Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Aftermarket Camshaft

[R.ebel]

Originally posted by Joseph Donnelly

Use 2" exhaust pipe with about 1/3 of the circumference cut off and a plate welded on the end so the lifter can't fall out of the far end.

Thanks for the tip JOE! Camshaft, HX40 and ported head on order

 

[Reb.B]

Well one reason DD sells them a bit higher is that they use a marine cam, which is made out of better material and has a bolt of cam gear. I don't know about any performance. If it were me, I'd go PDR cam for the price vs. benefits and if i needed more, then i'd go a huge cam and fly cut the pistons. But the main problem with that is that i know myself toooo well. If i fly cut the pistons, well i might as well buy better pistons and have them coated, and if i'm gonna do that, i might as well buy another block and do the whole motor. And it goes on and on. Thats why i bought the PDR can first. Great cam at a great price.

 

[nascar mark]

The PDR cam will lower egt's by a average of 75-100 deg's and as everyone knows the PDR turbos also help another 75-100 deg's. We tested 3 different cam combo's to get it right.

Egt's are now 275* at idle in drive, 425*at 60mph, 475* at 70, 525* at 80mph. Before you think yeah thats because its a low hp first gen, I've checked with the other 1st gen owners on 4 sites and it seems I'm running the highest hp and the lowest egt's by far. Average egt's are 325* at idle in drive, 600* at 60mph, 675* at 70mph and 800*at 80mph.

I use to hit 1500* in 7 sec before cam and turbo and now can't reach 1200*

My truck is fueled heavy enough even with a little VE44 pump to run a 14. 89 1/4mile with canopy,tools,oversized tires and spare tire, so the cam really does help bottom,mid and top end. My dyno sheets show it holds hp and ftlbs right to 3600 rpms.

 

[DSiemens]

I take it that those who have the PDR camshaft did not have to fly cut the pistons. At this juncture, the PIERS cam is looking pretty good. I would like the marine cam, but price enters the picture. EGT is my main concern. I tow lots and I tow heavy.

 

[Reb.B]

no, u don't have to cut the pistons to use the cam, but i really wouldn't put in the cam to lower egt's. This is not what the cam is really for. the only egt's that make a difference to me is at WOT. u should spend your money on turbo, cold air intake, and head porting, before purchasing a cam. I'm not trying to purseid somebody from not buying a cam, but u gotta do steps in line, ie. the biggest bang for your buck. U install a cam for spoolup, low end power and less lowend smoke, and if u get some help in egt's then great. Turbo and ported head is the way to go first as far as egt's go.

 

[F8LDOSE]

Piers has a reground marine cam also. With it, the pistons have to be flycut. Good for 4700rpm. It's really not expensive, I'm ordering mine tomorrow. And for those with deep pockets check out his billet cam, it's a totally tricked piece, same as Mitchell uses(so I hear).

 

[DSiemens]

I have a KDP problem. I am going into the engine to fix. As the cam has to come out, why not upgrade cam now. The truck is not stock. I have bombing fever and now is the best time to do an upgrade as I am in there anyway. Hearing that PIERS cam reduces EGT is a bonus. I am considering porting my head. I have done Mopar gassers but I would like to have a spare head to start. Almost had one on Ebay... . too bad cause I would have ported that. Still looking for spare head BTW.

 

[Reb.B]

well then it would be a great idea to change the cam then. It has to come out anyway, i'd do it. Call Piers on a new head that is ported and o-ringed. U don't want to get a head off EBAY. The 6bta heads (our heads) crack really easy around the exhaust valves. Piers can get some heads at good prices, also Joe in Alabama sells them used in good shape. I can PM u his e-mail or number if u need it.

 

[Reb.B]

oh, if u're head is good, just have Piers send u a head and then send yours over to him. If u want to reduce egt's, port the head.

 

[DSiemens]

My cylinder hear is good. It takes time to port a head (correctly) and I was hoping to have a head all dressed up and ready to put on. I turn all my own wrenches and getting a head already ported just doesn't seem right to me. Piers site has some detail on Cummins cylinder head porting. Gotta like that.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Porting diesel heads is similar to doing a gasser, but you gotta be careful so that you don't ruin the swirl that our 6BT's love so much... . With this in mind, I believe that any head I use will be ported by someone 'in the know'... .



Matt