Is the old one stock ?
When speaking of cam lobes it's 'lift' and 'duration'.
The height of the lobe translates directly to valve lift.
More at the cam lobe equals more at the valve.
So that's not something valve lifers are going to make up for
...........they just maintain clearance, .......no affect on total lift.
Possibly that's why there are  also culled 'followers'  sometimes.

are the rockers stock ?  Just occurred to me that it could have, or needs
....'ratio rockers'.

I'd check the part number of the new cam.
I never depend on just my local dealer for good parts VW info.
I sometimes call a dealer in Canada that I've been dealing with over 20
years........and they are sharp. I often get a different story from them
than I do my local small VW parts dept . .
also .......Rennie.......
on the syncro list, He is one smart vw parts guy.  I believe it's what he
does full time professionally.
You'd think it would be some variation of wrong new part, or old parts are
not stock, or both.
Scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ken Wilford" <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2009 11:13 AM
Subject: Question about 2.1l Cam

> Dear List,
>
> OK, here is the "problem" I am having.  A customer is rebuilding his
> 2.1l engine.  He wanted a new cam shaft.  The only source I have is VW
> so I got him a brand new, in the VW box, camshaft for the 2.1l.  When he
> gets it he says he has a problem.  The problem is that his old cam shaft
> lobes are slightly larger than this new one's lobes.  Is this a
> problem?  What I am thinking is that the valve adjustment should be able
> to deal with this minor difference.  Maybe there is a reason the newer
> cam shaft has slightly smaller lobes than the old one (like some type of
> update in design).  Can anyone help me out with this?  I would normally
> just call my good friend Bob Donalds on this one and chat with him for a
> while.  I sure do miss that guy!
>
> Thank you ahead of time for any advice you can give.
>
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> www.vanagain.com