16 replies to this topic

[SmellyGeekBoy]

Hi all! Looking to pick your brains on some options for "hot" cams for a 1275 A+ engine from an MG Metro. But first a little backstory that'll probably explain what I'm after a bit better:

A few years back I had a City which I plonked a bog standard MG A+ engine in, and fitted with a Maniflow 1.75" exhaust and LCB. It was fairly quick but not really quick enough, but I was young and that was pretty much the highest level of modification that I could insure.

Fast forward 5 years and I've now got my hands on a 1974 Clubman which has been fully restored, and am looking to turn it into a "street sleeper" - eg, standard and classic-looking on the outside, but with a fairly beefy engine. However, I'd like to stick with the A+ rather than a VTEC etc for originality and to save myself some money.

The engine I've been building up so far has a big valve gas-flowed head (can find out the sizes of the valves if it's relevant), and the Maniflow LCB and 1.75" exhaust with K&N cone filter. I'm sticking with the standard SU carb (I think it's a HIF44) as it's less fiddly than a Weber or twin carb setup, but if it's entirely necessary I'd consider something else.

Now, I'm looking at a fast road / mild race type cam to go into the thing. Like I say, I'm after a fair bit of power as insurance is no longer an issue, and I will be track daying the car and would like at least some small chance of keeping up with the old man in his 1.8 Zetec Westfield...

But I'll also be driving the car to and from work, (mainly country lanes and no sitting around in town, mind) so I'd rather it didn't sound like a bag of spanners when idling.

Any advice at all?

Thanks a lot!

Edited by SmellyGeekBoy, 13 September 2008 - 06:33 PM.

[mk1leg]

Purchase a SW5 Kit its the best cam arround.......................

[Sleepy Stu]

Yep have heard good things about the SW5

[SmellyGeekBoy]

Cheers guys, I had read this elsewhere on the forums but wanted to be sure. Plus, it's only £227 from Swiftune themselves with the duplex timing kit and everything!

Bargain.

(Link for future reference: http://www.swiftune....uplex-kit.aspx)

Anyone else used this cam in a similar setup and know how much power gain I can realistically expect?

Again, thanks for the help.

Edited by SmellyGeekBoy, 13 September 2008 - 06:31 PM.

[pantera2075]

The cam isn't necessarily the best thing to change first. The std MG metro one is pretty good to begin with. Really, you want a better head first.

And if you want power from an a-series to get anywhere near a standard vtec you'd better have deep pockets - it'll cost thousands.

[SmellyGeekBoy]

I already have the head done. It's a "stage 4" head from what I've been told (it was done by a local specialist). I'm thinking that after the head work and the intake/exhaust system, a cam would probably be the next logical step.

I'm well aware that I'm not going to get VTEC levels of power out of an A-series without silly mods (the KAD twin cam head springs to mind). I've looked into it quite a lot and it's probably cheaper to just stick a VTEC in there if I'm going for silly levels of power. That said, I'm quite happy to splash some cash to squeeze as much as possible out of my 1275, because I'd rather stick with the A-series for originality's sake.

They're also a lot easer to work on when they have problems!

Edited by SmellyGeekBoy, 15 September 2008 - 09:46 AM.

[mini_kel]

I`m using a 296 now with 45 weber and think it`s great. why not go for something a little wilder than the sw5 maybe sw10 or 296, Idle is not a problem imo!!

[pantera2075]

Do they still do the 649 scatter cam? (Showing my age now).

[SmellyGeekBoy]

I'm more than happy to go for something wild, like I say I don't spend any time sitting in traffic anyway. It was my Dad that put me off anyhting too wild as he had a racing cam "back in the day" and he reckons it used to make the engine run really badly at lower revs. That said, this was 40 years ago and I'm sure the technology has come on a bit since then!

So you're running a Weber? I was given a Weber by a friend (45 I think) with a load of other Mini bits. Just needs a rebuild. I wasn't going to bother with it because the guy at Min-its in Solihull said the HIF44 was good for up to 120BHP, and there's no way I'm going to squeeze that out of a 1275. Do you think the Weber is a worthwhile mod? Are they tricky to look after?

[joker]

sounds like its gonna be good to me.

how about boring the 1275 out?

have you considered forced induction?

if not, how about filling the back of the car with a-series engines?

[SmellyGeekBoy]

Been reading some other comments on the SW5 elsewhere on the forums and I'm not so sure now. Perhaps a 276+ (not so sure about the 296) or a SW10 would be the better choice.

[SmellyGeekBoy]

sounds like its gonna be good to me.

how about boring the 1275 out?

have you considered forced induction?

if not, how about filling the back of the car with a-series engines?

LOL,

I've thought about maybe going to 1380, but not sure if it's cost effective. Although I'd like to not have to change the engine again once it's in... I have until around Christmas to decide exactly what I want.

I thought about maybe the Jonspeed supercharger kit instead. Trouble is, I have no idea what I actually want!

[Sleepy Stu]

Yeah if you dont mind a slightly lumpy idle then definatly go for the SW10 it will still be very driveable!!

[mini_kel]

I'm more than happy to go for something wild, like I say I don't spend any time sitting in traffic anyway. It was my Dad that put me off anyhting too wild as he had a racing cam "back in the day" and he reckons it used to make the engine run really badly at lower revs. That said, this was 40 years ago and I'm sure the technology has come on a bit since then!

So you're running a Weber? I was given a Weber by a friend (45 I think) with a load of other Mini bits. Just needs a rebuild. I wasn't going to bother with it because the guy at Min-its in Solihull said the HIF44 was good for up to 120BHP, and there's no way I'm going to squeeze that out of a 1275. Do you think the Weber is a worthwhile mod? Are they tricky to look after?

The HIF44 is ideal for what you are after. I just fancied having the 45 because i could, as it was sitting in the workshop not being used!

[Broomer]

286 Be a man.