cam only...worth time/money?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 907
Likes: 0
From: Harrisonburg VA
cam only...worth time/money?
I'm debating on putting a cam in my car, but wondering if this is a waste of time without upgrading the heads as well. I'm looking at buying one of the TSP cam kits with springs and misc. as a package.
How much power can I gain from a cam only setup? Or should I wait until i'm ready to do the heads as well...
Anyone with cam only cars wanna chime in?
How much power can I gain from a cam only setup? Or should I wait until i'm ready to do the heads as well...
Anyone with cam only cars wanna chime in?
Pro
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 623
Likes: 11
From: Ankeny IA
Cam only can be worth it with the addition of some long tubes to go along with it. An engine can only take in what it can push out. I made around 375rwhp with a small cam and headers. A good sized TSP kit would make more.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,582
Likes: 137
From: SoCal CA
Well, my car is an 2002 a4 cam and heads but here's my advice. What do YOU want out of your car? There are some stout cam only cars but to get the most out of any cam you want some good flowing heads. A lot of cam only cars make power at high rpm which is not the best for street. Lets say you want a stout street car that can run a mid 11sec pass and behave in traffic, a good h/c setup will keep you happy. Once again, its up to what you want. If you plan on eventually doing both, go with heads first. My $0.02
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 2
From: St. Clair Shores Mi
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 907
Likes: 0
From: Harrisonburg VA
Well I would like to be around 380-400 whp if possible with a cam and LT headers with a tune. If this range is possible then I don't need heads, that is plenty of power for the street and some track days for me...
Pro
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 663
Likes: 0
From: Show me lower taxes Missouri
Check my sig for mod's. I just ran a 11.74 last week for the first time. No heads yet.
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 18,308
Likes: 21
From: Marlton. Increasing performance one speeding ticket at a time! NJ
Make sure you upgrade your springs, because the lift on the MS4 is insane. Hardened pushrods too.
You'll want to upgrade springs for any cam install, anyway.
You'll want to upgrade springs for any cam install, anyway.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 14
From: Booker Texas
My car is a A4. I went with the TSP 224/224 581/581 114,push rods and springs. Also a 25% underdrive pulley,TSP headers. I have no before and after dyno numbers but man it is not the same car!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,033
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From: H-Town Texas
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 406
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,979
Likes: 31
From: Wichita KS
Might want to do some more re-search before jumping on this cam, it is NOT a street friendly cam, I am at 400 rwhp (dynojet) with cam and mods in sig, no heads and its no where near a MS4, my cam is street friendly.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 2
From: St. Clair Shores Mi
i guess who tunes it is what it comes down too - i have no problem using my ms4 as a DD - roadrebel (dr phil) did a awesome job on the tuning. lil bit of cam surge under 2k not enough to bother me and it pulls nice over 4k