new camshaft time for 390se..... Thoughts please

new camshaft time for 390se..... Thoughts please

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Ade390se

Original Poster:

38 posts

95 months

Sunday 27th November 2016
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As title suggest the 390se requires a cam.... And as Christmas is approaching rapid thought it was time to treat myself....hehe
My mechanic who will be doing the dirty work has suggested a Kent m238 sports r camshaft.....
Has anyone any experience of this cam...
I'm sure camshaft have been covered many times but I can't find any good threads... So here we go again...
Any thought gratefully accepted.. Ade.

KKson

3,395 posts

124 months

Sunday 27th November 2016
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I fitted a V8 Developments "Stealth" into mine. If I ever manage to get Mark Adams to get it set up on the rolling road I'll tell you how it behaves.......

Some good info on this website:
http://www.tvrmonster.co.uk/modscam.html

Ade390se

Original Poster:

38 posts

95 months

Sunday 27th November 2016
quotequote all
Thanks Keith.... Some good info... The m238 seems in the right area for OK idle and decent mid range... Will be good to know how your stealth performs when set up...

KKson

3,395 posts

124 months

Sunday 27th November 2016
quotequote all
Ade390se said:
Thanks Keith.... Some good info... The m238 seems in the right area for OK idle and decent mid range... Will be good to know how your stealth performs when set up...
Certainly with the standard AFM and ECU it idles nicely and pulls okay, however it does seem a little flat below 2,500rpm, whereas my 350i pulls strong and clean from 1000rpm. The 390 however does rev higher and sounds the part!

stevoj

798 posts

160 months

Sunday 27th November 2016
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Out of interest, whats the standard cam in the 390 ?

KKson

3,395 posts

124 months

Sunday 27th November 2016
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Trouble is some were John Eales (mine for example) and some NCK. Mine had an odd ball BL motorsports camshaft in it.

Campbell

2,499 posts

282 months

Sunday 27th November 2016
quotequote all
Not sure about that spec of kent.
Ehen i had to change the cam in my SEAC I went with the kent H234.
What i can tell you is its not the best for idling under 1000rpm but get it passes 2500 plus and it pull nicely with no drop off.
Unless you want a motor fit fornthe track then go for something fit for the street and drivable.

Ade390se

Original Poster:

38 posts

95 months

Sunday 27th November 2016
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Thanks Campbell, the m238 may be a bit of a handful the more a research....

Wedg1e

26,760 posts

264 months

Monday 28th November 2016
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stevoj said:
Out of interest, whats the standard cam in the 390 ?
Not sure what mine was originally but for the last 20 years it's had an RPI type RP1 'fast road hydraulic' - it still uses standard lifters and valvegear.
Good for 250+bhp and 280 lb.ft. on standard(ish) injection system and distributor.

Ade390se

Original Poster:

38 posts

95 months

Monday 28th November 2016
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Thanks Bobby, great info mate cheers..... Nck19 is the motor in mine, no signs of any upgrades in history so should be standard.... Whatever that means on a 390se...scratchchin

spitfire4v8

3,990 posts

180 months

Monday 28th November 2016
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Bobby Shaftoe said:
The M238 is a solid lifter cam, so you'll need adjustable pushrods or rockers if you haven't already. 300bhp+ on a decently specced 4.6 but not sure how civilised it would be on a 3.9.

As for the 390se, standard was probably the Kent H214 for most except for those early engines, i acquired a spare old early engine which had a H234 which is about the 'biggest' hydraulic cam you can get.

On the 214 mine made around 250 something bhp @5700 and it felt a lot faster than it actually was due to a fairly peaky delivery/torque curve. I did measure up a stealth cam and it's very similar , if not identical to the 214. If anything the 214 was a little too small for a 390 imho.

Didn't like the 234 as it didn't come on cam until 4k, though never got it dynoed unfortunately, it felt like it needed more CR are more head flow than i was running at the time, 10:1 & nck standard valve sized heads. Was on stock ecu as well, now on aftermarket.

I've now settled on the crower 50233 which feels like the best balance between power and driveablility, makes 270@6k and 270lb@4.3k pulls from around 1800rpm and idles at around 1k, but bear in mind i'm running big valves (169cfm), isky lifters, 71mm plenum, 10.6 CR &MS2 with coilpacks amongst other things.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=13&t=1595318&nmt=Bobby+Shaftoe+%28ben%29++anyone+in+contact+%3F%3F&mid=156942

Ben / Bobby where's my cylinder heads and my money?

rev-erend

21,404 posts

283 months

Wednesday 30th November 2016
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I'm running an M256 yikes .. yet to drive it on the road yet though. I'm expecting it to be mega.

gmw9666

2,734 posts

199 months

Thursday 1st December 2016
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Quick question Ade.......what's up with you existing cam or do you just want more POWERRRRRR

Ade390se

Original Poster:

38 posts

95 months

Thursday 1st December 2016
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More power will just be a bonus Glen...... Cams been ticking since I got her... Thought it may have been a sticky lifter as she had been parked up for 6 yrs... But ticking still so maybe now looking towards v8 developments stealth or trackday cam.... Kent h228 also seems possible... Don't want too lose to much idle but don't want stock either.... May pull old one out and see what Tvr blessed us with and go from there...

mrzigazaga

18,534 posts

164 months

Thursday 1st December 2016
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Ade390se said:
More power will just be a bonus Glen...... Cams been ticking since I got her... Thought it may have been a sticky lifter as she had been parked up for 6 yrs... But ticking still so maybe now looking towards v8 developments stealth or trackday cam.... Kent h228 also seems possible... Don't want too lose to much idle but don't want stock either.... May pull old one out and see what Tvr blessed us with and go from there...
Hi Ade...If you want more power then ill let you drive my 350i for a couple of days, You will soon feel the difference when you get back in the 390SE...smile

Ticking?...Not sure cams tick...Loose spark plugs do though..rolleyes......A lifter will tap half the speed of the piston...Now I do not wish to worry you but when mine was ticking...(Loose spark plug) I started panicking about slipped liners as apparently its a common problem with Land rover disco 1 early engines..My panic was adverted after reading it was mainly 3.9 and above....

The cylinders most affected are..3 & 5...4 & 6...Not sure there is any definitive way of checking this other than removing the heads and basically feeling the facing edges.

You could check the lifters visually as any caps missing or play will be noticeable ....

Personally I would investigate further before throwing money down the drain.

I hope its not...But thought I would mention it.


Ziga

Ade390se

Original Poster:

38 posts

95 months

Thursday 1st December 2016
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Cheers Zig...yikes my mechanic says cam.... So fingers crossed....

TVRleigh_BBWR

6,552 posts

212 months

Thursday 1st December 2016
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If the camshaft is badly worn it will not rev but will seem ok at low RPM, Also will be down on power both can be check on a rolling road.
as posted most common cause of ticking is exhaust manifold or gasket.

Ade390se

Original Poster:

38 posts

95 months

Thursday 1st December 2016
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It's probably what I call a tick is in fact a tap....confused

mrzigazaga

18,534 posts

164 months

Thursday 1st December 2016
quotequote all
Ade390se said:
It's probably what I call a tick is in fact a tap....confused
You'd be no good as a UXB operative.....hehe

gmw9666

2,734 posts

199 months

Thursday 1st December 2016
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£50 on the rollers at Kits n Classics with tell you everything

What oil you running?