Looking into a camshaft

[dougkehl]

Hey everyone,

I'm looking into getting a new camshaft for my 84 Rabbit Convertible to put a little more pep in its step.

I have been doing my reading on camshafts and how they work and how to choose the right one, but I figured I'd get some opinions to help me pick.

So here is the state of my motor: completely stock except for the exhaust haha. Like I said I'm just looking to put a little more pep in the motor so I was just thinking of getting a 260 cam from techtonics or something because its nice and light and would work well with a stock motor. I'm just seeking opinions from more knowledgable people.

[briano1234]

I know a few with that cam, and they enjoy it.

[DjDazer]

Im new to the VW scene so idk much about the brand's just yet but here's website's ive found!
http://www.myhotvw.com/
http://www.discountvdubparts.com/
http://www.vwheritage.com/
http://www.autoanything.com/
http://www.ngpracing.com/store/index.php
http://www.germanautoparts.com/
http://www.autohausaz.com/index.html
http://napaonline.com/default.aspx
http://store.blackforestindustries.com/
http://www.partsplaceinc.com/
http://www.rabbitparts.com/

And here is a thread where i got most of the site's thanks to Flav!
http://volkswagenownersclub.com/vw/s...-Vendor-Source...

[jettncab]

An upgraded camshaft is just a start: http://www.cabby-info.com/engine.htm#Upgrades .

[dougkehl]

Haha Kam I know is just a start! I have a custom fabricated full exhaust with a header and the cat deleted already which is LOUD and it actually helped the car out a bit to my surprise, but if only I had more money I would be putting a lot more than a camshaft in the car haha. If I had the money it would mean business time and I would just build almost the equivalent of an 8v race motor hahaha.

But the car has a 1.8L JH engine so it has the hydraulic lifters in it and there is a wide range of cams for the hydraulic as well as solid lifter engines as I assume most of you know. I'm just trying to make sure I don't put a cam that's too aggressive for a stock motor in there. Because as I said I was reading about cams, and apparently the more aggressive the cam is in terms of duration or something like that, the motor will want more compression. And at the moment I can't afford some 10:1 or 11:1 pistons haha. I just want to know everyone's feeling or experience with the 260 cam or what they have done in terms of a camshaft upgrade.

[dougkehl]

Well Brian said he knows a couple people with the Techtonics 260 cam and that they like it. Does anybody know anyone with an Autotech 270 cam? And if it works well with a stock motor?

[jettncab]

But the car has a 1.8L JH engine so it has the hydraulic lifters in it

All stop. Before buying an upgraded camshaft (or any other engine parts), know for certain what your engine is. The JH engine was solid lifter from '84-'87; from '88 onward it was hydraulic. So, if your Rabbit has its original JH, it will be a solid lifter. There are two ways to verify this: 1) Pull the valve cover off:



2) Look at the cylinder head part number. A solid lifter JH will be 026103373F or 026103373H.

According to (and others) http://www.autotech.com/prod_engine_camvt.htm#8vcams , a good solid lifter upgrade is the Euro GTI 283 cam (aka G-grind cam). No matter what cam you go with, you'll want to check the valve clearance.

[dougkehl]

Thanks Kam! I know for sure its a JH motor and it is original to the car. I ready that on cabby-info.com but I just went and checked again and I realized three things. One being that I read the page wrong and two that the JH motor was used from 84 until 93, they just switched to hydro lifters in 88 like you said, and three that I now know for sure I have a solid lifter motor base upon the picture you posted.

I remember changing my valve cover gasket a while back and my engine has all five bearing caps. It's not "missing" the fourth one like it would be if it was a hydro motor.

Thank you again Kam, you just saved me from what would have been a huge problem. If you didn't post that I would have been the dummy to not check to be sure of what kind of motor I have a second time, just to be sure, and I would have bought the wrong cam haha.

[jettncab]

Thank you again Kam, you just saved me from what would have been a huge problem.

That's what I'm here for!