Camshaft change - advice needed

[The Hatter]

I just got the camshaft out of my 350i; it's marked HRC 1619. I can't find any references to that number; does anyone know if that's a standard cam?

I'm in two minds as to what to replace it with; I want a straight swap without any other mods but I want it to be made of good quality material. I'd put a standard OE one in but Rimmers and Real Steel only want £70 or so for a standard cam - that makes me think it's made of plasticene. Any other recommendations or advice?

Lifters seem suspiciously cheap too - any comments on that?

I'm tempted by the RPI Piper 270 kit but that seems expensive! Anyone got experience of that one, or recommendations for another?

[wombat172a]

I've been running a V8 developments MC1 cam in mine. It's quite nice in my opinion.

[rev-erend]

HRC is a Rover part no.

Are you doing the followers too .. it is advisable to do that.

[Campbell]

Have you looked at what kent cams have to offer...
It would be best to change the tapets at the same time.

Cambelt

[JVaughan]

218's were all the rage s few years ago .. Nice midrange iirc

[Wedg1e]

My 390 runs an RPI Engineering RP1 cam... I see they're now onto the RP4, might be worth a look:

http://www.v8engines.com/engine-6a.htm

My car has a torque curve flatter than the twin towers. You may prefer something a little snappier

[adam quantrill]

I stuck a standard cam in a 350i, and it ran fine (still going) for 60k+, so there's nothng wrong with them...

They are probably cheap because someone's got a lot of stock hanging about.

[Wedg1e]

B-Reight said:

The RP4 looks to be a pretty mild cam more suited to 4WDs than TVRs. I can't see the specs for the RP1 anywhere but that output is very good, are you running big valve heads with that cam Ian?

Nope, standard valves. It's an NCK-ported head but running my own ported manifold instead of the NCK original. Engine has been rebored to 3948 from the original 3905 so if yours is standard, THAT is a good result