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Cams and a shave?
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 8:59 pm
by qik_260z
Hi!
Im looking for some extra performance out of the 1.6 (like everyone else) but want to keep it NA. So apart from the obvious( COI, 2in cat back, 4-2-1 extractors, and a DFA) i was thinking of going with some cams and a headshave. What do people think of these specs, (260°duration, .375\" (9.52 mm lift), what are some other cam options and is their anything else that won't cost the earth while the heads off?
Any input much appreciated
Cheers
Almost forgot how do people like the sound of stainless headers? are they are a bit tinny compared to mild steel?
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 9:28 pm
by adamjp
Have a gander at Tighe Cams website and do a search through this forum for Tighe.
http://www.tighecams.com.au/IMHO getting the head rebuilt and ported will provide a better base for improvement than dropping cams on a stock head. You can also add the cams a bit later, you cannot improve the head without major down time.
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 9:57 pm
by timk
Sweet! I'd love to go down the same route as you. This page has some useful info:
http://members.aol.com/solomiata/CheapHP.htmlNow someone buy my SE so I can get an N/A NA!
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 12:10 am
by zoomzoom
Tighe cams are damn exy, as are alot of the imports like toda, hks, tomei etc. Last year I am pretty sure crow started doing some grinds for the B6ZE and were about half the price of the tighe cams from memory. That is what I will be looking at down the track when
I actually have some moneys and a dfa.
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 12:31 am
by Babalouie
I have a 20thou shave and Tomei 252/254 cams. Got a 8rwkw gain from the cams but I also have 10:1 pistons tho. I did get my head rebuilt but didn't touch the ports.
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 8:24 am
by adamjp
Last year I am pretty sure crow started doing some grinds for the B6ZE and were about half the price of the tighe cams from memory.
Crow does not list any B6 or BP cams on their fairly comprehensive website. I would be interested to see what they produce, but I suspect that for 50% cost, you will be getting regrinds, not new billets.
http://www.crowcams.com.au/templates/Catalogue-Mazda-OHC.shtmlTighe Cams are comparitive with any other Mazda camshaft on the market. The price is due to the cost of the billets and the low sales volume. Getting Cams for an SR20 is much cheaper.
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 3:00 pm
by mr_rotary
What are people's thoughts ob the 'OBX' camshafts? I beleive these are approx. $550-$600AU delivered from the states.
Fits ALL 1990 to 1993 Mazda MX-5 Miata 1.6L B6ZE models
Type: Stage I
Duration (Lift mm): IN. 256, 9.0; EX. 256, 9.0
Notes: Valvetrain upgrade recommended
Type: Stage II
Duration (Lift mm): IN. 264, 9.0; EX. 264, 9.0
Notes: Valvetrain upgrade recommendedhttp://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OBX-Camshafts-for-90-93-Mazda-Miata-MX5-1-6L-B6ZE-Cams_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33614QQihZ007QQitemZ170102912073QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 3:25 pm
by pcmx5
Tighe offer both billets and regrinds@ $900 and $550(from memory) respectively.
I have their 805c's (252 duration) and think they are great.
Others have used them successfully without changing the ECU.
Peter
Re:
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 4:09 pm
by Rob E
OBX is cheap knock off stuff, fine for headers however i wouldnt put any OBX gear in my engine. Even on Miataforum nobody has fitted these. Might be worth a shot though, someone has to be first!
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 4:41 pm
by mr_rotary
What is actually the problems of using these? Is there actually any first hand knowledge (or links) someone using them - good or bad?
Re:
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 4:46 pm
by mr_rotary
mr_rotary wrote:What is actually the problems of using these? Is there actually any first hand knowledge (or links) someone using them - good or bad?
I just did a search on the big forum and to answer my question
basically it's the build/material quality and whether or not these will last a 100 tho km's!
Re:
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 5:23 pm
by Rob E
mr_rotary wrote:mr_rotary wrote:What is actually the problems of using these? Is there actually any first hand knowledge (or links) someone using them - good or bad?
I just did a search on the big forum and to answer my question
basically it's the build/material quality and whether or not these will last a 100 tho km's!
Well, that is the speculation - nobody i know on the big forum has used them.
You could be a pioneer
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 5:32 pm
by green_comet
I also did quite alot of reading on the OBX cams. The Honda guys in the states had mixed reviews. Apparently they are not made from the right material.
Quote from the honda forum.
I have seen First hand these cams destroy the rockers. The cams are made of billet steel and the material is too hard for the rockers.
Cams for Honda's should be chill casted like Blox, Crower, Skunk, Comp, Toda, Buddy club, ect.......
Im reposting from another thread I already posted on....
We had a customer bring these cams in for an install. We asked him if he was sure he wanted to use them, and he was pretty sure and we could not really talk him out of it. We did valves, valve springs, retainers, and the cams. After the install we had him drive 1000 miles and bring it in for a valve adjustment........upon inspection of the cam for the valve adjustment we found that the cams were worn and the rockers were cracking.
The customer called OBX and got the run around......and still getting the run around.
So far my take on OBX from my experience.....the LSD they have seems to work well so far, but the cams are something everyone should stay away from.
Just my input from my experience with them.
I think the main thing to look at would be build quality, how long are they going to last. I personally would not put obx parts inside my engine, they might be perform great, and be decent quality.
But i would rather pay the extra money for a proven product, and get piece of mind.
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:28 pm
by Sean
If someone wants to fund a set of OBX cams, I will hapilly fit them to my turbo engine anf let you know how they go for 10,000 kays, then give them back to you and report on the condition
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:44 pm
by adamjp
I emailed that vendor on eBay last year before Roderic made me a fantastic offer on his head and HKS cams.
The OBX cams are copies of the HKS units. So from a performance point of view, they should be fine.
My concern would be their longevity. If the material is not hardened properly, the camshafts will wear.
For the record, I run HKS 264 cams with the factory ECU, and now with the factory ECU and RX7 AFM. No problems AT ALL. I have the Unichip sitting here to go in, but have a couple of mods to go before I do anything. Just have to get the parts together for the mods and I will write it all up. I am thinking of the ultimate NA modification before I go the better fuel and timing. The car pulls strongly and is a charm to drive.