CATCAMS vs KELFORD?

[Grant #2]

Car - ae86

Engine - ae111


I'm looking to buy some cams for my 20V blacktop. I will be using them with stock spring, stock valves, etc. The only thing I wish to change is the valve shims to set clearances on the new cams.

1. Do you prefer Catcams or Kelford cams? Toda is too expensive.
2. What is the largest cam duration and lift I can use with VVT?

I was thinking something like 8.5mm lift and 272 degree intake, 280 ex.

Kelford have a pretty good price through their distributor in the US...unfortunately, I really want to use their rally cam with 272 degree intake, 280 exhaust but 8.7mm lift

I was told the Rally cam won't work with a blacktop and VVT. What if I used a ST VVT gear....less advance by 5 degrees. What if I increased the size of the blacktop valve reliefs?

I will be using the cams on a daily driver, so I think getting as much lift as possible should help torque and overall power.

Thanks!

[Sam-Q]

have a look at this:

http://s-86.com/s-cams.html

keep in mind though that it's just not possible to get any solid information on the topic so teat it only as a very rough guide.

I would of thought that you could run 8.7mm lift with stock springs but it's not like I know anything about the subject

[biggo]

you can buy blank kelford cams from them in NZ for the same price as their manufactured ones. So any lift and duration you want. The exchange rate should be killing them now too.

[Grant #2]

What do you mean blank ones?

So, are you saying I can maybe have them make a special intake cam for the same price as if I was buying an off the shelf item?

[biggo]

thats what i was trying to say.

[trikzlane]

lol, biggo that reminded me of the horse on that bank ad

[Sam-Q]

would Kelfords blanks just be resold Toyota blanks? either way is there a way of buying blanks directly from Toyota?

[Grant #2]

Here's a question for you guys:

Does the ST have a lot more piston-to-valve clearance than the blacktop?

Or am I more restricted in my lift and duration just because the blacktop VVT gear is always 5 degrees more advanced?

I'm thinking about just converting to the ST VVT gear. How would that effect my powerband? I'm thinking it would shift it to higher rpm, but I'm by no means an expert.

[Sam-Q]

now from what I understand the blacktop cams are 5 degrees offset to one direction and the cams offset 5 degrees to compensate, why they would do such a thing I don't know.

Also I beleive the BT is an interference engine, Either way there would definatelty be more clearence with a silvertop head, or atleast using silvertop pistons anyway. If your running ST pistons then it's irrelevant which head you use.

[Grant #2]

St pistons would significantly drop or significantly raise compression? I don't think I'm game for either...

sigh. thanks for the info, I'm not sure what I want to do. I want to get cams but I can only afford to do this once.

[4000GT]

Kelford cast their own blanks. So not purchased from Toyota or any other source.

I dont know why you would bother going to the effort of doing a cam and get a very tame one. You are going to be up for a top end gasket set, head gasket, blah blah, a way to control the fueling and timing with the new cam, dyno time etc. All that is going to cost you 3-5k+ depending on the options. And you can get a set of valve springs for $300, and get another 20 odd HP for it by being able to use a bigger cam.