10 replies to this topic

[Minii_Matt]

Im looking at buying a reconditioned 1275 engine to replace my current 998. It will have a stage 1 kit and I want an uprated cam. The car will be used for everyday driving and I was thinking of getting either a Kent 266 or 276 cam. What cam would you recommend, and roughly what kind of power will I be looking at with my new engine?

Thanks,
Matt

[samsfern]

id go 276, its a great road cam with plenty of oomph. Its also worth getting a decent modified cylinder head, to get the best out of the camshaft.

Edited by samsfern, 25 October 2010 - 09:19 AM.

[AndyMiniMad.]

Im looking at buying a reconditioned 1275 engine to replace my current 998. It will have a stage 1 kit and I want an uprated cam. The car will be used for everyday driving and I was thinking of getting either a Kent 266 or 276 cam. What cam would you recommend, and roughly what kind of power will I be looking at with my new engine?

Thanks,
Matt

If you can get hold of a 1275 engine that you know is reasonable, ie: working. It may be cheaper than buying a reconditioned one!! Lets face it you will have to take it apart anyway in order to fit the cam...Oh and dont forget to fit new cam followers, An absolute must if fitting a new cam. And the 276 is a good cam for your spec.

Edited by AndyMiniMad., 25 October 2010 - 11:15 AM.

[danrock101]

If you're not going to get a 'stage 3' head then don't bother with a 276, you're better off with a SW5-07, not used a 266 although I did have one, if you're going to get a head and not bother doing anything with the bottom end, which is fine then I'd still recommend a tamer cam, as you don't want to be revving the nuts off a standard bottom end, they can still make good numbers and will make the engine a lot easier to drive. When I had a SW5-07 it was so tame I didn't even know it was there until I stripped the engine, I used to be able to get up most hills in 4th providing I wasn't doing something silly like 20mph, yet I've heard of quite a few 1380 engines with a semi decent head on + a SW5-07 make 100bhp + same torque. My engine made 58bhp at the wheels with a cooper S head, 1.5.1 rockers, cooper freeflow manifold onto a rc40 and hif44 on a mini spares inlet

[Minii_Matt]

I may look at getting a modified head at a later date, when funds allow. The recon 1275 I have found is of a decent price and I prefer the idea of buying that rather than a used engine as I know that there should be nothing wrong with it. The camshaft will be fitted during the refurbishment, so I will not have to take the engine apart myself. I am currently leaning towards the 276 cam as it seems to offer more power and potential to use with modded head, whilst retaining driveability, by the sound of things.

[Barman]

If you're not going to get a 'stage 3' head then don't bother with a 276, you're better off with a SW5-07, not used a 266 although I did have one, if you're going to get a head and not bother doing anything with the bottom end, which is fine then I'd still recommend a tamer cam, as you don't want to be revving the nuts off a standard bottom end, they can still make good numbers and will make the engine a lot easier to drive. When I had a SW5-07 it was so tame I didn't even know it was there until I stripped the engine, I used to be able to get up most hills in 4th providing I wasn't doing something silly like 20mph, yet I've heard of quite a few 1380 engines with a semi decent head on + a SW5-07 make 100bhp + same torque. My engine made 58bhp at the wheels with a cooper S head, 1.5.1 rockers, cooper freeflow manifold onto a rc40 and hif44 on a mini spares inlet

I'm so glad you posted!

I am rebuilding a 1275 GT with a stage 1 kit... I have the entire thing in bits and was just about to order the SW5-07!

[Southy]

I may look at getting a modified head at a later date, when funds allow. The recon 1275 I have found is of a decent price and I prefer the idea of buying that rather than a used engine as I know that there should be nothing wrong with it. The camshaft will be fitted during the refurbishment, so I will not have to take the engine apart myself. I am currently leaning towards the 276 cam as it seems to offer more power and potential to use with modded head, whilst retaining driveability, by the sound of things.

If you fancy the 276 I have one for sale

http://www.theminifo...ct/15598/cat/18

Brand new with followers and a vernier.

[Cooperman]

To get a 276 to perform as it can you really do need a bettter head. If you don't, you'll lose at the bottom end, but not compensate for that at the top end, as the cam is only there to allow the available mixture to flow in as well as possible, which it won't with a standard head. A 266 would be better with a standard head as you are then looking for stronger mid-range and the 266 will provide that.
If you do go for a 276, make sure the final drive ratio is 3.2 or lower or you might have trouble pulling away in traffic due to the high first gear.
I can't comment on SW cams as I've never worked with them. They don't publish timing figures and Kent do, so i like to use Kent cams as I've done now for 15 + years with excellent results.

[Minii_Matt]

How does the sw5-07 compare to the Kent cams, as this looks ideal for my engine spec? Also, how would it run on a standard head, until I get the money for modifications?
Thanks for the replies.

[Cooperman]

I always use the Kent Megadyne range. I can't say anything about other makes, but I've worked with Kent's products for over 20 years and have never had a problem. The last non-Kent cam I bought, a 649 from another supplier back in 1990, had poor hardening and the lobes rubbed away after a very short while. Changed then to a 286 and have never looked back. I'm sure the different makes have little overall differences in performance comparing like-for-like, but I just like the Kent product and they are a big enough organisation to be able to do development properly. Their range covers every application in a Mini from basic 850 up to full-on racing engine. if you have a question their tech-support engineers are most helpful. Some cam grinders won't even supply a cam timing chart, so how can one use their products without the knowledge of how it is likely to perform, or does one just believe the 'hype' and pay the money?
However, I have heard good things about the quality of the piper range as well.

[Barman]

How does the sw5-07 compare to the Kent cams, as this looks ideal for my engine spec? Also, how would it run on a standard head, until I get the money for modifications?
Thanks for the replies.

I thought the spec and stuff I had read elsewhere looked excellent (and reasonably priced too)...

I e-mailed Swiftune and asked if it would be a good cam for my 1275 GT with Stage 1 kit. I guess I wouldn't have expected them to say 'no, buy something else' but for what it is worth here is their reply...

Hi,

Yes, the SW5 will improve performance. You will have better torque and an allround more efficient engine. The idle is like standard with very smmoth driving performance.

Regards
Arnold

Hope that helps...