KA cam swap: need retainers??? (frontier to s13 cams)

[hessianben]

Love this forum!! tloof-Thanks for the Frontier/supercharger pics!!I'm upgrading the cams in my '02 Fronty' 2wd 5spd from the stock 224/224 intake/exhaust cams to the s13 248/232 intake/exhaust camshafts. I'm hoping to gain a little in top end horses as well as higher redline.

My question is: is it necessary to install retainers to cope with the higher lift/duration?

Also, after this upgrade, will flashing the ecu result in much gain in hp/response?

thanks for any info!!

[WDRacing]

You may need to reshim the cams, but that should be it as far as valvetrain work goes. Install a decent header and catback if you don't have one already. Getting the ecu reflashed is kind of a waste IMO, unless you're adding a turbo and larger injectors.

Speaking of turbo, have you considered this route?

WD

[hessianben]

Force induction would be the preferred route... tloof has post of mating a Desert Runner SC'er to the 240 manifold, which looks fairly simple, other than changing to serpentine drive belts.

The turbo kits available are all for the 240 and would require some fab for the piping, as well as changing to the s13 ecu, tb, intake manifold... (main hold up: $ haha)

Wondering if its cheaper to MickeyMouse together a kit from an old topmount ic and piping with a new turbo. (i have an s13 donor for tb, intake, ecu)