things at stop light and fall on its face in slow reverse also rpm stuck high a bit at times when I’m in rev happy mode sometime yes I’m thinking tuning to smooth thing out…

e303 cam..... , bunches of other stuff.... yup same stuff, runs fine when warmed up

Pro-M engine management system is supposed to make it perfect. One day I'll get mine installed.

When I did my gt40 swap I was going nuts trying to figure what cam I wanted to the point I left my stock one in but I did put a set of cobra roller rockers I’m happy but I do like that lumpy idle .

If it was me I'd check the timing then do a base idle reset if that didnt fix the issue I'd do a tune up and install a aftermarket ignition system and 3g alternator. My thought is upgrade the spark and beef up the electric system so there is no low voltage issues.

Never would I give the keys to my Fox to one of my friends 😂

Was considering an E-cam. Based on this I'll stick with the stock stick.

My 91 hunts forever for an idle. Sometimes it can take 5 minutes or more when it's cold.

nice day out

You need a cam that has a lobe separation of 110 degrees or higher..

Great videos as always brother and love your new intro video! Car looks and sounds amazing!! Reason I haven’t really messed to much with my motor is that it is still Speed Density. I haven’t converted over to Mass Air. Have heard that these Speed Density cars do not like changes made. Wonder if that is true??

An informative video, watch this video Kasl very informative about a Fox Body Mustang with same issues and problems with drivability, all tuned out with proper dashpot tuning....trust me and give it a watch...

Dude, that's my Holley Grail 5.0!! Dark Green Notch back.. I would only add white stripes!! That's My Baby 🤩

Great video bro my gt likes to run like a banchee my dad built the car and I know he bought the motor from ford racing and told me it made power at 2500 rpm I know it’s aluminum head roller but that’s it

Idk what this dude is talking about “you can’t just let out the clutch on a stock 5.0.” That’s literally what I did the first time I drove a 5 speed fox and it was fine.

It's the PCM. Get t repaired or there will be many tows in your future. Ask me how I know...

How much better is the explorer manifold than the stock one? I have an Australian model 97 Fairmont with the same intake as the stock one on the fox body. Also putting gt40p heads so curious to know the benefits of the explorer manifold

Excellent 👌

Do a base idle reset watch brew3l on how to do it, it won’t happen again usually

Love viedos sir

I’m looking for another notch back. Your is very clean…..but! Please get that gt body kit off of your notch.

If it is lack of vacuum why can't you just install a vacuum pump..

I’d say popping the throttle like you do as your easing into the clutch causes over fueling, don’t pop the throttle… l

Great video just where your seat belt man

Find yourself a stop and go traffic jam and the cam will start acting up. My cammed Corvette does at least. It sucks.

Off topic, but what is the biggest cam i can put in my 5.0 that has trick flow 170 heads and 1.7 rockers?

Sounds like you need a good tune if it’s stalling out downshifting

This is any camed engine. It's not just 5.0's. From Kohler K341's, Harley twins, all over the board. The bigger the cam, the worse the idle.

Do a video about the mags

Do you or any or any of your followers may have some input… my 87 is a 306 SVE heads unknown cam but runs and sounds like a E cam.. 24 pound injectors BBK shorty headers Maf upgraded but how about carb swapping it to make it run better… I’m $3500 into this car trying to it right…also has an AOD trans…

Sorry, I didn’t read all the comments… what engine management system are you working with, stock or aftermarket? I’ve had serious issues with stock ECU’s in the past with many “bolt on’s,” and now I’m trying a Terminator X because I’m told that’s what I need with my 408 and heavily modified.

Ever think about running a new ecu??