Installing a set of camshafts

So my new plan is to have my header, underdrive pulley with my new gatorback belt, and rabbit's set of coilover installed over spring break in the middle of march, along with the CF hood that I will do myself.

If we are able to get a group buy on them or if i can get a set some how (camshafts), what will have to be done to install them? Will I be better off doing the timing belt then as well? Should I also look at replacing the valves with some better made one? I was going to call the shop and see what they think but I wanted to ask you guys and rabbit, I am not sure how a camshaft install would go for the aveo, or what you would have to do/time it takes to install them?

you might have to pull the engine out to be able to install the camshafts

you do the camshafts, with the timing belt to eliminate over lap (have to take the pulleys off with the timing belt and cams).

you take the valve cover off, and then you take the cam caps off, and pull the cams out. i would probably suggest pulling the spark plugs, since you would be pulling all the valves in.. make sure your timing is perfect on them when you put it back together.

if you do it, you might need better springs, which you could probably find through the shop that makes the cam.
there are quite a few shops that do this if you dont mind regrind (nothing wrong with them really, best bet for the money).

Yeah, I forgot about the springs and retainers as well, does not seem to difficult then, a lot less work then what I thought, so it would only take a few hours if everything comes out right and goes back in right?

Any way, if you really want to make good use of a new camshaft you will need a custom programing of your ECU, not worth it if you ask me...

Xaio did it without it at first, if it will run right with them in then I will worry about it at a later time, I wish there was other ecu tuning options besides piggybacks but that is what I am going to have to use. No one even wants to buy underdrive pulleys :D

Just waiting a bit for money before I buy mine :P

Depending on what you up the duration to.. The computer can adjust.

All cams do (generically) is change the amounts of air able to be feed into the engine at what rpm, as long as you dont go beyond the sensors acceptable Limits, the fueling will be added to match. Also if the chip we've been talking about works, then that will multiply the power from the cams.

Ideally you'd want to optimize ignition timing too, but thats not a huge deal. You might have a bit of retard that isn't needed. However, I'm not 100% sure how most modern ECUs attempt to optimize timing vs using the knock sensor. I imagine they have to set timing they try to hit and if the knock sensor activates it backs timing off.

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Originally Posted by petrified.rabbit

Depending on what you up the duration to.. The computer can adjust.

All cams do (generically) is change the amounts of air able to be feed into the engine at what rpm, as long as you dont go beyond the sensors acceptable Limits, the fueling will be added to match. Also if the chip we've been talking about works, then that will multiply the power from the cams.

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That also corssed my mind as well, if that chip is added, the power would increase a lot more.

I wouldnt mind being able to get cams aswell but I have heard that if you get cams you need new rods and pistons aswell. Can anyone verify if that is entirely true? Hunter you buy another ECU yet? I really want to get that chip if it works for our car

no you shouldn't. its all about the limits on the interference engines and timing.

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Originally Posted by reddemonx92

I wouldnt mind being able to get cams aswell but I have heard that if you get cams you need new rods and pistons aswell. Can anyone verify if that is entirely true? Hunter you buy another ECU yet? I really want to get that chip if it works for our car

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I thought you were going down there :D

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Originally Posted by reddemonx92

I wouldnt mind being able to get cams aswell but I have heard that if you get cams you need new rods and pistons aswell. Can anyone verify if that is entirely true? Hunter you buy another ECU yet? I really want to get that chip if it works for our car

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You are thinking about getting a turbo. New set of cams won't increase the quantity of air getting into the engine enough to blow the engine because of the pressure... unless you have a very weak engine, but anything recent will be ok

well since you posted that, i guess i should clarify. if you have an engine with notched pistons for the valves to clear. its stock cam is like 256, and then you go add a 278 cam to it, your probably going to smack the valves off the pistons. because the valves stay open until the piston is far enough up to hit them before they close. so you need pistons with larger notches. (or just be able to notch your stock pistons further).

So what is recommended cam size for our engine and still gain power? And hunter I will be going down I just need the funds lol. Plus I need to buy a extra ecu incase it doesn't work.

ok haha, ecu wise they have them on ebay pretty cheap, but I am waiting on mainly my cams to go in before the ecu tune and dyno

i dont know the specs of your cams, or how they are timed to the engine to know where to add duration (on which side of the lobe) and how long without creating interference, plus you need to know the current lift and how much you can add..

a cam specialist could figure this out pretty quick i imagine..

Quick question on the cams guys, can we source the cams from the vauxhall/opel engines? They are GM engines and shud have some similarity!

i know the ecotec can use vauxhall cams.

if you have a vauxhall that is earlier to compare to, let us know, we do not have vauxhalls here.

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Originally Posted by thehunterooo

Xaio did it without it at first, if it will run right with them in then I will worry about it at a later time, I wish there was other ecu tuning options besides piggybacks but that is what I am going to have to use. No one even wants to buy underdrive pulleys :D

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I am SO down for buying an underdrive pulley... even if I do get a professional to install it! Possibly have the funds in February! Cams would be a ways off, but I am taking notes! ;) The chip you refer to; izzit one that's widely available for sale? Last I heard, they were all ripoffs; most just over-ride the ecu to allow more gas, which is bad for the engine... (right?) Any GOOD chips for say, an 08?

i found a tuned ecu option for the same engine as the etecII aveo overseas, and there are US dealers that can install it. But we need someone to test to see if it works. (this would require buying a second ecu just in case, <$100 off ebay, just to be safe) The tuner has already stated if it doesn't work (they have a satisfaction guarantee) that you wouldnt need to pay them for the tune.

The chip is advertised for $350, so if it works you would have $450 into the first one. (you could probably sell the second ECU tuned on here to someone without a local dealer). If it doesnt work, you spent $100 and fried an ecu. (i also said to put the ebay ecu in for the tune to "save" the original for backup).

so probably going to a cam specialist would cost like $500? or more?

Not that much, unless he is making your cams as well :D

If we could get a group buy going...I know we have at least 3 people in lol

I think I might stop by a local place to see if they are interested in making a batch

prices will depend on what they do and how they do it. if you can find some specs from xiogarys cams, or look on daewotech, there are people who have already done this, an may be able to pass along a set of cams to you, or get the info of where you can get them.

I thought the cams the had on daewotech was a different car aswell. But worth looking into.

different car, same engine.

This ecu sounds really interesting... I'd almost volunteer for being a guinea pig, but I just dropped all the money I had saved up on the car's down payment! :p It's gonna be a little here, a little there. ;) But I'll be excited to hear how that works! :)

Red is working out details slowly. But we are working on it. If he hasnt done it by summer, maybe ill have him and hunter come down to miami while i am there and do it (since thats were their closest shop is).

Yea i am just working out what kind of number is needed so they can compare the ECUs to see if the chip will work on our ECUs. I contacted the distributor here in Florida and they said if the Headquarters in North Carolina aproves, they will go ahead and chip the ECU. I contacted the headquarters and the asked for me to give them an ECU number. I have to call again to reclarify some stuff about where i go about finding the specific number they need.