There is an adjustable cam gear for the in line 4 that would shift the power
band down to a more casual shifting point

Bob Donalds
Boston Engine

----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Hanson" <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2007 9:22 AM
Subject: Camshaft rap...as pertains to the inline 4/van transplant motor

>  Some asked.
> The camshaft I stuck into my 92 Cabriolet motor, after a bit of reading
> and
> research, was an Autotech 260 Sport Hydro lifter camshaft from Autotech in
> S.J. Capistrano, Ca.  $129.00.
>   There's a very large body  of  knowledge about what works and how to
> improve the Inline four VW motor.  When, due to my own errors and
> unfamiliarity with the Vanagon cooling system, I overheated (pretty
> severely) my motor and caused a blown headgasket, I checked into what I
> could improve easily as I replaced my headgasket..The 260 degree
> (duration?)
> camshaft was widely mentioned by various sources as a very viable
> modification to the 1.8 liter street motor..There were half dozen sources,
> with varying costs, for camshafts configured like this and I chose
> Autotech
> for price...After checking that they have a good rep, also.  The swap
> added
> perhaps an hour to my repair time for the headgasket (about 3-4 hours,
> total)
>  With this 'mild' cam, you can not detect any difference at idle or at
> startup.  It is noticeable at (guessing-no tach yet) about 4000rpm, where
> now there is a definite 'strong spot' that lasts to my 'seat of the pants'
> redline that I am guessing is around 6500-7000 rpm.  The cam uses the
> standard lifters and no different springs, suggesting it's got a fairly
> conservative profile..I've not noticed any valve float, the motor simply
> runs out of 'breath' and gives up winding any higher at that rpm..
>  Of note is that if you want, you can still "lug" the motor like a WBX and
> plunk around at low rpms without any hesitation...I often do, figuring
> that
> of the millions of small inline four VWs in use world wide..a large
> percentage are still working, and are being abused just like that everyday
> for years and years..Must be stong enough to take it, right?
>  FWIW....The parts and technology is available and cheap (relatively) to
> make whatever power you want (within reason) from the I-4 motors.  Lots of
> 250hp cars running out on the streets and I saw one on the dyno making
> almost 500hp..
>  Don Hanson