Cam recommendations

[Schepp]

Hey guys,
I was hoping you wizards would help an average guy out with determining which or if I should put a mild cam in my engine?
I started the research process but it’s pretty confusing. Especially when looking at CB’s website Since they don’t have an application chart or anything.
I’ve got it all apart and I’m wondering if I should put a mild cam in it now while it’s apart? I have no clue what all the terminology means or what the numbers mean.
This engine is going into a Baja. It’s going to be driven on the freeway to work a few days during the week and on slow mountain fire roads on the weekends. It’s not my daily driver.
Most usable power for me would be on in the mid rpm range.
The engine was tired and needed an overhaul.

Here’s what I’ve got:
1600 DP
Mofoco 041 polished heads
Stock rockers
Stock size pistons
Stock crankshaft
Stock rods
Single Weber 40IDF
Pertronix SVDA distributor
Cb in/out oil pump
Remote oil cooler with fan
Remote oil filter
Tri-Mil Bobcat exhaust system

Stock trans
215/75-r15 tires

I’m leaving it up to you to pick out a cam for me if you think it’s worth it for performance?

Thanks a ton!
Schepp

[QRP]

In a Baja I would stick with the stock cam.
And with a single IDF it will be a lot easier to tune with the stock cam

Is your old cam and lifter still in good shape?

[Next_Racer]

If you want a bit more go for a engle W100.
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[Pruneman99]

What do the chambers measure on the heads? You might be making a dog of an engine if the chambers are large, and your compression ratio ends up low. Add a larger cam with overlap, and it's a real slug.

[Schepp]

Thanks for the reply’s!

The chambers are 55cc
The compression ratio is 7.5:1

I keep reading that ideally a performance cam needs a higher compression ratio.
Which mine is not.
I’m not sending anything out for machine work cuz the turnaround times right now up here are ridiculously long and I want to be on the road/trails this summer instead of waiting around.
The stock cam is in ok shape but the stock lifters are pitted and are being replaced.
I definitely don’t want to make it a dog. It may not be the power plant I want it to be now but it could be worse.
I’ll eventually be building a bigger engine. But this one needs to work for now for the time being.
If it’s not realistic to put a different cam in it now then I’ll put a new stock cam in with new lifters.

[SGKent]

you can get what used to be called an RV cam, It has plenty of torque on the low end like stock and will raise the top RPM just a tad. Engle W90 is only 265 degrees total duration so it will not hurt the low end, and it will give a little pickup. They name it as the Cheater Cam. Will work well to 5000 RPM without sacrificing the low end. Make sure you know if you need a dished or flat cam for the oil pump.
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[Alstrup]

No, the "cheater cam" and the W90 are two different cams.
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[Bruce Amacker]

My vote is for the CB 2280 "cheater" cam, only a little more duration and a lot more lift. Great low and mid range cam, idles like stock but pulls much better down low.

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[croSSeduP]

Just in case you didn't know...
If you change to any kind of cam that gives "more", you'll also have to change a bunch else. You will have to address your whole valve train:
Rocker arm shafts
Push rod length and strength
Valve spring tension increase...
That only gets you started. My point is you can't just drop in a cam and run it. Without other upgrades those other things will (probably) break.
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[Schepp]

I’m not sure how a mild cam would break stock rocker arms or pushrods especially on a low horsepower engine but ok.
I’ve already got heavier springs with stainless steel valves in my heads.
I was thinking that a mild cam would complement the heads, carb and exhaust I already have.
I keep reading about that CB Cheater cam. Would that be ok to run on a low compression engine?
I like and don’t like reaching out to performance shops because they always say their own product is the best. But the more I read the more I hear the Engle W100, W90 or the CB 2280 “cheaters” for applications similar to mine.

From what I’ve read both Engle W90 and CB’s Eagle 2280 are considered “cheater” cams.

[Bruce Amacker]

[croSSeduP]

[chrisflstf]

CB 2232 is very similiar to W 100. Has 236 duration at .050

[Schepp]

Thank you Bruce.
That’s the kind of real experience that I was looking for. I want all the low to mid torque I can get. There’s no desert up here in NorCal but a lot of steep slow mountain roads.
I’ve reached out to Roy at Mofoco for his advice as well. Waiting to hear what he says. My guess is that it’ll be on par with what you’ve said.

Racer,
I would like to ditch those stock rockers for the CB kit. I think it just makes sense to get rid of those 50yr old worn out parts.

Thanks for your guys advice.

[Dusty1]

It might come down to availability. I literally just called CB because they still have a disclaimer on their site that it might take a while to get a 2280. The helpful dude on the other end of the phone said,

"The 2280 is in stock."

"The 2232 is backordered."

So the Engle W100 and the Eagle 2280 are available.

I prefer the 2280.

The 2280 will work with single "hi rev" springs and aluminum pushrods. Be aware that extra weight in the valvetrain (steel pushrods) requires extra spring pressure (dual springs) to adequately control it.

So: I would go with the 2280, "hi rev" single springs and aluminum pushrods. Heavy duty rocker assemblies won't hurt anything.


You may find one of those new fangled "big stock" bootleg Solex carbs pulls better and is easier to tune than a single 40IDF.

.
.

[Lingwendil]

Maybe CB2239?
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[SGKent]

W90 then. You aren't looking for outrageous RPM, you are looking for a little more than stock, but a smooth performer.
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[Brian_e]

For the super mild "cheater cams", I would run the CB2280 long before the w90.

The 2280 has .070" more lift, far better grind quality, it will actually match the cam card, CB has them in stock now, and best of all, you can use the really good cb1512 $32 lifters instead of the expensive, heavy, and thick head Engle lifters. All wins.

Brian
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[madmike]

I'd try and find a machine shop that can cut the step out of them heads at the very least
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[Schepp]

Thanks for all the advice guys. It’s nice reading you opinions without the drama that often occurs on a touchy subject like camshafts.

Roy @ Mofoco recommends the Engle w100.
Mike @ CB recommends the 2280.

Mike stated that since the compression ratio is stock, a grind with a shorter duration will result in a smoother idle a better low to mid range. They won’t have the higher revs most people want but will have that practical useable power down low for an application like this.

Madmike:
Mofoco heads have no step in them.

I feel like I now have the information I need and have a good understanding of what I need for my application.

I’ve compiled a list of camshafts that would work for a stock comp ratio. If anyone is interested I’ll post it.

Thanks again.
- Schepp