Cam Upgrade

[Bullhead]

I have read the 1.3 Motronic sticky and other posts, I would like to know if you can just put a set of cams in this engine without all that computer goodness and maybe tell Turner what you have so they can make a chip for it via Jim Conforti.

[digger]

yeah you can add a mild camshaft and get a chip and it will work ok. make sure the piston and valves clear. maybe use these guys for a chip with a few tweaks suitable for upgraded cam

http://sssquid.com/v2/product-category/bmw/e30/

[Andy.B]

I have a BimmerHeads 274 cam and a sssquid stage 2 chip and love the combo. Smooth idle, smooth acceleration, and gobs of power.

The 274 cam without the sssquid chip idled a little less smooth, and had a very jarring throttle curve, where it came on cam at 3.5k, and was pretty weak below that.

[REVunlimited]

"Set of cams"

[Bullhead]

"Set of cams"

Sorry new to bimmers, I thought they had 2 camshafts so that would be a set of 2, my bad lol.

[Bullhead]

yeah you can add a mild camshaft and get a chip and it will work ok. make sure the piston and valves clear. maybe use these guys for a chip with a few tweaks suitable for upgraded cam

http://sssquid.com/v2/product-category/bmw/e30/

I am checking them out now.

[Bullhead]

I have a BimmerHeads 274 cam and a sssquid stage 2 chip and love the combo. Smooth idle, smooth acceleration, and gobs of power.

The 274 cam without the sssquid chip idled a little less smooth, and had a very jarring throttle curve, where it came on cam at 3.5k, and was pretty weak below that.

Good info :)

[Bullhead]

yeah you can add a mild camshaft and get a chip and it will work ok. make sure the piston and valves clear. maybe use these guys for a chip with a few tweaks suitable for upgraded cam

http://sssquid.com/v2/product-category/bmw/e30/

Oh wow they are $100 cheaper than the Turner chip, which one do I need, this one? http://sssquid.com/v2/shop/e30/e30-325325e325es-chip/

[Andy.B]

I just re read your first post and realize I may have misunderstood you.

What engine do you have and what are your goals...

Do you have a 2.7 eta engine and are looking to just upgrade the cam and chip? I wouldn't bother with this, as the single valve springs and small valves are your limiting rev and power factors, and cam alone can't overcome that.

Do you have a 2.7 engine and are looking to do the 885 head swap and hotter cam but want to stick with the motronic 1.0 system? If so, while I guess it could be technically possible, I wouldn't bother, since the motronic 1.3 swap is so easy.

Do you have a 2.5 engine and are looking for a hotter cam and tune? If so, I would email the companies you plan on purchasing from and discuss your goals with them.

To clarify my experience, I have an 87 with a stock 2.7 bottom end, BimmerHeads 885 head, 274 cam, and sssquid 2.7i stage 2 chip, and love the combo. It blows the doors off a stock 2.5 engine.

[Bullhead]

Yeah I am bone stock factory 2.7 right now. I have thought about the 1.3 swap but I have never under took anything like that. I have built several circle track motors and the like. I come from SBC Chevy carb setups so the wiring is a little scary for me. I know I could do it but I'm afraid I might get into it on Friday night and not have it ready by Monday morning. If this 93 at the pull a part has all that on it I may go ahead and nab it, I may try to find someone experienced with this and throw them a little cash to just say "No No" lol.

[Andy.B]

2 days is doable if you have everything ready to go. That might be pushing it though. However, you could do it in stages... Exhaust/ manifolds one weekend, Head/manifold swap another weekend, motronic 1.3 swap the next, etc. You'd be wasting a few dollars on gaskets, but nothing major.

If you are anxious for more speed out of your eta, I would start with a cold air intake, I manifolds and exhaust, chip, and 3.25 diff. It will really wake up the car and get around pretty well. I autocrossed mine like that for a year, and was fairly competitive. I wouldn't bother putting cam in an eta, since you will still be so limited, and the 885 head swap is so cheap and easy.

[Andy.B]

And regarding the wiring, depending on the year it can be nearly plug and play.

I bought an 87 325i harness for my 325e, and it was plug and play. No cutting or splicing anything.

If you have the round c101, there are only a few wires to splice at the DME. If it's an early with the square plug, then of course it's a bit harder.
All of them are thoroughly documented, thankfully.

[digger]

you'll want the 885 headswap otherwise keep a stock eta with chip and call it a day

[Bullhead]

Thank you both for that info. I believe I will just do the intake and exhaust work then chip it and call it a day. I would like the rear gear your talking about though. I have researched it some. These cars stock are just one side drive right? Does the swap your talking about make them a posi? And what cars can I nab this from?

[Bullhead]

2 days is doable if you have everything ready to go. That might be pushing it though. However, you could do it in stages... Exhaust/ manifolds one weekend, Head/manifold swap another weekend, motronic 1.3 swap the next, etc. You'd be wasting a few dollars on gaskets, but nothing major.

If you are anxious for more speed out of your eta, I would start with a cold air intake, I manifolds and exhaust, chip, and 3.25 diff. It will really wake up the car and get around pretty well. I autocrossed mine like that for a year, and was fairly competitive. I wouldn't bother putting cam in an eta, since you will still be so limited, and the 885 head swap is so cheap and easy.

When you say I manifolds are you talking about the intake manifold or the exhaust manifolds off an I car? Sorry I am new but I am paying attention.