changing worn 214 cam for a new 218 cam
Discussion
bhardy said:
Can you change a 214 for a new 218 cam without remapping the ECU?? Are there any other things i should keep in mind when i do this change??
I think the 214 is a bit wilder than the 218 (greater max lift and more duration). The 214 is what I have in my 4.3, and I believe it was standard for the 4.3 Griffs. Given that you get the ability to flow more air, a re-map to get more fuel in would be necessary. Why are you changing specs?
7.
Mainly because most people (i did a lot of searching on previous posts) claim a 218 is best for the 400, and i know very little about cams. Hope it's will run alright without a remap as we are planning on fitting it and taking the 400 to BBWF! The comments on the 218 sound like it has more torque at lower revs and it will idle better. The dutch roads are very busy most of the time so it will be nice if it behaves at slow traffic as well as cruising on the steep hills of scotland (we are going again next august)!
My 400 has recently been fitted with a 218/220 cam (whatever that means) by the previous owner.
I don't know what it was like before, but now it starts easily and ticks over without stalling once warm. It hunts a little when hot, but not too badly, (vac. pipe disconnected and blocked off)
so okay in traffic, and seems to be power right through the rev range.
The ECU is as original, but I'm sure setting up on a rolling road would be the best way to go, to get the best out of it.
Still work in progress really, as I'll be replacing the distributor too, once she comes back with the rear suspension re-built.
Certainly the engine runs fine enough for normal running.
I don't know what it was like before, but now it starts easily and ticks over without stalling once warm. It hunts a little when hot, but not too badly, (vac. pipe disconnected and blocked off)
so okay in traffic, and seems to be power right through the rev range.
The ECU is as original, but I'm sure setting up on a rolling road would be the best way to go, to get the best out of it.
Still work in progress really, as I'll be replacing the distributor too, once she comes back with the rear suspension re-built.
Certainly the engine runs fine enough for normal running.
I came across this that has the specs for Kent cams:
www.btinternet.com/~jon.wolfe/kentcamdata.htm
3.5 / 3.9 / 4.6 / 5.0 V8 Hydraulic
H214
Sports
1500 - 5000
7.36mm Inlet 7.77mm Exhaust
11.90mm Inlet 12.44mm Exhaust
284 298 Degrees
31/73 78/40
111 Degrees
0.00mm
3.5 / 3.9 / 4.6 / 5.0 V8 Hydraulic
H218
Sports
1500 - 5000
7.11mm Inlet 7.36mm Exhaust
11.38mm Inlet 11.78mm Exhaust
278 284 Degrees
27/71 74/30
112 Degrees
0.00mm
3.5 / 3.9 / 4.6 / 5.0 V8 Hydraulic
H224
Sports ' R '
2000 - 5500
7.82mm Inlet 8.17mm Exhaust
12.49mm Inlet 13.08mm Exhaust
304 310 Degrees
41/83 86/44
111 Degrees
0.00mm
www.btinternet.com/~jon.wolfe/kentcamdata.htm
3.5 / 3.9 / 4.6 / 5.0 V8 Hydraulic
H214
Sports
1500 - 5000
7.36mm Inlet 7.77mm Exhaust
11.90mm Inlet 12.44mm Exhaust
284 298 Degrees
31/73 78/40
111 Degrees
0.00mm
3.5 / 3.9 / 4.6 / 5.0 V8 Hydraulic
H218
Sports
1500 - 5000
7.11mm Inlet 7.36mm Exhaust
11.38mm Inlet 11.78mm Exhaust
278 284 Degrees
27/71 74/30
112 Degrees
0.00mm
3.5 / 3.9 / 4.6 / 5.0 V8 Hydraulic
H224
Sports ' R '
2000 - 5500
7.82mm Inlet 8.17mm Exhaust
12.49mm Inlet 13.08mm Exhaust
304 310 Degrees
41/83 86/44
111 Degrees
0.00mm
Interesting stuff Rev. The V8Dev MC1 I put in mine was (if I remember correctly) classified as a 218 hybrid, which supposedly gave the best of both worlds from the 214 / 218 options more commonly available.
