"performance" cam shafts......do they work?
Discussion
Something I've come across recently is the concept of fitting so called "performance" camshafts to an engine, the blurb claims that as a key component in an engine cams with a specific confirugration can deliver significant, 10%, increases in delivered bhp, and additional torque through transferring the power that the engine generates more effectively.
Any thoughts on this? Or is it more guff n' spin?
Any thoughts on this? Or is it more guff n' spin?
Hi mate
Yes they do work. If you combine them with better breathing for the engine (ie. freer flowing inlet and exhaust) and a remap of the ecu to take advantage of the new cam profile and better breathing, you can see some noticable performance gains.
Those are the basics. You thinking of tweaking the Alfa this way?
Yes they do work. If you combine them with better breathing for the engine (ie. freer flowing inlet and exhaust) and a remap of the ecu to take advantage of the new cam profile and better breathing, you can see some noticable performance gains.
Those are the basics. You thinking of tweaking the Alfa this way?
bob1179 said:
Hi mate
Yes they do work. If you combine them with better breathing for the engine (ie. freer flowing inlet and exhaust) and a remap of the ecu to take advantage of the new cam profile and better breathing, you can see some noticable performance gains.
Those are the basics. You thinking of tweaking the Alfa this way?
Yes they do work. If you combine them with better breathing for the engine (ie. freer flowing inlet and exhaust) and a remap of the ecu to take advantage of the new cam profile and better breathing, you can see some noticable performance gains.
Those are the basics. You thinking of tweaking the Alfa this way?
Hi Bob,
Thanks
Yes that's exactly it.
I was thinking I'd combine the following; K&N Induction Kit, Sports exhuast, engine remap, performance cams and getting the cam belts done all at the same time.
And just wanted to check that the idea of doing all this was sensible as a way of improving the torque/bhp of the car.
I'm central SE, with parents back near Bristol, wondering if you/ anyone else here knows a good tuning shop that could be trusted to fit the parts if I buy them, and know what there doing without trousering me tioo much on cost? Happy to travel as I live a drive
( Bob I'll drop you a pm )
goochie said:
Dont forget to remap only AFTER you've done everything else 
yes well I'm just about clued up enough to do that.......just. Better see if I can slap it on a rolling road this weekend to get it's vitals before doing anything, for the old before and after.
Edited by timmy33 on Friday 20th April 14:25
Note of caution though, some stock cams can be pretty much already optimised so the gains may be low.
I don't know what the stock(standard) Alfa cams are like but I would imagine they are not that tame to begin with. Perhaps its better to ask around in the Alfa world for others that have done a change and what did it give them before parting with your hard won....
I don't know what the stock(standard) Alfa cams are like but I would imagine they are not that tame to begin with. Perhaps its better to ask around in the Alfa world for others that have done a change and what did it give them before parting with your hard won....
HarryW said:
Note of caution though, some stock cams can be pretty much already optimised so the gains may be low.
I don't know what the stock(standard) Alfa cams are like but I would imagine they are not that tame to begin with. Perhaps its better to ask around in the Alfa world for others that have done a change and what did it give them before parting with your hard won....
I don't know what the stock(standard) Alfa cams are like but I would imagine they are not that tame to begin with. Perhaps its better to ask around in the Alfa world for others that have done a change and what did it give them before parting with your hard won....
Well Autodelta claim an uplift from the stock 155bhp on the TS 2.0l to 175bhp from fitting the uprated cam and remapping. My reasoning was that the sports exhaust and induction kit would also help matters.
Besides, it's needs a replacement exhaust, they're just too quiet as it stands.
timmy33 said:
HarryW said:
Note of caution though, some stock cams can be pretty much already optimised so the gains may be low.
I don't know what the stock(standard) Alfa cams are like but I would imagine they are not that tame to begin with. Perhaps its better to ask around in the Alfa world for others that have done a change and what did it give them before parting with your hard won....
I don't know what the stock(standard) Alfa cams are like but I would imagine they are not that tame to begin with. Perhaps its better to ask around in the Alfa world for others that have done a change and what did it give them before parting with your hard won....
Well Autodelta claim an uplift from the stock 155bhp on the TS 2.0l to 175bhp from fitting the uprated cam and remapping. My reasoning was that the sports exhaust and induction kit would also help matters.
Besides, it's needs a replacement exhaust, they're just too quiet as it stands.
I take it autodelta are the garage/manufacturer, no disrespect to them, but ask around for customers that have had the work done and what did it give them. Manufacturers claims are one thing, satisfied customers is the real thing you should be looking for.
HarryW said:
timmy33 said:
HarryW said:
Note of caution though, some stock cams can be pretty much already optimised so the gains may be low.
I don't know what the stock(standard) Alfa cams are like but I would imagine they are not that tame to begin with. Perhaps its better to ask around in the Alfa world for others that have done a change and what did it give them before parting with your hard won....
I don't know what the stock(standard) Alfa cams are like but I would imagine they are not that tame to begin with. Perhaps its better to ask around in the Alfa world for others that have done a change and what did it give them before parting with your hard won....
Well Autodelta claim an uplift from the stock 155bhp on the TS 2.0l to 175bhp from fitting the uprated cam and remapping. My reasoning was that the sports exhaust and induction kit would also help matters.
Besides, it's needs a replacement exhaust, they're just too quiet as it stands.
I take it autodelta are the garage/manufacturer, no disrespect to them, but ask around for customers that have had the work done and what did it give them. Manufacturers claims are one thing, satisfied customers is the real thing you should be looking for.
That's why I'm here
I've asked a few questions over on the Alfa146 forum too.
I would ask them to send you some before/after dyno graphs, with just the cams being done - pay careful attention to what happens in the low to mid range. If there's not much difference, then go ahead, otherwise you may have to make a decision about whether you want to sacrifice everyday drivability for all out performance.
SplatSpeed said:
timmy yes they work well on na
not so good on forced induction
may i recomend a book for you turbocharging by corky bell
think you will enjoy it good place to start
read it before someone slaps you
not so good on forced induction
may i recomend a book for you turbocharging by corky bell
think you will enjoy it good place to start
read it before someone slaps you
What do you mean not so good on FI? Surely as long as the cam is optimised for the application, it should be an improvement (however small) over stock.
Mattt said:
I would ask them to send you some before/after dyno graphs, with just the cams being done - pay careful attention to what happens in the low to mid range. If there's not much difference, then go ahead, otherwise you may have to make a decision about whether you want to sacrifice everyday drivability for all out performance.
Thanks too, good idea on the Dyno comparisons.
Mattt said:
SplatSpeed said:
timmy yes they work well on na
not so good on forced induction
may i recomend a book for you turbocharging by corky bell
think you will enjoy it good place to start
read it before someone slaps you
not so good on forced induction
may i recomend a book for you turbocharging by corky bell
think you will enjoy it good place to start
read it before someone slaps you
What do you mean not so good on FI? Surely as long as the cam is optimised for the application, it should be an improvement (however small) over stock.
turbo applications need a mild cam or the turbo forces the air out in the overlap
subaru design their turbos to have air forced back in the intake system.
but a large overlap fources unburnt fuel and air in the exhaust
pro dyno sim has a cam designer that designs the best cam for a turbo app on the pressures involved
nice piece of kit
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