Cams on a turbo?

irwin83r · Postby **irwin83r** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 6:03 pm

put simply. i'd like to upgrade my cams and ECU but will probably be going turbo one day down the track so only want something that will be good for both.

are there any cams that are good (better than standard) for both NA and FI?

or are FI cams heading in another direction to what NA cams would be??

adamjp · Postby **adamjp** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:01 pm

My understanding of camshafts for FI and NA is that they are different if you wish to optimise performance.

On a FI engine, the cam is ground so the overlap is less (so the induction charge does not shoot out the exhaust port).

On a NA engine, the cam is ground so the overlap is more (to increase the filling characteristics of the harmonic waves).

On a DOHC engine, you can change the cam timing for each cam independently of the other so the overlap issue is less of a problem.

Try talking to Tighe Cams, or at least play around on their site for a while.

irwin83r · Postby **irwin83r** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:27 pm

i think i know where your coming from, kinda to do with scavaging.. ie the inlet gass helpin to push out last of exhaust gass to ensure a pure reaction or what ever.

you think you could adjust cam timming enough to make a cam good for FI and NA??

CT · Postby CT » Thu Aug 24, 2006 8:17 am

Corky Bell says that stock cams are best for turbos. I'd believe him......

CT · Postby CT » Thu Aug 24, 2006 3:49 pm

Warpspeed wrote:Corky Bell actually said "it is hard to find a turbo cam that works better than the stock item". (page 163 Maximum Boost) He never said that the stock cam was the very best possible solution, only that the majority of typical long duration aftermarket cams would be a step backwards. He is certainly right about that, but don't try to interpret that as suggesting a factory emissions cam is not worth changing. It sure is !!

Fair call. I just intepreted it for myself.

irwin83r · Postby **irwin83r** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 7:20 pm

well the car as i pointed out isnt FI at the moment i just have plans of taking that path at a latter date. i was just looking for some more ponnies in the mean time but dont want to purchase thigns that will ultimatly be useless or unusable on a turbo.
sounds as though after the ecu ill have very little to play with.

thanks for clearing things up