Cam options-Performance vs. Race

Road-race engines and ancillaries - general discussion
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TVST*R
Posts: 6
Joined: August 7th, 2006, 2:13 am
Location: Santa Monica ,CA
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Cam options-Performance vs. Race

Post by TVST*R »

Hello all. Didn't see a place for intros...So I guess I'll do it
here. Seems like a great forum for performance tips.

I have a 1977 124 with header,exhaust,Magnaflow muffler,32/36 carb
and advanced timing.

What I want are Cams...As hot as i can go with out losing low
end torque and drivability here in Los Angeles traffic...

What are my options in terms of vendors? On IAP, you either
get perf or race cams....Is there anything in the middle?

Thanks again!
T 8)
SteveNZ

Post by SteveNZ »

Do you have a standard 1800? If so, I would look at some higher compression first. You cannot run much of a cam upgrade with low compression.
TVST*R
Posts: 6
Joined: August 7th, 2006, 2:13 am
Location: Santa Monica ,CA
Contact:

Post by TVST*R »

Standard 1800.
So, a performance cam won't add anything to the power band
with out the compression?
Thanks!
T 8)
Guy Croft
Site Admin
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Joined: June 18th, 2006, 9:31 am
Location: Bedford, UK
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Post by Guy Croft »

The above is true, all competition (non standard) cams work better (.. and better..) with higher CR.

I'm going to give you some advice that you will doubtless not wish to hear:

Don't change the cams, sounds like the dream solution, unbolt this, fit that, it's not. Fact - comp cams always use more fuel and always add on at the top and take away at the bottom, the last thing you need. That's is in the nature of camshafts. Some cheap so called 'comp' cams don't work at all, regrinders of 8v profile take note. I'm not naming names but I could, I know them all. UK and stateside.

What you need, is a very good gasflow/valve/seat job on head and inlet manifold. This will give more torque throughout the range, lift peak power by upwards of 15bhp, improve economy for same speed. The difference in throttle response even on your US spec low CR motor will be very marked indeed, esp if coupled to a 32/36DGV Weber carb. This means more work, but, hey, this is a race engine website - nothing that is easy is worth having!

GC
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