There is so much debate around camshafts, which is the best to use, mild or wild duration, high or mild lift, which degree makes the most power, and if it works on the track, will it work for me? These questions are generally thrown around on forums and social media networks with some realistic and unbelievable results, dyno charts, flow charts and claims of power that we all want but are not in our budget or best interests for our everyday drive. Fitting a Performance Camshaft is the most economical way of adding more power to your engine. Back in the 1960’s Camming was to cars what the Internet is for computers these days. Although technology has changed over the years the crucial Camshaft Selection Process has not. “The camshaft is the brain of your engine, mechanically opening and closing the valves. It dictates when the valves open and close, how long they are open and closed and when they are open and closed in relation to crankshaft position.”The camshaft has a very large effect on the type of power your engine makes.Within the Performance Trade, Products , Mechanics ,Tuners & Salesman get slandered daily due to incorrect applications which are mainly caused by misinterpreted or misguided information or lack of knowledge.Responsibility needs to be taken for poor choices and regardless of good advice fitting a 288-degree camshaft to a 1400 Chico is a bad idea as well as joining a thread to slag off the entity that questioned this choice to begin with. With less lowdown power than standard and all power above 5000 rpm, drivability is seldom considered. Although there are salesman out there that will sell sand to the Arabs the final decision is taken by the purchaser, so understanding a bit more about the product should assist you in a wiser choice.Fitting a 300 degree Camshaft to an everyday driver is not the answer so please be careful as to the advice you take as there are many camshaft durations and combinations for the track but we are very limited to availability for street usage in comparison.I am sure that this basic information will help you in understanding a bit more about how to choose your first or next camshaft when spending your hard earned cash on improving your ride. Realise your needs before you select When it comes to Performance Camshafts we must consider factors such as engine capacities, compression ratios, type of fuel being used, carbs, sidies, ITBs, fuel injection, street or track use, management type, the list goes on!Phases of camshafts range from everyday mild street to full Race Spec, Wild duration and high lift. We can look at the following for a better idea of the difference between a mild & wild camshaft and how drivability can be affected on a VW Golf:1 ) “A” claims a 288-degree camshaft in an 1800 Golf works great and that anyone with a golf that fits anything smaller is wasting their time and money. What is not mentioned is that this vehicle is driven hard at high rpm on weekends at drags. Power is above 4000rpm with a rough idle, with no concern for the lowdown torque loss or high fuel consumption.2 ) “B” drives at a max range of 3500rpm in his 1800 Golf to work and back daily enjoys the standard lowdown torque but feels he has to drop a gear up hills. A 272 degree cam will be a good choice as existing lowdown torque and fuel efficiency remain and a power gain from around 3000rpm is achieved. If “B” fits a 288 a rough idle is created without useable power below 4000rpm. Taking into consideration his driving style the 272 will suit his requirements better. He may not obtain the gains of the 288 but from a driveability point of view his gains are sufficient for his requirements.With max power there will always be a trade-off so realising the limitations and side effects of the incorrect selection and application is of high importance. By gaining 10kw with a 288 degree camshaft on a standard VW 2lt 8v is a great increase but the power is all above 4000rpm and there is no apparent gain below that , so gaining higher up in the rev range has a sacrifice of lowdown torque loss.Fitting a milder camshaft will increase the usable power for instance from 3000rpm or 3500rpm where you will be able to use it more to your advantage in everyday usage . Camshaft Facts never mentioned…Camshaft Profiles in SA are generally copies of other well-known brands such as Schrick who develop and produce camshafts from street to F1 applications.Anyone who claims they are the “Cam Father” in SA is only kidding themselves as profiles are mostly derivatives of World renowned brands. Most profiles are copied and changed to suit requirements.Camshafts Profiles in SA are all much of a muchness with a few minor changes such as additional lift and lobe centre changes but the basis is the same copied profile.Changing the lift, base circle size, and lobe centres and suddenly you have a newly designed camshaft profile? It’s like calling a Fiat a Ferrari!For example, a 288 profile with a standard 110-degree lobe centre can be widened or narrowed : If the lobe centre is narrowed to 106 degrees on a 288-degree camshaft a claim of a new design of a 284-degree Camshaft ? or a 276 with 114 degrees Lobe centre and a 280 degree is born …. Don’t be Fooled – THE FACT IS, the remain 288 & 276-degree camshafts but with a different lobe centre. Camshaft basics …Three main Camshaft types :Re-profiled – Using your existing camshaft is generally only suitable for mild durations anything too wild will result in an undersized base circle and depending on how much base circle is lost in the grind valves may need to be lengthened to compensate for this loss.Billet – We all refer to Performance Camshafts as a Billet , this is incorrect ,
