Cams

[orangemuffin]

Ok, I have done a few searches, a bit of reading and asked a few questions but am still unsure about a few things so am hoping you chaps running cams can help me out.

Right, I know having them fitting increases the power of your car and I know that in some cases it can cause cars to run a lumpy idle and can cause problems with emissions come MOT time. One chap I spoke to who has a cammed 16v said his car can sometimes hit 3k on idle.

I have also seen that there are different types of cams with different lifts, what do the different lifts mean?

And also I read on ebay (yeah I know ) that putting a 1.8 cam in the 2.0 16v acts as an upgrade…I have also spoken with someone who has a history of racing fords and he has said they use to drop 2.0 ford sierra cams into 1.8 engines ?

I am confused by it all and would like some clarity as really thinking about taking the plunge as I need my cam belt doing and think it might be an ideal time but don’t want to ruin my daily driver.


Cheers in advance

Dan

 

[AlpineWhite]

Well, the two parameters that you'd normally come across are lift and duration.

Lift refers to the furthest distance (mm) it pushes the valve from it's seat.

Duration refers to how many degrees the valve is open for. This is from being fully closed, opening, reaching max lift, closing again.

As a rule of thumb, the greater the lift and duration, the lumpier your idle will be. Also, changing the cams may change the way the power is delivered. It will probably shift the powerband towards higher engine speeds. You may lose a little power at lower engine speeds.

Changing the cam whilst the cambelt is being done is the ideal opportunity.

Hope that helps mate.
Ant

 

[Fl@pper]

there was somethign about using a KR inlet cam? or along those lines rings a bell but couldn't tell you exactly.

lift is how far they open the valve and duration is how long for and it's a bit of a science to be honest and you'll need to match up with what power you want and when in the rev range accompanied with other addons fitted like t/bodies and carbs/turbo's/exhaust etc etc which can all have a bearing on what profile is reqd

you wouldnt wanna stick some big wild lumpy cams in that are great power at 7k+ rpm on a track and find you didnt have enough fuelling for em

or worse having to rev it's tits off to just to pull away from the lights in town when you go shopping

horses for courses

 

[Dave_R]

Sometime idle's at 3k??? That isn't good! Mine will rev to 1500 when cold and 900 on idle but very lumpy!

To pull of will need to rev it to about 2k, it isn't ideal for a daily driver... traffic jams will start to make you clutch smell and you make people behind you feel sick from the fueling lol.

But it is funny when people look at the car stupid and ask "I think it's not running right mate!"

 

[orangemuffin]

ok nice 1,

so what cam are you running dave ?

what about the whole 1.8 cam in a 2.0 ?? that i really dont understand.

 

[WeeJase]

ok nice 1,

so what cam are you running dave ?

what about the whole 1.8 cam in a 2.0 ?? that i really dont understand.

you might get a bit more help if you tell folk what car you run.At the start of the thread you say cams, at the end cam.how many have you got?And tbh its much better to get the head polished and ported to aid better flow when adding cam/cams,and then not much point in having either if you don't get this all timed up and mapped to suit.
Just "chucking" a cam/cams in because you have the belt and tensioner off is not the best way to look at it,people change the water pump because they have the belt off,not usually cams/cam

 

[orangemuffin]

you might get a bit more help if you tell folk what car you run.At the start of the thread you say cams, at the end cam.how many have you got?And tbh its much better to get the head polished and ported to aid better flow when adding cam/cams,and then not much point in having either if you don't get this all timed up and mapped to suit.
Just "chucking" a cam/cams in because you have the belt and tensioner off is not the best way to look at it,people change the water pump because they have the belt off,not usually cams/cam

alright love, just thought most poeple knew. I have a 16v and i believe they have 2 cams ? but for the most part i dont know what work is involved...hence the thread. All information is good information for me here.

Cheers
Dan

 

[OllieL]

Have a coconut

Ollie

 

[WeeJase]

alright love, just thought most poeple knew. I have a 16v and i believe they have 2 cams ? but for the most part i dont know what work is involved...hence the thread. All information is good information for me here.

Cheers
Dan

so you need a pair,for a daily driver you will need a mild set( unless you fancy taking on robT in his hill climber),most are labelled "fast road".
some do exchange,some re profile your own set,but as above almost all will recommend that you get the head done love and a vernier pulley too,and cam chain depending on mileage.
fat end of a grand i would guess in this day and age,though cheap heads can be picked up if you fancy having a go yourself.
speak to midland vw.

 

[orangemuffin]

No more coconuts !

Where would i get the head ported / polished if i went ahead with this ?

 

[WeeJase]

midland vw......IN CANNOCK!

 

[Brummy]

As jase said , dan.... Mids vw's ... Cannock

 

[orangemuffin]

I think jodie is sick of having my 16v in. Every time i take it in he always says ' i told you the 16v's are trouble '

will have to give them a call and look at prices.

Thanks for you helpfull feedback chaps.

 

[Brummy]

no worries, love

 

[orangemuffin]

midland vw......IN CANNOCK!

it seems to be catching...

 

[orangemuffin]

Although they never see to have any problems in takng my hard earned muuular off me.

Still have done me a few favours down there in the past 12 months.

 

[WeeJase]

ok then,
get down the M40 to stealth racing,vince is a legend.personally my old valvers have been the best motors i have owned.

 

[Brummy]

Stealth .. are they the ones down in Southam Jase?

 

[Dave_R]

I had my work done at Stealth Racing, got schrick 268 cams not too wild but about the limit the standard ecu can take..... most people will tell you 260 cams are the biggest but vince at stealth ensured me 268's will work and well they did!

Had a ported and polished head and all set up with a remap, isn't cheap and you probably talking more than what you paid for your valver if you brought it in the last year or two!

 

[orangemuffin]

I have heard about that place.

I have never done anything to a car like this before hence all the questions, just seem to have caught the bug for it.

It will be a bouns if midland vw can do it but not having that much knowledge on the subject just didnt know that they did work like that down there...wasnt sure if it had to be taken to a specialist place. Its ok if you already know but if you dont you have to ask.....

See i never knew there was extra work involved like the head polishing and mapping...its all great information.