Alright guys, the boss (wife) has given the ok for some engine mods. I don't have the cash for a h/c package but I can swing a cam/pushrods/springs-retainers - double timing chain etc.. (basically everything but the heads)

I'm on a $2k parts budget (not including install/tune). My car is a stock '02 vert w/ A4, 3.15 gears with just bolt-ons (Borla's and a Blackwing) @ 19k miles. I am running the stock exhaust manifold and stock torque convertor. My car is at high altitude (5300 ft.) and is not my daily driver. I do plan on taking this to the local 1/4 track. My county does not perform any type of vehicle inspections.

I know I should probably do a t/c and or gears first but I'm going for the engine while I still have the green light. My major concern is getting a cam that is compatible with the stock exhaust (I understand that this will limit my selection). Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. :seeya

 

With stock exhaust, I would go with a split-duration grind. The extra exhaust duration will help scavenge the cylinders. WIth stock heads, keep the lift around .550" or lower. With the stock torque convertor, you don't want to go too big on the duration, or you will lose too much on the low end, have a poor launch. Also, if you are not going to be able to afford tuning, that's another reason to keep the duration modest.

There are a couple of fairly "standard" grinds that will work well for you. One is the Comp Cams 216/220 on a 114 LSA, the other is the 218/224 on a 114. Both of them have lift around .530", and can often be found used. If you don't bump your rev limiter, you can get by with stock pushrods and lifters, but you will need new valvesprings, such as CC "915" or "918", or perhaps even Z06 springs.

Another cam that will work OK is the Z06 cam. However, the gains will be pretty modest, and if you're going to invest the time and money to do the swap, you probably want to get as much power as possible (and reasonable).

I had the 218/224 cam in my SS for a couple years, and was very pleased with it. I picked up 25 HP, and had very few idle or driveability issues.

ANother option to consider is to forget the cam, & swap in a set of heads. The power gains are similar, the install is a lot easier, and there are NO driveability problems. Nobody will even know your car is modded, unless they look carefully under the hood. Try Absolute Speed Stage 1x, around $1200, and a great deal. You can also have them milled .030" for a slightly higher compression ratio, but then you will need 7.35" pushrods.

Good luck!

 

i know several guys who had the 228/114* cam in their A4s w/o headers, still got nice hp pick-up and good driving manners ... like you they had to do one mod at time and eventually added headers...but their cars performed good with just the cam.

 

Any cam will be "compatible" with your stock exhaust, you just arent going to get the full benefit of it. I can tell you my plan is to keep the stock h-pipe, but get a set of headers with cutouts before the cats on the stock h-pipe. That way, I still get the borla sound with the cutouts closed, as well as no gas smell and pretty quiet. But with the cutouts open it will basically be almost open headers and Ill get the full potential out of the exhaust.

Now, back to the cam part...it depends on how big/radical you want to get. Honestly, I would call a vendor, tell them what you want out of it drivability-wise and see what they recommend.

 

I have a Comp cam 220/220x-er.The car idles at 650 rpm with no lope at all.The cam really helped the preformance and no problems passing the smog testing here in Cal..I took the advice of Andy at A&A automotive and he was right.Give him a call at(805)6588299.He was changing cams last year about 2-3 times a week until he found the right combination.

 

Thanks for the inputs guys. :thumbs: I'll check into your recommendations. :cheers: