Question regarding 2.5L cams

[radtap]

I've been looking into putting a bit beefier cam into the 2.5L in my 98 ranger and I've been looking around, so far my options are custom ground or a performance cam for the older pinto engines, I wanted to ask if fine to put a Pinto cam into the 98 2.5l, I swear I remember reading something about there being a difference between the 2.3 and 2.5 head where you can't swap a 2.5 cam into a 2.3 head due to an issue with Cam followers but not 100% sure if I'm making it up or just can't remember where I read it. But my question is will a performance cam for the Pinto engine work on the 2.5 Lima?

 

[tomw]

The Pinto/Mustang cams are designed for use with 'flat followes' vs the roller followers on a 2.5 cam. If you want to swap in a performance cam you would also have to swap followers. Additionally, the valve stem diameter on the later models, 95-up for Rangers(I think...) is smaller, which may be fine, but may allow more follower motion than desired as the valve stems on older models are larger, thus the tip of the follower has a larger recess.
You can even go to solid lifters/supports if you like to adjust valve clearance, as I think some of Esslinger or Racer Walsh cams were able to use them.
tom

 

[radtap]

The Pinto/Mustang cams are designed for use with 'flat followes' vs the roller followers on a 2.5 cam. If you want to swap in a performance cam you would also have to swap followers. Additionally, the valve stem diameter on the later models, 95-up for Rangers(I think...) is smaller, which may be fine, but may allow more follower motion than desired as the valve stems on older models are larger, thus the tip of the follower has a larger recess.
You can even go to solid lifters/supports if you like to adjust valve clearance, as I think some of Esslinger or Racer Walsh cams were able to use them.
tom

I'm looking at this kit http://racerwalsh.com/product/2-3-hydraulic-roller-cam-kit-cam-followers-springs-retainers-lifters-rwa-1904/
Would this be fine to use or would I have to change more such as valves?

 

[tomw]

The followers are used, from the listing. Question is whether they have early (89-94) or late (85-up) vintage. The former have larger diameter valve stem clearance where they push on the valve. The latter would have narrower valve stem pocket width to work with the smaller diameter stems used in 95-up.
Thataz lotta beans for a cam swap. Personally I think more performance could be gotten from a turbo, though I don't know the cost.
One brother had a turbo T-bird. It was fast. He had a friend with an SVO Mustang(turbo). It was FASTer. Scary fast.
tom

 

[radtap]

The followers are used, from the listing. Question is whether they have early (89-94) or late (85-up) vintage. The former have larger diameter valve stem clearance where they push on the valve. The latter would have narrower valve stem pocket width to work with the smaller diameter stems used in 95-up.
Thataz lotta beans for a cam swap. Personally I think more performance could be gotten from a turbo, though I don't know the cost.
One brother had a turbo T-bird. It was fast. He had a friend with an SVO Mustang(turbo). It was FASTer. Scary fast.
tom

I've never wanted to deal with turbos, I've set a couple up on my friends volvos and I never want to do it again, I hate having to plumb the oil, water and intercooler. If I went for boost is get the supercharger off a thunderbird but they're hard to find