A5INKY
Vendor , w/Business number
This premature cam failure issue has been the subject of much research by some on this forum. I have learned quite a bit from the liturally hundreds of posts I have read. Just starting a new thread after an interesting conversation I had with Geoff at Colt Cams today.
I approached Colt for a regrind cam after learning on this site about their improved lobe profiles, parkerize coating and increased performance. Geoff told me that he had done many cams for the BEW engine but not the BRM. He finally had a chance to compare the BRM to the BEW cams and made some interesting observations.
Long story short, this Colt BEW cam might offer a significant gain in cam longevity in the BRM engine.
That is not to say that the cam bearing and oiling modifications are not also parts of the puzzle along with oil and ZDDP. I plan on considering the bearing mods and will definitely change to M1 TDT with Cam Shield ZDDP additive as well.
Geoff is shipping me out a BEW stage II cam today. Due to my schedule, I may not be able to get the change done for a couple weeks but will post updates as the project progresses.
My appologies for any redundant info here if this has been done before. Just that Geoff had only just figured out this difference in the last day or two. I am emailing a link to this thread to Geoff. He said he would keep an eye on it and be happy to answer any questions.
I approached Colt for a regrind cam after learning on this site about their improved lobe profiles, parkerize coating and increased performance. Geoff told me that he had done many cams for the BEW engine but not the BRM. He finally had a chance to compare the BRM to the BEW cams and made some interesting observations.
- The intake and exhaust valve lobes share common timing, lift and duration. However, the injector lobes are quite different. He explained that the valve lobes are a bad profile for hydraulic followers due to a very poor transition off the base circle to the ramp portion, pretty much insuring failure.
- The BRM cam injector lobes have a similar transition problem coupled with a very aggressive ramp. This is quite different than the injector lobe on the BEW cam which he claims is a superior design and execution.
- Major difference that makes the BEW cam "better" is the transition and gentler ramp. However, the BEW injector lobe has about 0.010" less lift.
Long story short, this Colt BEW cam might offer a significant gain in cam longevity in the BRM engine.
That is not to say that the cam bearing and oiling modifications are not also parts of the puzzle along with oil and ZDDP. I plan on considering the bearing mods and will definitely change to M1 TDT with Cam Shield ZDDP additive as well.
Geoff is shipping me out a BEW stage II cam today. Due to my schedule, I may not be able to get the change done for a couple weeks but will post updates as the project progresses.
My appologies for any redundant info here if this has been done before. Just that Geoff had only just figured out this difference in the last day or two. I am emailing a link to this thread to Geoff. He said he would keep an eye on it and be happy to answer any questions.