The lift is a function of lobe height *and* base circle diameter.
You cannot assume one cam has higher lift because the lobe is taller.
You need to measure the lobe height and base circle on both cams to get an
accurate lift value.
Easy answer- measure the smallest part of the lobe and the largest part,
subtract those numbers.  Viola, you have the lift.

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Ken Wilford
Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2009 2:13 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
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