Cam Choice... catch 22

[winstontj]

The problem with cams is that to get any decent power you have to move up in rpms. I have a custom grind (stock cam reground by no name shop) and have no idea what the specs are, I'm shooting for the popular ~200whp # with this build but I'm looking for suggestions on how I can get that kind of power but keep it torquey & power down low. I realize the difference between the s14 and the m20 and want to keep the M20 true to itself.

What are you guys that are producing decent power running for cams? I don't remember where the stock power band is but how much does a 278, 288, etc move the power band up?

this will be a big help because then I'll know the cam (lift, profile, etc) so I can start choosing pistons, porting profiles, etc.

[ColdAccord]

i have a new catcams 283 cam for sale...

[e30_325es]

That catcams cam is the same one I'm running, and power comes on hard at 3500rpm.

About the only way you can keep the low end (what little you can keep, NA anyway), would be with at least a 3.0l engine, you might want to try even bigger if you can.

[euroshark]

M30 swap silly

[winstontj]

I went down the swap road and want to keep the stock, matching numbers motor with the car. Its an auto converted to 5-spd but the PPO and PO kept all the swap stuff so it could be restored to stock someday if need be.

I'll just keep searching the archives for dyno posts & look on the MM site for a rule of thumb. Have any of you guys actually dyno'd a MM motor? I heard their hp statements were way overstated?

Would a 292 be waaayyy too much cam?

[87-325ic]

where is this car mostly driven?

if you want to keep it around 4000 rpm to make any decent power, then yes, a ~300 cam is about right..

if its usually on the street then id say a 272+ is a little better..


but what do i know?

[winstontj]

where is this car mostly driven?

Street... Highway, once a week to whole foods & back to the parking garage (3 mile round trip), weekends to drive from Boston to Newport, RI, winters to go skiing, use as a normal car. Nothing special, no autox, no track, etc. Car is nicely modded now - springs, sways, shocks, interior, chip, afm, intake, cam, exhaust, etc...

[quote=87-325ic;741635]if its usually on the street then id say a 272+ is a little better..
I don't know the profile difference between a ~272 and a 300... I mean in terms of what it'll do to the power band and how much it'll move it. I love my motor now but since the HG is blown I'm going to do the motor because it's got 225k on it. I want something to match a ~200-225hp motor.

but what do i know?

dunno... you seem to know more than I do tho :D

[nando]

a 283 is definitely not too much for the street. i doubt you will lose much if any in the lower end - at least you won't really notice it. a 272 is way too mild to be worth paying a couple hundred bucks for.

a 292 would probably be fine as well, but you'll run into issues with valve pockets on an otherwise stock motor. the 283 sounds like a good chouce.

[winstontj]

Valve pockets? from lift? I'll be putting pistons & rods in the motor so I'm not worried about lift if that's what you mean.

What brand cams do you guys run? Dr. Schrick? Anything else? (no regrinds)

[e30_325es]

Catcams is the brand I run. Check Flyingbrickperformance.com.

[StereoInstaller1]

I hear adding a second cam works really well, too.

[golde30]

I hear adding a second cam works really well, too.

+1, i keep hearing this too.:D

all joking aside though, FredKim has a RD twincam head on his stroker m20. talk about baller parts.

[digger]

+1, i keep hearing this too.:D

all joking aside though, FredKim has a RD twincam head on his stroker m20. talk about baller parts.

any proof of this or is it just BS, the RD head never went into production from what i hear and there were only a few around

[PiercedE30]

+1, i keep hearing this too.:D

all joking aside though, FredKim has a RD twincam head on his stroker m20. talk about baller parts.

I DEMAND pictures as proof!

[ColdAccord]

any proof of this or is it just BS, the RD head never went into production from what i hear and there were only a few around

i think he was referring to an m5x or s5x swap. not the super hard to find twin cam m20 head

btw my 283, brand new, is still for sale, and less than on the flying brick website, cause I got it in a groupbuy. also have the accompanyinf valve springs, and new rocker arms and rocker shafts. and a spare head w/~60k on it that just got milled, cleaned, new valve seals, valves reseated, etc...