TDIMeister
Phd of TDIClub Enthusiast, Moderator at Large
First of all, do not interpret what I post below as being any kind of "advice". You need to do the homework yourself, and I won't be responsible if you go ahead and do anything that comes out of what you read.
I have maintained a database of about 80 OEM and aftermarket camshafts for 8V VWs, both gasser and Diesel, for about the last 6 years. Many of the physical dimensions between gasser- and diesel VWs are similar if not identical, and this is also true spanning over the generations of VW engines since the 1970s until today.
There's a question about whether some aftermarket gasser camshaft profiles will work in a TDI or not. Having done a lot of analysis (although admittedly no testing in hardware), I can say that they won't, at least not without significant clearancing of the piston valve pockets, and likely also the lifter bosses. Even if you were able to get on to physically fit without interference, the engine will likely run very poorly with it.
However, several years ago, tdi rs let on from his experience of using a gasser VW 8V cam, that certain gasser cams will not only fit on the TDI, but run pretty well...
So, I'm here to propose to anyone who wants to try it... to try to get a camshaft from the A3 2.0 8V (048 109 101D). Alternatively, 050 109 101A, 026 109 101G, 026 109 101A, in roughly that order.
The secret no cam vendor will tell you is that these OEM cams have almost the same timings as cams being sold as aftermarket TDI performance upgrades. I'm not for a second saying that they are using exactly the same camshafts and simply re-packaging them; what I AM saying is that the publicly-available cam timings are, as I have analysed, very similar. If nothing else, you get a nice bonus of extra valve lift. Stock TDI is about 8.5mm; the above listed cams start at around 10mm (.393"), and go bigger from there.
Let me warn again: this is NOT a bolt-on!! It has not be tried by myself! Machining work will likely be required to the cam, cylinder head, and/or pistons!
I have maintained a database of about 80 OEM and aftermarket camshafts for 8V VWs, both gasser and Diesel, for about the last 6 years. Many of the physical dimensions between gasser- and diesel VWs are similar if not identical, and this is also true spanning over the generations of VW engines since the 1970s until today.
There's a question about whether some aftermarket gasser camshaft profiles will work in a TDI or not. Having done a lot of analysis (although admittedly no testing in hardware), I can say that they won't, at least not without significant clearancing of the piston valve pockets, and likely also the lifter bosses. Even if you were able to get on to physically fit without interference, the engine will likely run very poorly with it.
However, several years ago, tdi rs let on from his experience of using a gasser VW 8V cam, that certain gasser cams will not only fit on the TDI, but run pretty well...
So, I'm here to propose to anyone who wants to try it... to try to get a camshaft from the A3 2.0 8V (048 109 101D). Alternatively, 050 109 101A, 026 109 101G, 026 109 101A, in roughly that order.
The secret no cam vendor will tell you is that these OEM cams have almost the same timings as cams being sold as aftermarket TDI performance upgrades. I'm not for a second saying that they are using exactly the same camshafts and simply re-packaging them; what I AM saying is that the publicly-available cam timings are, as I have analysed, very similar. If nothing else, you get a nice bonus of extra valve lift. Stock TDI is about 8.5mm; the above listed cams start at around 10mm (.393"), and go bigger from there.
Let me warn again: this is NOT a bolt-on!! It has not be tried by myself! Machining work will likely be required to the cam, cylinder head, and/or pistons!
