S14 SR20 Cam Choices

[95KA-Turbo]

Ok, so for the past couple of days I've been trying to look around and find as much information as possible about simple (as in no valve springs/retainers) cam set ups for the S14 SR20.

I've come to the conclusion that these three are the best/only choices:

BC Street/Strip Spec Cams:

264/264 duration
12.06/12.06mm lift

Price: Couldn't find a MSRP - can be found online for ~$330.00

BrianCrower.com - Brian Crower - BC - Nissan - S13 & S14/S15 - SR20DE(T) (http://www.briancrower.com/makes/nissan/sr20det.shtml)

Tomei Pon Cam:

256/256 duration
11.50/11.50 mm lift

Price: MSRP - $510 - can be found online for ~$435

Camshaft (http://www.tomei-p.co.jp/_2003web-catalogue/e076_cam_SR20DET.html)


HKS Step 1:

256/264 duration
10.50/10.00 mm lift

Price: MSRP - $530 a pair - can be found for ~$460 online

HKS USA Camshafts (http://www.hksusa.com/products/?id=656&rsku=3646)


TODA Racing Cams

They offer an array of choices, I'm going going to list the mild options.

Intake - 256 duration/10.5 mm lift, 264 duration/10.5mm lift
Exhaust - 256 duration/10.5 mm lift, 264 duration/10.5mm lift

Price: MSRP - $440 a set, can be found online for ~$420 a set.

http://todaracingusa.com/category?section=product&cid=33&id=21


Ok, so obviously there is a pretty significant price jump between the companies. I've got a friend running HKS cams and a friend running BC cams in their red top SRs.

The only thing that puts me off about the BC cams is the specs are identical between the S13 and S14 motors, but Nissan's specs between the two motor's stock cams are quite different - as are Tomei and HKS's set ups. If people have dyno graphs with these cams on a stockish set up I'd love to see them. The dyno graph on BCs website is a car making like 4--whp, Option Imports has a dyno graph from Tomei on their site showing a pretty significant increase (http://www.tomei-p.co.jp/_2003web-catalogue/image/pic/ep066_02_gurafu.gif), and I couldn't find one for a HKS set up that wasn't modified.


So post up your personal experiences with any of those cam sets in your S14 SR20. Hopefully there are people out there who've only done cams and turned the boost up on a stock/S15 turbo? I can't really find any dyno graphs of anyone with stock injectors or turbo running cams!

[Dousan_PG]

Toda

retain the nvcs


phase2 sells them

[djcobra]

Wait, you want to install cams and not upgrade injectors?! don't even bother, stick with stock cams and just turn up boost; max around 14-15 psi.

Anyways, looking at the BC Cam Lift info, you have to upgrade valve springs, thats a given. Anything over 10.5mm lift you need upgraded springs and otherwise you can kiss your head good bye.

I personally have HKS Step 2 cams installed 256in/264ex with HKS 555cc Injectors along with HKS Step 2 Valve Springs. Pretty much upgraded the whole head with HKS Step 2's. Currently running a GT28RS aka 'disco' and pumping out ~320whp at 14psi. Next year i'm thinking of upgrading to GT2871r either .64 or .86 trim...

As for gains, you feel it in the mid to high end, you do lose some low end response; depending on your setup. I still have good low end torque, mainly due to the NVCS (VTC) which i kept and love. For higher hp applications most guys on here ditch the VTC and go with a S13 intake cam along with some adjustable cam gears and with a good tune.

If you want response and a lil bump in hp while keeping stock springs etc... stick with Step 1 and take your flavas of cams, personally I stick with Tomie or HKS.

Quick reference of Turbo and Cams to choose: (found this on the forum) try searching harder!

T25...Stock, 256/256
T28...Stock, 256/256, 256/264
GT28RS....256/256, 256/264, 264/264
GT2871R .64.....256/264, 264/264
GT2871R .86.....264/264, 264/272, 272/272

Anyways, hope this helps.

Steve.

[Z33dori]

why compare a tomei pon cam to 264 cams.... why not Tomei PRO 260 cams they have the same 12.0 lift of the BC 264

[95KA-Turbo]

I was comparing the PonCam to the BC cams because BC sells those cams as stage 1 cams not needing valve springs/retainers. I thought the specs were a little too aggressive to run on a stock head and wanted to hear from people's personal experiences with them rather then just assume things.


