Custom camshafts: Who has serious ones?

[Steampunk]

OH!
Yes GC, the specs were from Integral and I was considering getting them as they were the best value and seemed to know what they were doing.

Hamish, thanks for the warning mate! I won't get them until probably the last half of the year, I'll send GC a PM pointing out what you stated.

Where are you getting yours from by the way? PM me if you wanna keep it secret

[Steampunk]

DAMN CT! That is some serious Mumbo!
123kW @ wheels equates to around 170kW @ flywheel

[hamish71]

Nope, its not a secret....the fact is noone has convinced me yet that they actually know what they are talking about when it comes to cams for the VCT engine.

Tighe have a great reputation for cams, but my queries ended with a response much like the once mentioned earlier in this thread. Something like:

\" send money and existing cams, we will weld them, and send them back\"

I have found a competition engine builder in QLD (CT knows who I am talking about) who has really impressed me both with his knowledge and attitude, but by his own admission, he doesnt have much experience with VCT. He also only does competition motors currently.

There are a number of threads on the \"big\" forum, discussing Maruha cams, which apparently were designed by/in cooperation with tomei...but there is bugger all evidence available as to their success. Having said that, for me, I am leaning that way, but they are expensive, and require an expensive lifter kit. But, for the NA, or non VCT engines, their appears to be a much wider selection. At the end of the day though, cams dont make power on their own. You need to spend on headwork, intake, exhaust, and then use cams, and probably an aftermarket ecu to maximise the hp gain from the newly available air.

[Matty]

Nope, its not a secret....the fact is noone has convinced me yet that they actually know what they are talking about when it comes to cams for the VCT engine.

Not surprising really when the work involved is so huge as to be prohibitive to anyone except an OEM. You'd have to make a full fuel and ignition map for every variation of cam timing, which if you have two independent cams is a massive exercise. Even with only one variable cam it's a lot of work. And there isn't a big enough market for MX-5 cams to justify it.

You could do some groundwork with software (eg Engine Analyser Pro) but it's still a massive undertaking.

If anyone ever did though, it would be fantastic. You could have near-race-tuned top end and a decent idle and torque curve.

At the end of the day though, cams dont make power on their own. You need to spend on headwork, intake, exhaust, and then use cams, and probably an aftermarket ecu to maximise the hp gain from the newly available air.

There's the next problem. You can design one cam as above, but what about the next customer who has a high-compression motor and bigger headers? Throw the old data out the window...

[irwin83r]

i cant remeber who it was but someone got some cams supplied and fitted in melb for 900-1000 bucks.. was almost a year ago ill have a look for the old thread

[Steampunk]

I would appreciate that Irwin.
I remember when I was doing the rounds via telephone and email, I didn't find anyone who showed any kind of interest in our cars.
Tried Tighe, Crane, Crow, Camtech a couple more I can't remember.

I guess they just don't understand that a car doesn't have to make >200kW to be exciting.

[irwin83r]

I would appreciate that Irwin.
I remember when I was doing the rounds via telephone and email, I didn't find anyone who showed any kind of interest in our cars.
Tried Tighe, Crane, Crow, Camtech a couple more I can't remember.

I guess they just don't understand that a car doesn't have to make >200kW to be exciting.

problem is they are all businessmen and well there just isnt that much business in 5's

[Russellb]

$1000 is not Uncommon. My New Blanks Reground to Turbo performance was that. and there bigger than the Tighe 803c and cant wait to get my new engine running. These were from Waggott and he asked all the Right Questions, Like Comp ratio , RPM range , street or track work, Turbo or NA . and he didnt even want my OLD cams .

[Rob E]

I would appreciate that Irwin.
I remember when I was doing the rounds via telephone and email, I didn't find anyone who showed any kind of interest in our cars.
Tried Tighe, Crane, Crow, Camtech a couple more I can't remember.

I guess they just don't understand that a car doesn't have to make >200kW to be exciting.

Crow do billets, no problems.....they have a couple of grinds for MX5s. Guy last year made 5rwkw on a pair. They arent overly expensive.

[Steampunk]

Hmmm... he must have spoken to someone more friendly. I would want more than 5rwkw for $1000 give or take.

The front runner is still Integral Cams from the US @ $625USD for Stage 3 or 4

[ben wilson]

Bear in mind when comparing different profiles that some makers give total (advertised) duration and other give duration at 0.050\" lift. They will be a very different number which can make it confusing to compare them.

[Rob E]

Hmmm... he must have spoken to someone more friendly. I would want more than 5rwkw for $1000 give or take.

The front runner is still Integral Cams from the US @ $625USD for Stage 3 or 4

Just need to know what you want. I spoke to Crow last year too, from memory about 650 for a pair of billets for the B6. Ended up going with Maruha cams though.

[Steampunk]

Hmmm... he must have spoken to someone more friendly. I would want more than 5rwkw for $1000 give or take.

The front runner is still Integral Cams from the US @ $625USD for Stage 3 or 4

Just need to know what you want. I spoke to Crow last year too, from memory about 650 for a pair of billets for the B6. Ended up going with Maruha cams though.

Well for $650 I will definitely go Crow Cams.
I will contact them soon.

Tighe wanted $500 to weld my stock ones.

Thanks Rob.

[Fatty]

fartfreddygassit has some tighe cams in his 1.8 that he seems pretty happy with. tighe have a pretty good rep in the mx5 community i thought.

[Rob E]

I know of one forum member who seriously dissuaded me from Tighe due to major problems with them - seems the lobes on his starting breaking up after 10,000klms or so.... This was enough for me to give them the miss.

What will the car be used for?

Is it s daily driver?