camshaft identification help

Post Mon Apr 16, 2018 9:58 pm

Evening folks,

Does anyone know how to identify a c for an m20?

Been offered a cam for an m20 & the person selling it claims it's a Kent cams 278dg.

Had a look at it & the only "marks" I can find are.

A large faded "K" printed on it near the front end, there's nothing on the nose/sprocket end,

Also between pistons 2 & 3 there's "278" stamped on it.

Any ideas? If it is a "performance" cam as the seller claims I'll go for it.

So, anyone know??

Post Mon Apr 16, 2018 10:24 pm

the seller has just sent me a list of the markings on the cam,

they are.

on the nose/sprocket end, nothing

in front of piston #1 lobes "04" & "4" on opposite sides of the shaft also a large but faded K printed twice round the shaft.

between #2 & #3 lobes "278".

between #4 & #5 what looks like a triangle.

also between #4 & #5 on the opposite side of the shaft a red dot.

between #5 & #6 a brown dot.

then on the back end (normally hidden in the back of the head) is stamped the letter K.

also the only mention i can find of a 278 cam for the m20 is one fitted to the hartge H26.

safe to say i'm stumped.

Post Tue Apr 17, 2018 8:18 am

anyone?

surely some can help?

Post Tue Apr 17, 2018 8:48 am

I am sure you could get the angle within a degree or so by eye and a protractor looking along its length to check it is 278 that would solve one problem.

Kent Cams are still around maybe there is someone there that would remember the E30?

Post Tue Apr 17, 2018 9:01 am

flybynite wrote:I am sure you could get the angle within a degree or so by eye and a protractor looking along its length to check it is 278 that would solve one problem.

Kent Cams are still around maybe there is someone there that would remember the E30?

thanks for the, but i'm stumped when it comes to measuring a cam, any "simple" way of doing it?

Post Tue Apr 17, 2018 9:52 am

steve_k wrote: thanks for the, but i'm stumped when it comes to measuring a cam, any "simple" way of doing it?

To be pedantic you can roughly measure the separation angle by eye, Draw the angle on a piece of card and then cut a hole in the centre and a slot so it sits on the cam. look along the cam

The duration angle would be difficult to get accurately without a dial gauge and holding the cam so it can rotate but not move sideways (much easier mounted in a head)

You could measure the lift but again easier with a dial gauge.

Easier to talk to Kent Cams I think

Post Tue Apr 17, 2018 10:00 am

flybynite wrote:
steve_k wrote: thanks for the, but i'm stumped when it comes to measuring a cam, any "simple" way of doing it?
To be pedantic you can roughly measure the separation angle by eye, Draw the angle on a piece of card and then cut a hole in the centre and a slot so it sits on the cam. look along the cam

The duration angle would be difficult to get accurately without a dial gauge and holding the cam so it can rotate but not move sideways (much easier mounted in a head)

You could measure the lift but again easier with a dial gauge.

Easier to talk to Kent Cams I think

cheers dude i think i've got the gist of that, will give it a try,

also will email kent cams & see what they say,

thing is the only mention i can find of a 278 cam for the m20 is the one fitted to the hartge h26,

Post Tue Apr 17, 2018 7:31 pm

well after a day of phone calls (rang kent cams, they said it might not be one of their's), emails & general chasing about,

the seller managed to get hold of the guy he got the cam off,

turns out it was in a head off a hartge H26 from germany that had been brought over here for parts,
so, for a very "friendly" price i now have a 278* cam out of a H26 sat on the shelf in the shed,

might put it in one of the spare heads i have & see what it's like.

Post Fri Apr 20, 2018 10:50 am

might be a stock cam reground? they have K written on them. i think its for Katalysator (catalytic converter)

Post Fri Apr 20, 2018 12:45 pm

reggid wrote:might be a stock cam reground? they have K written on them. i think its for Katalysator (catalytic converter)

thats what i thought at first, but according to the owner/seller claims it came from a wrecked H26 but like you say it could be a regrind.

Post Fri Apr 20, 2018 6:29 pm

If the donor was a German H26, and the later version based on the 325i, then it would have had a cat. and a cam to suit?

Post Fri Apr 20, 2018 7:23 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:If the donor was a German H26, and the later version based on the 325i, then it would have had a cat. and a cam to suit?

thats my thinking, thing is i can find any info to suggest if there was a different cam profile used in either the cat equipped & non cat engines.