Installing a Fidanza Cam Gear on a D16y4

[beeza]

My mechanic will be doing this for me next friday.He said he hasn't done one b4,but that's cool he's a great mechanic and I trust him.
Is it a strait forward install? Is there anything he should know?

I know without dyno tuning it's trial and error on where to set the timing...
I want a bit more low end power and sacrifice some top end to make it zippier around town.So I need to advance the timing.I have the MSD Ignition System installed too,so from what I understand this will allow for some advancement.Is there any good rule of thumb on where to set it?
Thanks guys,
Brett :D

[dsp26]

IF your going to play with the timing, rotate the crank a few times while engine is off to make sure your not getting valve-piston slap.... but even then if your just at the limit of clearances you'll kill your engine if you get valve float at high rpm.... i would researcht he limits of the oem valve springs to if i were you.

Also no point playing with it unless you know what the effects are of the following and by how much:

- retarding both same degrees
- retarding both different degrees
- advancing both same degrees
- advancing both different degrees
- overlap increase/decrease (one retarded, the other advanced and vice versa)

[dsp26]

ignore the last paragraph.... just realised you have SOHC

[beeza]

Cheers :) Does this still apply?:


IF your going to play with the timing, rotate the crank a few times while engine is off to make sure your not getting valve-piston slap.... but even then if your just at the limit of clearances you'll kill your engine if you get valve float at high rpm.... i would researcht he limits of the oem valve springs to if i were you.

[dsp26]

Cheers :) Does this still apply?:

yep :thumbsup:

advancing/retarding on sohc is the same as advancing/retarding both cams on a dohc. in an sohc, the one camshaft actuates both intake/exhaust valves

[beeza]

Thanks mate.I will search for the limits of the OEM valve springs.

[nd55]

Hey,

I seem to remember some background noise (www.d-series.org perhaps) on other forums regarding how most SOHC cam gears were originally for D16z6 motors, and the d16y8 cam (don't know about d16y4, but they are same the generation) had a 12 degree offset compared to d16z6's.

AEM cam gears were apparently OK.

Sorry for the lack of conclusive information, but if you're looking for an elusive bug it may be helpful.

Nick.

[beeza]

Would it be safe to say it's better I wait until I upgrade the Camshaft,Valve springs and retainers to install the Cam gear.This way I won't run the risk of Valve float?
Saying this though,will I see some nice gains for the money spent on my Automatic y4?
I will look to pick these items up 2nd hand and cheap.

[JasonGilholme]

you won't get valve float unless your changing the MAX RPM of your engine.

As long as the piston doesn't hit the valve then you'll be ok.

[dsp26]

^^yeah he's right...

only way to get severe valve float other than revving past factory limits is to switch to high lift camshafts or an aggressive camshaft where the spec difference between the 2 profiles is huge and you get float at vtec crossover


HOWEVER... i do still think stock valves can float in their redline under load... the engine builders on here can chime in on that.... i rev my internally stock b16a2 to 9000rpm only coz the chip i put it lets it.... not that theres any benefit nor is it safe... just sounds good (Disclaimer: it's wank factor, you will kill your engine, don't copy me, i must be a wanker :p)

[dsp26]

um... your avatar is disturbing beeza lol.. i hope the cats at least enjoying it

[JasonGilholme]

^^yeah he's right...

only way to get severe valve float other than revving past factory limits is to switch to high lift camshafts or an aggressive camshaft where the spec difference between the 2 profiles is huge and you get float at vtec crossover


HOWEVER... i do still think stock valves can float in their redline under load... the engine builders on here can chime in on that.... i rev my internally stock b16a2 to 9000rpm only coz the chip i put it lets it.... not that theres any benefit nor is it safe... just sounds good (Disclaimer: it's wank factor, you will kill your engine, don't copy me, i must be a wanker :p)

i would have thought that the stock valvetrain would be able to handle stock cams (or even slighlty more) in order to make reliability.


um... your avatar is disturbing beeza lol.. i hope the cats at least enjoying it

so true! :thumbsup:

[dsp26]

i would have thought that the stock valvetrain would be able to handle stock cams (or even slighlty more) in order to make reliability.


i hoped that... but back in the day i used to study peoples dyno graphs and near and after peak rpm coming to fuel/rev cut, theres slight fluctuations that indicate valve float.

but without looking at a dyno and just listening to a car... take mine for example.

- i rev out 1st & 2nd gear and it revs clean to 9krpm ovbiosuly coz of gearing.
- but if i were to redline 4th/5th under load.. maybe on a slight incline... because it revs a lot slwoer and is under more stress, valve float becomes evident and is why it's noticable on dyno graphs.


HOWEVER, my observations were on SR20 motors... however i do recall posts on here where people have stated valve float on stock valvetrain... just duno which engine which is why i was generalising.

[JasonGilholme]

thats cool man.

But within OEM specs and with OEM equipment i couldn't imagine it being a problem.

Its when alterations are made (valve lift, RPM range etc) that i reckon it'd become more of a noticeable problem.

[beeza]

Thanks heaps guys.Nice one :)
When I get on the other computer I'll post the aviator pic,full size.It's so cool.Hahahahahahaha
Q:What ya doing?
A:Just vacuming the cat
:)

[beeza]

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l287/beeza2/aug1gal24-kitty-likey-2.jpg

[beeza]

When Dyno tuning your car is adjusting the Timing,with the Adjustable Cam gear,something that they do?

I'm just trying to decide if I should install this or not.I doubt I will be getting a Camshaft since I have have to go with a Custom job or a re-grind for the y4.This sounds a bit too expensive for my liking.