camshafts 101

[Only4U]

ok, i know what a camshaft is and what it does...but the 206/212, or 220/490, or wd/40 thing i just don't understand about them. these are some common questions about camshaft upgrades i would like to know.

let's just say you are getting a 206/212 for simplistic's sake:

what kind of gains are you looking at?

what kind of modifications do you have to make besides just the cam?

how much is an install like this cost...can it be done yourself???

thx a lot.

[DominusEtDeusNatus]

Right now with noone knowing how to correctly tune big cams, you're looking at negative gains and headaches. I hope it's not your daily driver if you're putting in a cam now. Wait for somekind of software like LS1edit. Unless you get a small cam then you wouldn't need programming. That should give you some gains. 206/206 most likely won't require programming.

[ July 16, 2002: Message edited by: Dom ]</p>

[Only4U]

oh heh, dom i wasn't thinking about putting a cam in at all, i don't do something unless i think i know a pretty good bit about it. i was just wondering what kind of improvements it gave over stock...if any. thx dom.

[Magnus]

You gain regardless.

Tuning for an agressive cam is usually for driveability and low RPM launches. Once your past 3500 RPM's or so, there isn't much to tune about it.. sure you can change your fuel curves and all, but thats way down the road.. You would be fine with a MAF T+.

Agressive cam programming ususally fixes idle issues, raises rev limiter and shift points, etc. etc.

[Blazzin Joe]

would an agressive cam cause the SES light to come on?

[Tiago]

yes, it would pull at least a multiple misfire code. If its big enough.

[Blazzin Joe]

Never thought about that...