civic4982

What kind of thoughts go into cam tuning? The BMW guys get a lotta gains from this. Perhaps we should look into it. Getting someone to make them isn't a problem, it's gtting someone to do the R&D.

BoostedM3

R&D? No such luck. Comptech isn't interested due to the lack of demand. Only webcamshafts have a fair price for cams, but I need a set to have them spec them and then they will tell me what they suggest as a profile. Looks like only trial & error.

Chopsie

Yeah I get lots of those comments about making my car faster "get better cams" , but no luck on finding them.

civic4982

so ronnie... do you need me to send you mine? how will they be able to tune them? I'm more than willing to do it if there's something in it for being the guinea pig.

BoostedM3

well, once I get a set, then they will suggest a profile off their expertise? i'm not sure how they will determine an appropriate profile. once they have it, i'll run it by Dean Baty + his techs and people on this forum to see if its a reasonable lift/duration change. its $625 for billet & $540 for regrinds and they are willing to do a group buy of 5 or more, but we would have to see the gains first.

its a risky project...ive been debating doing it for quite some time. you get recognition on this forum for being the test donkey

civic4982

o so you've already got a set in the makings and dont need someone else's cams? that's cool... I relaly hope there's some good gains to be made there... I'm sure we'll only know with a few tests and whatnot. Perhaps we can talk to an engineeer who knows our motor a bit better. Find the guy at Honda maybe?

BoostedM3

no, i've been thinking about it and have done some research, but i don't have a set made yet. i don't have an extra set of cams to send them.

bigman

usually vtec cars have reat results with cams. But its usualy the dohc motors

civic4982

that seems like an answer that has very little actual knowledge to go with it... could you tell some more about why?

BoostedM3

I'm not sure why, but the civic Si & teg Type-R have big gains with hotter cams.

civic4982

could just be the stronger internals and higher compression benefit from a good cam tuning.

SiGGy

There is actually a lot of things...

here's what I can think of from the top of my head.

how well the heads flow
bore and stroke (how much fuel/air you can pull in)
RPM range you want power
compression ratio
fuel delivery (i.e. N/A or FI)


All of those would change what degree/lift/duration cam you would want...

Also you have to know if your engine is interfering or non-interfering to spec the lift on the cam lobes. Or you'll have a piston crash into a valve.

On a FI engine you usually do not want overlap on the intake and exhaust lobes. But on a N/A setup you might...

Knowing the above, and your engines tolerances. You could pick a more aggressive cam with a longer intake duration/exhaust duration. And or change the degree of the cam to produce more power.

Obviously the goal is to get the maximum amount of fuel/air in. And then push the exhaust back out.

Also, keep in mind changing all of those parameters will move the power band of the engine. So if your an automatic. You will also probably be looking into a higher stall torque converter...

Lots of variables, this is my quick 2m insight on the subject

I miss my 5.7l chevy hehehe

civic4982

thanks siggy... I'm learning already...

BoostedM3

Dean's old Si gained 10+whp on 0.1 degree change in cam.