Changing the camshaft

Anyone know anything about camming a mk1? ive been thinking about it, mines a 1.8 8v.. but looking on the pipercams website i can only find one for mk1 gti's.. are they the same cam? or are they slightly different being fuel injected? Also would i have to change all the valves and everything else etc? cheers

Sibbi said

mines a 1.8 8v..

Clipper (carburettor) or GTI? I am guessing yours is a Clipper, engine code EX, from the way you have phrased the rest of your post.

Check if yours is hydraulic or mechanical tappets - do a search for the difference and how to tell. You can use a GTI or hotter aftermarket cam in a clipper but you'd need to match type eg mech or hyd. And you'd ideally need to re-jet the carb or tweak the FI to get the best from it. This may require a rolling road session.

Forgot to add, GTI cam is different to clipper cam. Also there's many slight variations of GTI cam profile over the years the engine (code DX) was around.

Yeah 1.8 8v carb.. the code on mine is WWO? Not sure what it must have come out of, but cant be the original lump.. And im pretty sure its a mechanical tappets.. is it better if it was hydraulic then? cheers advice mate

That sounds like a part number, not a code. Who am I to say what kind of tappets are better? I suppose these days, hydraulic don't need adjustment and are quieter….but mechanical cams can be more agressive so more performance.

Right, it must be as you said above a EX lump.. Also you said theres so many variations of the GTI cam over the years? Im starting to think about just leaving it alone.. Just after something to give the engine a bit more grunt.. Do you know of anything else thats reasonably cheap and relatively easy to do? cheers!

Not buy a Clipper? Or be happy with its performance as-is? It should be powerful enough for the job. If not, then seek a GTI cabby.

Maybe an exhaust swop and a good service would pep up the clipper a bit?

From my knowlege of the clipper, you can put the fast road cams in with no issues as they are not specific to certain years. As paul said you just need to ensure you run the correct cam/follower combo.

T.B.H your asking the wrong people about doing anything with the clipper, the buy a GTI answer always gets rolled out….. :roll:

This is not really an option for most people!

Anything is possible, depending on budget, I am running a fairly modified engine in my clipper, built up over the last couple of years with bits both new and old, the only cost effective way of doing it, paying out for all new would be madness when considering the pounds to BHP reward.

Fitting a cam in a stock engine would have limited gains, the stock air cleaner and exhaust are very restrictive.

I am pleased with the results from my car so far, despite being told that I wouldn't gain much!

Yeah ive gone of the idea of changing the cam, due to the hasle of everything! is there anyway of tweaking the carb to get some more grunt? Im very happy with the performance of it as it is! but was just wondering if there was any is easy mods to do to get a bit more out of her.. thanks for all the advice!