Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2007 09:22:37 -0700
Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Subject: Camshaft rap...as pertains to the inline 4/van transplant motor
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Some asked.
The camshaft I stuck into my 92 Cabriolet motor, after a bit of reading and
research, was an Autotech 260 Sport Hydro lifter camshaft from Autotech in
S.J. Capistrano, Ca. $129.00.
There's a very large body of knowledge about what works and how to
improve the Inline four VW motor. When, due to my own errors and
unfamiliarity with the Vanagon cooling system, I overheated (pretty
severely) my motor and caused a blown headgasket, I checked into what I
could improve easily as I replaced my headgasket..The 260 degree (duration?)
camshaft was widely mentioned by various sources as a very viable
modification to the 1.8 liter street motor..There were half dozen sources,
with varying costs, for camshafts configured like this and I chose Autotech
for price...After checking that they have a good rep, also. The swap added
perhaps an hour to my repair time for the headgasket (about 3-4 hours,
total)
With this 'mild' cam, you can not detect any difference at idle or at
startup. It is noticeable at (guessing-no tach yet) about 4000rpm, where
now there is a definite 'strong spot' that lasts to my 'seat of the pants'
redline that I am guessing is around 6500-7000 rpm. The cam uses the
standard lifters and no different springs, suggesting it's got a fairly
conservative profile..I've not noticed any valve float, the motor simply
runs out of 'breath' and gives up winding any higher at that rpm..
Of note is that if you want, you can still "lug" the motor like a WBX and
plunk around at low rpms without any hesitation...I often do, figuring that
of the millions of small inline four VWs in use world wide..a large
percentage are still working, and are being abused just like that everyday
for years and years..Must be stong enough to take it, right?
FWIW....The parts and technology is available and cheap (relatively) to
make whatever power you want (within reason) from the I-4 motors. Lots of
250hp cars running out on the streets and I saw one on the dyno making
almost 500hp..
Don Hanson
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