What cams should i get?

[noodl35]

I'm about done putting my sr back together. My question is, my t25 turbo is in great shape so i plan on keeping that for a long time. I have no real big plans on going 400hp or anything like that. But i do wanna be quicker than what i am now but still keep most things stock like the TURBO. I was thinking of getting some HKS step1 264 intake/exhaust cams. I heard you can still use these with most stock parts on the sr. Would you guys recommend getting step 1 or step2? Any feedback would be really appreciated . Thanks

David

[VitaminT]

Most people I have seen only do cams after a turbo upgrade. Others can correct me if I am wrong.

[MadSideways]

I don't see why you couldn't run cams on the stock turbo. Although, I wouldn't do a cam upgrade until the intake manifold was upgraded to something like a greddy plenum. The stock manifold is too restrictive and unevenly distributed to attain the hp you'd want from upgraded cams. Although, not much hp will be achieved without proper dyno tuning. After tuning, you will be trading bottem end torque for an increase in top-end hp.

I have heard of people using 272's or a 264i/272e setup with no problems. I've also heard of people that have to raise their idle to 1500 with 272's. Personally, I'd probably go with 264's. They seem to be worth the cost from what I see on dyno charts.

For stage 2 cams it is recommended to upgrade your springs and retainers. Stage 1 I believe are designed to work with the stock valve-train. If you decide to upgrade your valve train, because of harmonics you want to choose the same brand as your cam-shafts.

The stock cams are setup to use less fuel at cruising speeds of about 50-70mph. With upgraded cams you'll burn more fuel while cruising, since that range is shifted.

On a cost/hp benefit analysis there are other upgrades that will net more hp. You have to think about what you're going after.

[noodl35]

well i'm probably going to get the step1 264 i/e cams so i can keep most things stock. I'll probably wont upgrade the intake manifold till later. Thanks alot for the info.

[VitaminT]

If you don't mind me asking why do you want cams so bad? I am going to get HKS step 1 or step 2 264in/264ext later on after my GT2540R turbo upgrade, P&P head, three angle valve job and HKS valvesprings.

[noodl35]

well because i took my whole motor apart for an overhaul. Since i have the stock cams out, i might as well upgrade to aftermarket cams so i wont have to tkae it all out again. GOod idea?

[VitaminT]

Cool. Everybody seems to like the HKS stage one 264's.

[sgpnismo]

it depends on what horsepower you want, im shooting for 300-320 without cams, but ive got a upgraded everything else. If you want 250-300hp then dont waste your money on cams.

[robbbby]

I just ordered a set of tomei 256/256 pon-cams

I didn't want a laggy powerband and ****ty low end so I decided just on something mild. From what I have read these keep the low end the same and gives a nice bump in mid and top end.

[Movingviolation240]

You will loose lowe end HP on a stock turbo with cams, and you will not make any more HP up top. The turbo can only move so much air, so putting a cam on it will not help any because the motor is allready up against it's "rev limiter". Don't waste your money on cams, you would be better off buying a used T28 if you want a little more HP.

PaulOrlando, FL

[s13sr20chris]

i agree. your not limited by engine airflow but by turbo airflow.

[extheflow]

check out the Tomei website. they have some convincing info posted for cam upgrades with a stock turbo. i'll be getting a set before a turbo upgrade. for 350ish a set it can't hurt.

[MainEvent212]

i'd work on efficency mods first...turbo outlet, downpipe, exhaust, high flow cat (just to keep it uniform...3" of course"

that's my plan anyhow...after that, i plan on a turbo upgrade, i was thinking S15 T28, but i hear the GT25R is amazing, so i donno

[s13sr20chris]

i love the tomei website. its very nice(covet covet). i believe their reccomendations for a cam upgrade are for the t28(s14 notchtop and s15 turbo). since you arent asking anything other that what cams to get...1)tomei-no adjustment neccessary, they only sell sprockets with their full race motorsets(or individually)2)jwt-if you plan on tuning your cams, they are the best. most lift, most stable valvetrain harmonics, and you are supporting a dedicated nissan tuner3)other name brands like hks, jun, etc4)other dedicated nissan tuners like pdm5)avoid the no names like all get out. no name cams may mean engine blowed up.

[s13sr20chris]

by the way, cams without full intake, exhaust, etc will prob lose power all over the rev range.

[robbbby]

check out the Tomei website. they have some convincing info posted for cam upgrades with a stock turbo. i'll be getting a set before a turbo upgrade. for 350ish a set it can't hurt.

If you don't mind me asking where are you finiding timei cams $350 for a set???

[extheflow]

http://yahoo.auctions.co.jpthe dollar is pretty strong right now.i've scored some stuff pretty cheap already.try finding a new powerFC in the states for 615$

[Gladius]

Sorry to dig up an old thread. I was wondering why no one every considers JWT S4's for cam upgrades? Do they just suck? Are they designed for N/A only? Are the HKS series just that much better?

[Nismo_Freak]

256 11.5 lift

Tomei cams are one of the best on the market IMO and according to testing from a Japanese magazine article, and this is the camshaft I will be using.

[Gladius]

Cool thanks. Anyone have any links to good cam info?

[Nismo_Freak]

http://yahoo.auctions.co.jpthe dollar is pretty strong right now.i've scored some stuff pretty cheap already.try finding a new powerFC in the states for 615$

Used cams from a motor that is 1000s of mile away. I'm sorry there is just a few things I will not buy from Yahoo Japan.

Plus, you aren't supposed to use used cams in a motor. They develope wear patterns between the cam and the journal. If you were to put a different cam in the engine it would accelerate wear, or it could possibly seize, and/or cause the camshaft to fail (snap in half, sheer, etc.). Not a risk I suggest, or a risk I will take.

SPL sells the new Tomei cams for $479 shipped... by the time you get a $200 set of cams over here you've spent an easy $350 like you said. I'm sorry but for $129 bucks I'd rather buy new cams and not have to put up with importing them.

[Nismo_Freak]

http://www.compcams.com

I recall them having good tech info on camshafts.

[s13sr20chris]

mike kojima swears the jwt cams have the best valvetrain dynamics...whatever those are.

[s13sr20chris]

or was that valvetrain stability? i dunno.

[Nismo_Freak]

Mike Kojima also has an N/a engine.

[s13sr20chris]

good point. i hate being a "name dropper" and all. i just thought their must be something good about those jwt cams. they do have like way more lift than anyone else(even the s cams). i like the tomei because supposedly you can install them straight up and down with no adj to the sprockets. well, i guess you can do that with any cam, but tomei says they are already optimized. that is nice.