Thanks for the heads up on the Toda cams Dousan. I'm going to assume for a stock headed S14 SR go with a 256/264 10.5/10.5 set up?

I was under the impression you can keep NVCS with any cam so long as you don't swap out the sprocket?


DJ Cobra thanks for all of that info as well, it's not that I don't want to upgrade injectors and what not. I just want to do it in steps. If I upgrade injectors I'll need engine management and I don't want to do the SAFC thing. I'd like to run AEM if I run anything so 500 bucks on cams makes more sense then 2k on injectors and AEM to tune on a stock S14 SR. I appreciate you posting that info on the recommended cam set ups as well...I couldn't find much of anything when I searched :-/.

[renegade_ewok]

I'm gonna give a vouch for the HKS cams since that is what is in my car w/an S14 SR - I have HKS Step 2s and the idle is smooth but has some some casual lope to it. Idle quality is not effected any way whatsoever with these cams. Step 1 should do even less. With a good tune idle quality is just perfect. I don't have my VCT active though since I'm running an S13 SR ecu.

I would stay away from BC cams, I've heard sketchy things and a friend of mine couldn't get them dialed in to save his life. Toda or Tomei are both good too, can't really go wrong with HKS, Toda or Tomei - they put R&D into all of em.

[Z33dori]

why not just by the parts then install them all at the same time

[95KA-Turbo]

I don't have any need for a 350whp car right now, so dumping 3k into my motor all at once doesn't make any sense for me.

I just want to gain a little bit of mid range and get a more usable hp/torque curve, which is something that cams can take care of. I made this thread so I (as well as anyone else who is thinking of cams) could make the right choice for what I want.

[renegade_ewok]

I just want to gain a little bit of mid range and get a more usable hp/torque curve, which is something that cams can take care of. I made this thread so I (as well as anyone else who is thinking of cams) could make the right choice for what I want.
Where do you want the power to really open up? The car really starts surging hard (it feels like 2-3 more psi than before, but the boost is the same) at around 4200-4300ish with a 264 cam. The power feels "fuller", don't really know how to explain.

[djcobra]

No worries 95KA-Turbo;

always glad to help out on here. Anyways, IIRC S14 HKS Step 1 & 2 cams support the NVCS upto 264 (intake) anything after ie, 272 you have to replace sprocket with a S13 along with bolt. You'll have to double check on HKS's site but i'm pretty sure i'm correct.

Running these type of aggressive cams are not meant for street use, awesome for track/drag use. I still think my Step 2 cams are too aggresive for the street, you will have some idle issues but nothing major. Only problem that I found with these cams are that our idle rpm is at around 1050-1100rpm. Anything lower sounds like a heavy V8 with crazy idle lope. Not a fan of that idle lope especially in our 4 bangers, makes sense with the V8's haha.

Like Z33dori said: why not just save money and parts and do it all at once and with a good tune. Tuning is everything! I've seen so many guys on here mess up their motors by just adding little upgrades and expecting their cars to run better and reliable, which is wrong! Just talking from experience, and i hate to see young kids mess up their cars...

Steve.

[95KA-Turbo]

I'd love to get more power from 2000-5000 rpms, but I'm perfectly aware just adding cams isn't going to give me the benefits of a stroker kit, haha.

If I could get some more action around 4k I'd be very happy as the car doesn't really feel like it pulls really good until 5-6K (in comparison to my friend's cars with cams).

I am thinking the 256/264 Toda set up is probably what I'll go for since the specs are similar to the HKS step 1s and they cost less.

I'm going to edit the Toda info at the top of the page for people who stumble upon this thread later.



edit:
DJ Cobra you posted in the middle of me posting, haha.

I understand a tune is important. If a reliable company advertises that their cam can be used safely and reliably on a stock car with stock valvetrain and ECU isn't that true? I'm not looking for a crazy cam set up, just something mild to go along with other mild modifications that will occur later.

[Z33dori]

i am glad this thread was made.

i think my buddy will be a lil disappointed once he gets his car running.

some very informative info

[kilamax03]

bumping this thread from the dead... so im in the same situation... i was looking at the BCs since they have the retainers and springs as a package but now im leaning twoards the hks.. but i need a lil more guidance on which cam set up i should get and should i keep the stock s14 sprockets?