Another Camshaft Thread

[IainStallard2]

Morning all, newbie to pistonheads here.

I've recently taken ownership of a TVR 400SE which I will be restoring and have come into running issues in the form of misfire.

I have performed a compression test on it and cylinder 3 has absolutely zero compression, so since the body has to come off for a chassis restoration anyway, I have decided to completely disassemble the engine and most likely rebuild it completely.

So my question is really on cam choice. I know the car as standard would of had a Kent H214 cam as confirmed by Dom Trickett from TVR Power. However, having not driven the car in anger, what is this cam like? Is it worth replacing it with the same, or upgrading to the V8 Developments NC1 or Stealth cam?

Does anybody have experience and power figures with these cams in a 3.9? I'm also informed that the engine would of had standard heads and inlet manifold.

Any help would be much appreciated

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

If you have a NCK engine then it would have a lot of work done on the engine, the later engines was not, and the very last ones was the same as Grim / Chim. i.e. a LR 3.9 with a fast camshaft.
The standard 400SE camshaft is very good, so I'd stick to the same.

[IainStallard2]

TVRleigh_BBWR said:

If you have a NCK engine then it would have a lot of work done on the engine, the later engines was not, and the very last ones was the same as Grim / Chim. i.e. a LR 3.9 with a fast camshaft.
The standard 400SE camshaft is very good, so I'd stick to the same.

The engine originally would have been NCK218. However, that engine in the past has been removed I believe since there is no longer an engine number (unless this was normal), in which case yipee!

[griffdude]

Hi Iain

This guy has a fair choice of cams & has loads of other good bits too-

http://www.v8tuner.co.uk/category.php?id=9

What are you going to use the Wedge for????

Well done on Sunday BTW, I'll let you off pipping me by 0.05 as knocking 0.7 off the class record is pretty impressive.

[Number 7]

I have the Kent 214 in my 4.3 - it was factory fit (mine is essentially a Griff engine pulled from TVR Powers stock to replace the 4L when the first owner of my car had a cracked block). Whenever I have the cam renewed again (already done it once in my ownership about 10 years ago) I will stay with the 214. In my tuned set-up, it only starts dropping of at 6K revs, and made 288 bhp at BBWF this year.

[IainStallard2]

griffdude said:

Hi Iain

This guy has a fair choice of cams & has loads of other good bits too-

http://www.v8tuner.co.uk/category.php?id=9

What are you going to use the Wedge for????

Well done on Sunday BTW, I'll let you off pipping me by 0.05 as knocking 0.7 off the class record is pretty impressive.

Thanks Howard! I see you have the stealth cam in your Griff? Whats that like to live with in a 4.5? The wedge is going to be my weekend fun and show car and general cruiser. Won't be used for competition.

Number 7 said:

I have the Kent 214 in my 4.3 - it was factory fit (mine is essentially a Griff engine pulled from TVR Powers stock to replace the 4L when the first owner of my car had a cracked block). Whenever I have the cam renewed again (already done it once in my ownership about 10 years ago) I will stay with the 214. In my tuned set-up, it only starts dropping of at 6K revs, and made 288 bhp at BBWF this year.

What other bits are changed on your 4.3? 288bhp sounds healthy. I think I'm more decided on the Stealth cam or Kent 214

[griffdude]

Hi Iain

I've had 4 cams so far in the Griff- 234, 218, P285 & for the last 3 years a Stealth.

In my experience, the Stealth is the best of the bunch as it's tractable, has a good idle & produces reasonable power. All down to the mapping though, Jools is the best IMHO.

http://www.kitsandclassics.co.uk

[IainStallard2]

griffdude said:

Hi Iain

I've had 4 cams so far in the Griff- 234, 218, P285 & for the last 3 years a Stealth.

In my experience, the Stealth is the best of the bunch as it's tractable, has a good idle & produces reasonable power. All down to the mapping though, Jools is the best IMHO.

http://www.kitsandclassics.co.uk

Still learning about V8s, I know mine is on the Lucas 4CU ECU so not sure what the mapping process is so that may be my first hurdle

[adam quantrill]

Ahh the 4CU.

This is the mapping process.

1. Plug it in
2. Do not change the Air Flow Meter
3. You are mapped

[IainStallard2]

adam quantrill said:

Ahh the 4CU.

This is the mapping process.

1. Plug it in
2. Do not change the Air Flow Meter
3. You are mapped

Sorted!

Just need to decide on a cam then...

[KKson]

L

IainStallard2 said:

Sorted!

Just need to decide on a cam then...

ditto for me. 390SE cam is shot. Will post on seperate topic but new cam is needed. John Eales recommends his JE101/jde2665. Dom at TVR Power recommends his 218, There are cams from Kent, Piper, real steel, V8 developments and half a dozen others. I want a slightly wild cam but some power at 2000rpm upwards although I don't usually rev beyond 5000rpm. Car has JE engine so big valve heads and double valve springs. Utterly confused as to what to buy but I need order one tomorrow. Any recommendations? My head hurts......