New cam for 500

[pete]

My 500 is sounding more and more rattly by the day. As it's covered 40,000 miles in 6 years, it sounds a lot like the cam and/or lifters are worn.

Fuel economy isn't what it was, it pops on the overrun, and it might be down on power (although it's hard to tell!). The rattle's most pronounced when the engine revs drop between 2500 and 1500 rpm, so it definitely sounds like cam or lifters.

I'm sure loads of people have had a worn cam replaced. Where would you recommend, and what sort of price am I looking at? I'm keen to stick with hydraulic lifters, as I don't want to adjust valve clearances every 6000 miles, although I'm not averse to a slightly hotter cam.

Any advice will be gratefully received.

Cheers,
Pete

[IPAddis]

I would go for a V8 Developments MC1 cam because I have one.

About 800 quid IIRC.

Ian A.

[shpub]

John Eales Hybrid 218 is in my Giff. Makes just under 320 lb/ft of torque...

[bogbeast]

I wouldn't mind a run down of what cams are available for the RV8, their type (mechanical/hydraulic) and there 'approx' torque/power gain.

I am aware of the P404 mechanical from V8 Dev (de rigeur at the moment) and now the Joh Eales 218 (hydraulic??)

the but what others are available? anyone care to continue the list?

[shpub]

There is about 300 cams available. The Hybrid 218 is the one used in the recent 500s by TVR.

[Paul V]

What’s the difference between the hybrid and normal 218 cams?

My car has the Kent 218 cam, it was diagnosed as having a cam problem but ended up having a full rebuild after the big ends were found to be worn.

[2 sheds]

A hybrid is simply a cam that has been ground to customers (ie V8D or JE) specification by the manufacturer, for example they could produce a 218 with some of the torque characteristics of the 200 hence the term hybrid.

TVR used Kent for the Griff cams the early cars had a TVR51 cam which was a reground 214.
V8 Developments have the MC1 which likewise based on the 218.

Many people in the industry me included will recommend for hydraulic applications the Kent 218 or versions of.

Tim

[trefor]

Would the knowledgable ones recommend a 218 for a 4.0L too? (No I don't need one).

[pete]

I've spoken to V8 Developments, who quoted £650 + VAT to replace the cam and lifters with either the TVR standard or MC1 (218-ish) cam. This includes all parts and labour.

Looks like I'll be booking it in there sometime soon! Thanks for all the advice.

Pete

[Paul V]

That’s about what I was quoted for the cam change when mine went, sounds fair.

[joospeed]

I've just had a 500 wedge on teh rollers, with the old style kent 218 cam, it made 290 - 299 lbs torque on the three runs we did, to be honest I wish I'd gone for something a bit wilder but drivability is excellent and that has to be a serious consideration on modern roads.

[Apache]

pete, see my profile for P404 cam, I unfortunately chose the hottest day in British history to put mine on the rollers and at an ambient 35 degrees, 50 degrees fuel and 100 degrees engine temp could only muster 300 ft/lbs torque and a measly 275 bhp.
Been told that was bloody good for the temp however and that 200 ft/lbs comes in at 1400 rpm. The guys want me to go back on a cooler day for a power test and that temp can account for up to 40 bhp.
The car pulls like a nutter from way down and has gallons of grunt everywhere

[gerjo]

I'm up for a new cam as well (see other thread).

Still doubting between a 218 and a 404. The 404 seems to make more noise and you have to adjust the valves every 6,000 miles (?) Don't like that very much. Will talk to V8 Dev.

[Apache]

I get em done every service (if required) and it only costs an extra £47, it is noisy though but, unless it'll run with hydraulics it's a price you have to pay

>> Edited by Apache on Friday 25th July 20:27

[gerjo]

Apache said:

I get em done every service (if required) and it only costs an extra £47, it is noisy though but, unless it'll run with hydraulics it's a price you have to pay

hi Pete, how is life?

I just ordered the P404 from V8 Dev myself. If you say noisy, what exactly do you mean? How does the noise compare to the hydraulic cam at:
- idle
- highway cruising (e.g. 100 mph)

[Apache]

Gerjo, it's only noticeable at idle and pulling away, after that the exhaust becomes the dominant factor. Cold is worse and once warm no big deal (I'm an anal retentive who doesn't like people writing on my car, so if I can live with it you'll be fine)
I wouldn't change it as the performance is much better, are you getting a RR session too?

[gerjo]

already had a RR session in May with M Adams; that's where we discovered something was wrong with my engine (only 250 bhp and 300 lbs with a twin plenum setup). After lengthy investigations it turned out that my valve lift was only half of what it is supposed to be.

I understand from Mark that he hasn't done a 500 with a P404 yet, although he did do some pre-cat cars with this cam. Did he do yours?

the noise at idle and pulling away, what kind of noise is it? is it really ugly, mechanical/metallic/"bag of nails" or just more agressive?

probably like you, I'm very precise when it comes to the noise my engine makes and I hate rattly/metallic noises that don't seem to belong there and makes the engine sound less solid.

any idea how much more power a P404 will bring compared to a 218?

[Apache]

gerjo said:

already had a RR session in May with M Adams; that's where we discovered something was wrong with my engine (only 250 bhp and 300 lbs with a twin plenum setup). After lengthy investigations it turned out that my valve lift was only half of what it is supposed to be. I understand from Mark that he hasn't done a 500 with a P404 yet, although he did do some pre-cat cars with this cam. Did he do yours? the noise at idle and pulling away, what kind of noise is it? is it really ugly, mechanical/metallic/"bag of nails" or just more agressive? probably like you, I'm very precise when it comes to the noise my engine makes and I hate rattly/metallic noises that don't seem to belong there and makes the engine sound less solid. any idea how much more power a P404 will bring compared to a 218?

yes mate, he did mine, the noise is a rattle but not bad really and doesn't sound like it's going to explode or anything like that

[gerjo]

hmmm, I hate rattles but I would love the extra power

decisons, decisons

[davidd]

Pete,

Rattle eh? Might as well have shoved an AJP8 in it

D.