Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) results from cam change

[DHartley]

I am looking for info results from anyone who has changed a cam, pdr or otherwise. i am just about ready to do my swap but am thinking now is the time to do a cam change, before i install the engine. the engine is a 97 215hp and i have a #10 plate,3000k springs and a hx40 wheel for my hx35. the truck is a daily driver and a weekend hauler and with the price of fuel i want to get all the mpg i can. what do you think are they worth the money?thx Dana

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I have heard nothing but positives from everyone who has installed a PDR, Diesel Dynamics, F1 or other cam in their 12-valve. Better response and spoolup, lower EGTs and better fuel economy are usually reported. I can't recall anyone being unhappy about the change in the drivability their cam has provided. I think if you have the engine out I'd go for it, I know if I was in your situation I would do it for sure.



There's not a ton of people who have cams (because of the labor and/or expense installing them) but do a search through the 12-valve Forum and Products-Engine/Drivetrain Forum and you should come up with some threads by guys who have installed cams.



Only recommendation is whoever you get it from, get the bolt on cam gear. And most report there's no need to replace tappets (which goes against what is typically done with gasser motors but Cummins' tappets are significantly superior).



Vaughn

 

[nascar mark]

No need or advantage to having a bolt on cam gear versus installing a regular cam gear if installed correctly, unless you plan on turning more than 4200rpm's. Then again, if you are planning on turning more than 4200rpm's, then you should look at installing a true billet camshaft.

 

[JGK]

I put a first stage PDR cam in a couple of years ago when I had to remove the gear case to fix a leaky gasket. I didn’t notice a significant improvement, but a little I suppose. I didn’t have an opportunity to do a before and after dyno test to see what it did. But it certainly didn’t hurt anything… except my wallet!



I probably wouldn’t have done it by itself due to the labor involved, but since I was pulling the cam out to do the gasket anyway, what the heck!



If I were in your shoes, and assuming you were doing some top end work anyway (o-ringing the head) I’d be tempted to put in a more radical cam and fly-cut the pistons. Now the benefits would be more obvious.



-Jay

 

[nascar mark]

I do not recommend running a camshaft that requires flycutting pistons for a daily driver, unless you don't want spool up below 2300rpm's.

 

[DHartley]

Thx Guys, anybody else?

 

[zstroken]

Hopefully I will let you know in the next week.

 

[DHartley]

just pulling this back up to the top, there must be some more people running cams out there

 

[JHastings]

I have a cam from enterprise engine in my pickup. The PO put it in so I can't tell you the before and after difference. It does not seem to help my mileage anyways b/c I have only gotten 19 once. Someone who maybe knows my pickup better than me (it used to be Brandon Fenleys) can chime in about my cam b/c I don't know anything about it. I wrote enterprise and asked, but no response.

Jamie

 

[zstroken]

Still working on mine. Ended up changing the convertor, still have the driveshaft to change, head to put on, fuel system to plumb, and fuel shut off to finish. Then I get to reassemble.

 

[Bandit1]

i love my cam. spooled my pdr 40 like mad and it drives this 66 pretty quick to. i have even thought about going more aggressive

 

[thekidfan]

I run a PDR cam have for awhile now, I saw a small decrease in egt's, and a little quicker spoolup, no change in milage for me I too would recomend a bolt on or tig on gear. Remember Mark, Piers' tigged (sp) mine for me .

 

[bmoeller]

Dana, I know WaynesWorld has a PDR cam. Maybe shoot him a PM. He's been pretty busy, so don't expect a response right away.

 

[Jim Fulmer]

I do not recommend running a camshaft that requires flycutting pistons for a daily driver, unless you don't want spool up below 2300rpm's.

Depending on timing you would be surprised ay how well mine spools, even with my turbo's... ..... daily drives just fine but I agree with a little smaller one. Yes I tacked my gear on with a tig also but I have never seen one move..... not even my stocker after 138K.



Jim

 

[WaynesWorld]

Dana, I know WaynesWorld has a PDR cam. Maybe shoot him a PM. He's been pretty busy, so don't expect a response right away.

Dana,

bmoeller is right as always,

I helped install mine #@$%!

It wasn't easy without the right trough to put the cam followers in,

But, if you do, a simple fix is to buy one but you can make one as well.



As far as would I give it my stamp of approval---- :--) says it all!!!



If you are going to IRP or Scheids or coming to or meltdown next saturday, lets go for a ride----



WAYNES WORLD