Installing cams - difficult?

Maccy · 10 Dec 2008 at 22:39

Now I'm not that mechanically minded but would like to know how difficult is the above procedure? Obviously going to a mechanic would cost me a few bob so if I can do this myself to save me a few that would be great.
I've got some cams from a 1.3 Micra to fit to my 1.0 Micra, supposed to be a good 'mod' to do and as they were practically given to me by another club member I thought why not

So if anyone has any experience in doing this and could share some ideas, that'd be great

Ricochet J · 10 Dec 2008 at 23:03

What kind of benefits are you expecting to see when this mod is complete?

moss · 10 Dec 2008 at 23:17

Tbh, its probably not worth the hassle involved, the CG10DE and CG13DE are both chain driven, which is a bit trickier than removing a timing belt.

Begbie · 10 Dec 2008 at 23:18

How much BHP are you going to see, if any?

moss · 10 Dec 2008 at 23:19

Begbie said:
How much BHP are you going to see, if any?

IIRC the 1.0 is 54bhp and the 1.3 74bhp, so I really cant see it improving all that much.

gurusan · 10 Dec 2008 at 23:21

modding a 54hp car :confused:

I was bored silly with 175hp in about 1050kg and vowed never to purchase a car under 200hp/ton again.

loltim · 10 Dec 2008 at 23:50

Do the 54 and 74bhp cars both run on the same engine management (computer) then?

Griffo · 10 Dec 2008 at 23:53

gurusan said:
modding a 54hp car

I was bored silly with 175hp in about 1050kg and vowed never to purchase a car under 200hp/ton again.

I was bored having the lurpak melt in the kitchen and get too hard in the fridge so I went back to Clover as they took the HVO out.

haha, I can't believe a car can have 54bhp! Man the Micra I learnt in must have been around that mark then! I'm sure I've seen some cats that generate more power. But that's beside the point... or is it? I'd say it's a lot of hassle unless it weighs 2oz or you really want the experience whilst learning on a cheap car/cat.

rypt · 10 Dec 2008 at 23:54

gurusan said:
modding a 54hp car

I was bored silly with 175hp in about 1050kg and vowed never to purchase a car under 200hp/ton again.

Yer, which is why you currently hold no valid license

moss · 10 Dec 2008 at 23:57

Tim said:
Do the 54 and 74bhp cars both run on the same engine management (computer) then?

Im not 100% sure if they are identical, but my mate has used both a 1.0 Micra and 1.6 Primera (CG16) ECU on his 1.3 Micra and it ran fine.

moss · 10 Dec 2008 at 23:58

Griffo said:
haha, I can't believe a car can have 54bhp! Man the Micra I learnt in must have been around that mark then! I'm sure I've seen some cats that generate more power.

Although its slow, theres many slower cars around than 1.0 Micras.

loltim · 11 Dec 2008 at 00:00

moss said:
Im not 100% sure if they are identical, but my mate has used both a 1.0 Micra and 1.6 Primera (CG16) ECU on his 1.3 Micra and it ran fine.

Might have ran fine but surely he'll want to be making small adjustments to take advantage of the new cams?

Maccy · 11 Dec 2008 at 00:22

I didn't ask for people's opinions, I asked about the job in hand. Thought the motors forum was good for advice

OpenToSuggestions · 11 Dec 2008 at 00:27

I have a 1litre micra like you, its the 59hp engine though with the coil packs that I have.

I know of the mod you mean, I would not bother, as there may be be some issues when idle?

Tbh pretty much every engine that is not the best of the range - just sell the car and get a 1.4 micra.

For example a 1.8 mondeo - You want more power, you just sell it and buy a 2.5v6 or 3.0v6 mondeo first

Not much use modding the smallest engine of the range car

Hxc · 11 Dec 2008 at 00:28

54hp! How much does it weigh? Must take a while to get moving

OpenToSuggestions · 11 Dec 2008 at 00:31

Hxc said:
54hp! How much does it weigh? Must take a while to get moving

The 59hp one has 59lbs of torque, coupled with stupidly long gear ratios means it is crap to drive.

As an A to B car as the only requirement it is hard to beat for economy and reliability. It is no fun to drive, no aircon, no power, got to thrash it on carriageways to get up to speed (well fast enough for other drivers not to honk at you) etc etc.

As soon as I am done with uni, never again will I own a car with the smallest engine of the range.

Maccy · 11 Dec 2008 at 00:39

Why would I sell the car when it's in good nick, only just done 50k and is a great runaround and a great first car? I enjoy driving it and like it, that's all that matters to me.
I ask a question and all I get is replies telling me it's pointless, disappointed

gareth.e · 11 Dec 2008 at 00:47

Maccy said:
Why would I sell the car when it's in good nick, only just done 50k and is a great runaround and a great first car? I enjoy driving it and like it, that's all that matters to me.
I ask a question and all I get is replies telling me it's pointless, disappointed

To summarise for you:
- If you want to learn about your car then do it. (it is not that straight forward as it is chain driven)
- If you are expecting a reasonable performance increase then you are barking up the wrong tree... Buy a better car.

Begbie · 11 Dec 2008 at 00:50

I think people are mainly trying to save you some time and effort bud, not be arses just to be arses.

adam cool dude · 11 Dec 2008 at 01:45

Speaking from experience putting new cams into my SRD20DE (Chain driven too) was a pig of a job and im not bad with a spanner and i had a friend to help who had worked on the engine before in his 200sx. Slapping them in is the easy part but getting them to run right is the hard part.