On balance I'd say that was a good summary. I have not had the engine remapped or the ECU reprogrammed since the cam change but the car idles very well, pulls like a train and is faster at the top end. As I said on the other thread though, I did have some other work done at the same time which will have contributed to the overall result. Visually though my old cam looked quite different to the new one. The lobes were much more agressive on the new one (faster opening) (which explains a sight tappityness when starting from cold. )
Whilst it starts, idles and runs just fine (and goes like a bomb) plus sounds awesome when angry I do think the car would benefit from a full RR set up. I know its running rich at the low - mid range and the ECU could probably be tweaked to take advantage of the higher Compression ratio and the improved induction of the gapless rings. Maybe I'll have a word with Jools at Trackcar.........
Andy
On balance I'd say that was a good summary. I have not had the engine remapped or the ECU reprogrammed since the cam change but the car idles very well, pulls like a train and is faster at the top end. As I said on the other thread though, I did have some other work done at the same time which will have contributed to the overall result. Visually though my old cam looked quite different to the new one. The lobes were much more agressive on the new one (faster opening) (which explains a sight tappityness when starting from cold. )
Whilst it starts, idles and runs just fine (and goes like a bomb) plus sounds awesome when angry I do think the car would benefit from a full RR set up. I know its running rich at the low - mid range and the ECU could probably be tweaked to take advantage of the higher Compression ratio and the improved induction of the gapless rings. Maybe I'll have a word with Jools at Trackcar.........
Andy
Edited by andymadmak on Thursday 29th June 19:11
bhardy said:
Can you change a 214 for a new 218 cam without remapping the ECU?? Are there any other things i should keep in mind when i do this change??
Possible to change (they are different but not too different) without remapping, and should be no issue to get to BBWF. You can remap later if needed. And in general if the car has not been mapped until now, it is always worth to do that even without a cam change....
Planning to put a kent 218 in my standard 350i, but as always too many other things/projects to look at before the 'nice to have' things can be done. Such as to fix the clutch a the moment... So no BBWF for me this year.
Rob
Got my new cam today which a friend of mine who often goes to get parts in the UK bought for me. It's 218 cam from John Eales 
together with all the good stuff like better gaskets and timing gear.
I was already planning on going to BBWF with the griff, but Gun Metal and the other Alphen boys didn't execpt this so the 400 is now at Gun Metals place. He has already done all the work to take the cam out before i could even offer him a hand
!! We are going to fit the cam next monday evening so it looks like the 400 is going to make BBWF 
!
together with all the good stuff like better gaskets and timing gear. I was already planning on going to BBWF with the griff, but Gun Metal and the other Alphen boys didn't execpt this so the 400 is now at Gun Metals place. He has already done all the work to take the cam out before i could even offer him a hand
!! We are going to fit the cam next monday evening so it looks like the 400 is going to make BBWF ! bhardy said:
Got my new cam today which a friend of mine who often goes to get parts in the UK bought for me. It's 218 cam from John Eales together with all the good stuff like better gaskets and timing gear.
I was already planning on going to BBWF with the griff, but Gun Metal and the other Alphen boys didn't execpt this so the 400 is now at Gun Metals place. He has already done all the work to take the cam out before i could even offer him a hand!! We are going to fit the cam next monday evening so it looks like the 400 is going to make BBWF !
BLACKPOOL Boys. together with all the good stuff like better gaskets and timing gear. I was already planning on going to BBWF with the griff, but Gun Metal and the other Alphen boys didn't execpt this so the 400 is now at Gun Metals place. He has already done all the work to take the cam out before i could even offer him a hand
!! We are going to fit the cam next monday evening so it looks like the 400 is going to make BBWF !
bhardy said:
Got my new cam today which a friend of mine who often goes to get parts in the UK bought for me. It's 218 cam from John Eales together with all the good stuff like better gaskets and timing gear.
I was already planning on going to BBWF with the griff, but Gun Metal and the other Alphen boys didn't execpt this so the 400 is now at Gun Metals place. He has already done all the work to take the cam out before i could even offer him a hand!! We are going to fit the cam next monday evening so it looks like the 400 is going to make BBWF !
together with all the good stuff like better gaskets and timing gear. I was already planning on going to BBWF with the griff, but Gun Metal and the other Alphen boys didn't execpt this so the 400 is now at Gun Metals place. He has already done all the work to take the cam out before i could even offer him a hand
!! We are going to fit the cam next monday evening so it looks like the 400 is going to make BBWF !So Hans is BACK in the Dutch country.
Perhaps he brought some stuff for me as well.....
Hope you make it in time for BBWF (I won't).
Rob
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