Actual 998 Chat about rebuilds

[Exminiman]

Ok, machining all sorted, now +20.

Can anyone recommend a cam close to std and is it worth fitting a duplex timing setup?

Racers will fit Simplex to reduce rotational weight, but in a road car, I would go for Duplex, I dont think Simplex is likely to break, but long term, Duplex is likely to be less prone to stretching and rattling.

[Costafortune]

Another vote for the evo 1 or alternatively Calvers CST229 is a good bet too.

Personally I put duplex's on all my engines, not sure whether it's really necessary though.

997 type cam isn’t quite the same as the 998 so will the dizzy need re curving?

Please excuse my ignorance!

Absolutely.

The 998 Cooper camshaft is very timid (230/252?) from the Austin 1100. BMC undoubtedly fitted this to restrict power to 55 bhp or so. You only have to compare period road tests to see how much faster it was than a 997.

The 997 Cooper/MG Metro cam is 252/252 degrees and that cam has been improved further still.

[snoopy64]

As previous posted.. I’m not looking for more performance.. just yeh closest modern equivalent to what I had (not confident in having the old cam reprofiled and treated)

Would the infamous sw5 be better low down or is that another 997 variant?

[OzOAP]

Choices to liven up a 998, but still very civilised, would be....Piper 255, then either EVO1 or 567.
No more than 10.5:1 CR

[tweedy998]

Many moons ago, my cam of choice for my 998's was the Kent MD266, it's a cam I really enjoyed at the time, but it definitely moved power and torque further up the rev range. This was in the days before the Calver and Minispares items existed and these are more than likely better cams now for all round road use.

[Peter Laidler]

Good thread for 998 Cooper and standard 1000 car owners wanting to keep them almost standard - and civilised. I like your take on this subject Snoopy. I'm following it with interest if I get this bloody late 1970 reg Cooper that I want to get my hands on.....

[snoopy64]

It’s messing with my head Peter, lots of info but I haven’t distilled it to a conclusion yet!!

[Peter Laidler]

Yep....., know wot you mean. I have been printing the thread off and one windy and rainy evening I'll sit down with a glass of fine Scotch and condense it into a rough book.

I am taking on board what Minisprinter and Costa Brava have to say about cams.

[Costafortune]

It’s messing with my head Peter, lots of info but I haven’t distilled it to a conclusion yet!!

I understand about not wanting to modify it, but you can tweak a 998 to great effect making it a bit more lively without ruining it. Just 5-10 bhp, a bit more torque but still the same idle and flexibility.

[snoopy64]

If that’s a side effect of fitting what’s best available then great…but struggling what’s the easiest option

[cabrio1275]

Rob Walker (ex Oselli) Engineering is now part of the Fiennes group based in Lechlade.

[mk1]

As previous posted.. I’m not looking for more performance.. just yeh closest modern equivalent to what I had (not confident in having the old cam reprofiled and treated)

Would the infamous sw5 be better low down or is that another 997 variant?

In all fairness, if you ask a question like this, you are always going to get a range of answers, on here thankfully, a less wide range of answers than you would have seen on FB or somewhere similar, but still a range.

There have been some excellent suggestions on here, although my original choice was Calver's tweeked 997 cam, the Evo1 & the SW5 are both really decent options too, they are mild-ish cams that pull from next to nothing & will work very well in your engine. TBH, the difference between them is probably close to imperceptible apart from on a dyno. You have been lucky that Oz an engine builder of great renown, has shared his experience on the subject. As he has probably built more engine than the rest of us put together his is probably a really, really good suggestion.

Another alternative is to find someone with a low mileage 1100 & get a standard cam out of that. There must be thousands of unloved & unwanted 1100 / 998 Cooper camshafts about, I am sure I have at least 1. Personally, this is NOT a route I'd go down, but it is an option for a good standard cam that hasn't been mentioned.

Personally, I reckon that there is a danger of overthinking this! They are all decent cams, they will all do what you want them to do & the differences we are talking about are probably very small indeed.

M

[snoopy64]

Thank you for steadying the ship Mark, I was starting to get there myself.. there has been some great feedback

[snoopy64]

Thought I would share where I’m up to… now have some shiny lumps to sort out, machined at Classic & Modern Bracknell…

[mk1]

That is looking fantastic!

Did you come to any conclusion on the cam?

M

[snoopy64]

Thanks Mark.. very pleased so far hoping to get the box back on tonight..snow permitting.., the poll was close so it was down to availability at the time so I have a SW5 to put in and try…

[snoopy64]

It’s coming together, few issues with quality of lock tabs, oil pump, gaskets and seals!!! But moving in the right direction…

[snoopy64]

Ok, nearly there….the plastic boxes of bits are nearly empty

[snoopy64]

Docking complete! Tomorrow is fire up day!

[WMU 211G]

Good luck!