New cam?

Author
Discussion

dixiebabes

Original Poster:

3,111 posts

223 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
Anyone recommend a new cam for a stock 350i series 1. Something what will boost the power but not make it a nightmare to drive in traffic etc? Do i need anything else besides just the cam.

Dix

350zwelgje

1,818 posts

260 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
Was considering a kent218 myself, but the old camshaft is still doing fine and haven't bought/installed one.
Seems the lift is just fine, no pocketed pistons required and all the hydraulic stuff can be reused, except the followers: always replace them!

In case of emergency have a standard 3.9 EFI (clearance bargain from somewhere, probably rimmers) on the shelf. A few more horses from the 3.5, but torque moves up the rev range and I consider it already to be late to pick up. It is running nice from 3500rpm up, which is late/high up the rev range for me. This could even worsen with the 3.9 cam.....

Pre-load setup for the valves is required and ditch the plastic camshaft sprocket, plus use double chain (vernier type).

Rob

Campbell

2,499 posts

282 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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Hi Dix

I think the kent 218 would be a good option for your car but if you do change consider the lifters and any other parts that are needed in changing the cam over.
I've got a kent in the SEAC but it is way to high for your car hehe

Cambelt RNR VII

KKson

3,395 posts

124 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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Also considering a new cam in mine as according to last years BBWF rolling road it appears to be a worn high lift cam as the power comes in way up the rev range but it's only at 185bhp. London Dyno reckon is has had a mild cam in the past but it's tired. Was also thinking of the Kent 218 or Piper 270 with new tappets. Good info available on a much earlier post:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

rev-erend

21,404 posts

283 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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This cam table is useful on a very technical level

http://www.wolfitt.com/kentcamdata.htm

Nice summary here :

Standard RV8 285" .39" 5000-5400 rpm
Hurricane 262' .433" 1000-6000rpm Better than standard RV8, but a bit "soft". Good for auto boxes
Typhoon 276 '.48" 1200-6200 rpm Needs valve springs and possibly guides-. Good all rounder
MC1 Good idle, excellent drive ability, reasonable bhp.
MC2 Mediocre idle, mediocre drive ability, good mid range, good bhp.
H404 Very poor idle, very poor drive ability, good mid range, excellent bhp
Stealth. Very good idle, excellent drive ability, moderate mid range, good bhp.
Piper 270 272' .42" 1500-6000 rpm Good idle, good mid range, poor BHP.
Piper 285 276' .440" 2000-6500 rpm. Bad idle, poor drive ability, very good mid range, good bhp but falls off the cam very quickly.
Piper 300 Bad idle, poor drive, moderate mid range, good bhp
Kent 200 Very good idle, good drive, poor every where else
Kent 218 Good idle, good drive, good mid range, poor bhp
Kent 214 Ok idle, ok drive ok mid, range ok bhp
Kent 224 Poor idle, poor drive, good mid range, good bhp
Kent 234 Bad idle, bad drive, good mid range, excellent bhp
Kent 248 Nutty cam
Kent 256 Nutty Mty cam

MC1 seems to get the biggest amount of good reviews on this site.

Waynester

6,324 posts

249 months

Wednesday 4th March 2015
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Interesting reading.. I have a Kent 218 but have been considering a different profile. The MC1 does sound a good option.

dixiebabes

Original Poster:

3,111 posts

223 months

Wednesday 4th March 2015
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Brilliant info, thanks guys.

Dix

Henry Harris

566 posts

198 months

Wednesday 4th March 2015
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I have recently discovered during the engine rebuild, my 450SE has a Kent Camshafts H218. With all the other changes to the engine from standard, including Edelbrock Performer series manifold 2198 and carburettor 1404, the car goes like the proverbial s censored t off a hot shovel. I can now compare it to being almost like my previous 1996 Griffith 500. cool

Jack Valiant

1,894 posts

235 months

Wednesday 4th March 2015
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IMHO for a stock 350i go for the Kent 214 mid range, drivable and tons of torque across the range

Wedg1e

26,760 posts

264 months

Wednesday 4th March 2015
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Also check out the RPI Engineering RP1 (or whatever they call it these days).