Good cam choice for a 1275 S

[rolesyboy]

Just unbuttoned my 1275 S engine. All good but fitted with +30 AE pistons and a 731 cam. As I recall this is a bit of an all or nothing cam and so I would like to replace it (never used either- grrrr!) I want a car that is lively and useable for odd days out or trips to shows. Any 21st century suggestions and recommended suppliers.

Cheers. Mark

[In the shed]

Personally, I'd stick a 649 in it.

It sounds like you are erring on the side of boring, so MG Metro cam?

[rolesyboy]

Boring??? I guess this comes with age I have never driven a car with a 731 cam so if you know otherwise please let me know. Who sells 649's nowadays?

[Smiffy]

Boring??? I guess this comes with age I have never driven a car with a 731 cam so if you know otherwise please let me know. Who sells 649's nowadays?

Had a 731 in a 1380 and I liked it, got a 649 in now and thats better. Still available from kent cams 530.

[Pete]

As I recall this is a bit of an all or nothing cam

Other way round it's a mild mid range cam. All depends on what you want at the end of it and what combination of other tweeks you're gonna use with it. It's all very well sticking a 649 race/rally cam in a race/rally engine but you may well start to regret it after half an hour going through traffic in a road car with straight cuts, comp clutch, induction noise, stiff suspension etc, it could do your shed in ! Maybe I'm just getting old .

SW5 seems to be the best all rounder I'd say and is a useable road cam..

[mk1]

Agree with Pete a Swifty SW5 is the natural choice for a good allrounder, as is the Minispares High Torque cam. If you are looking for something more sporty then any modern 286 type grind or 544 will also work well but with a bit of a loss of power at the bottom end, below about 2,500 or so.

[sr001]

I'm currently running the Calver ST supplied RE13PP (286 ish) and find it very good. It seems to pull a bit cleaner at lower rpm than the 286 too. Using it in very mildly modded engine.

That said, most people i've spoken to who have used the SW5 rave about it.

[rolesyboy]

Great, thanks to the focus group a decision has been made. Swift SW5 it is.

[In the shed]

The last time the mini was not in the shed, it had a 286. That was fine. A bit fluffy, but you get yourself around it. It's going back on the road with a 1430 with a 320 in it. Should be roughly like a 1275 with a 649.

I had an Morris Minor S2 (split screen) with a very full race midget engine. Again, I got used to it. Funnily enough, I put that engine in an A35 and it was &^^*%£ing mental. It was like being fired out of a gun. Bullets also do not go around corners. It was like something out of a fairground.

I personally think that a full bore engine is great. Sure, it's a pain in traffic, but that's half the fun. Mine have always been earplugs cars. If you want something civilised, get a Mondeo TDCi.

It's an old mini. They are go-carts. Put a wild cam in it and go and frighten some horses!

[Spider]

I'm currently running the Calver ST supplied RE13PP (286 ish) and find it very good. It seems to pull a bit cleaner at lower rpm than the 286 too. Using it in very mildly modded engine.

That said, most people i've spoken to who have used the SW5 rave about it.

I haven't had the pleasure of trying the SW5 - yet, but looking forward to doing a suitable engine (and head to match) to try one. The Piper BP255 is a better all round Cam than the RE13PP, slight loss (<1%) over 5 grand, but huge gains under that, for street use, I think you'd like it better. You'll also find that the valve train will last a lot longer too.

[AndyB72]

I'd go for the Minispares High Torque cam over the SW5. I've used it in the last three small bore road engines and am very impressed. As the name suggests, torque a plenty.

[rolesyboy]

Is that the Evolution002 Andy? I have just been doing some shopping on Minispares website and came across their SW5 alternative at half the money of a Swiftune one (£70) If you reckon they are good news I would prefer to buy this one. Cheers. Mark

[foxy52]

Just unbuttoned my 1275 S engine. All good but fitted with +30 AE pistons and a 731 cam. As I recall this is a bit of an all or nothing cam and so I would like to replace it (never used either- grrrr!) I want a car that is lively and useable for odd days out or trips to shows. Any 21st century suggestions and recommended suppliers.

Cheers. Mark

...i use a Piper 255 cam cross drilled etc etc for my 1330 its brill.....i did have an Swifty sw5 when they first came out but i have to say i had problems getting the car to run right at one time it was a bag of nails.. not the cams fault i,m sure but the Piper one has been in the car for 6 years and its faultless.. !!!....foxy52

[olfrjf]

I use KC530 cam on my two cars, S and Inno, mecanical or electronic ignition, perfect for me.
Olivier

[AndyB72]

Thats the one Mark. A great road cam.

[InimiaD]

Whilst discussing cam choice for my 1300 GT motor with my engine builder (i know, I'm getting lazy) I said I wanted to use a SW5. His reply was to go for a Piper BP 270 instead.
He said they are virtually identical with the same lift, dwell etc.

It seems there is plenty of choice available.

[999 ORX]

Splash out and get a 286 billet scatter cam.. They tick over nicely!

[999 ORX]

Just unbuttoned my 1275 S engine. All good but fitted with +30 AE pistons and a 731 cam. As I recall this is a bit of an all or nothing cam and so I would like to replace it (never used either- grrrr!) I want a car that is lively and useable for odd days out or trips to shows. Any 21st century suggestions and recommended suppliers.

Cheers. Mark

...i use a Piper 255 cam cross drilled etc etc for my 1330 its brill.....i did have an Swifty sw5 when they first came out but i have to say i had problems getting the car to run right at one time it was a bag of nails.. not the cams fault i,m sure but the Piper one has been in the car for 6 years and its faultless.. !!!....foxy52

Foxy52, my grandma agree's with you.. haha!

[In the shed]

Whilst discussing cam choice for my 1300 GT motor with my engine builder (i know, I'm getting lazy) I said I wanted to use a SW5. His reply was to go for a Piper BP 270 instead.
He said they are virtually identical with the same lift, dwell etc.

It seems there is plenty of choice available.

It would be interesting to see how a 270 compares with a 276. Piper and Kent have different ways of skinning the cat. Piper (IIRC) go for slightly more lift and equal duration, where kent put a bit of bias on the exhaust, which I think makes sense.

It would be interesting to see what the curves look like.

It's interesting how cams/heads/manifolds have evolved. I have some very old school stuff. Massive valves, massive ports (with sleeves) huge long manifolds, not as much lift as possible, huge duration.

A part of me thinks the original boys were doing it right.

[foxy52]

Whilst discussing cam choice for my 1300 GT motor with my engine builder (i know, I'm getting lazy) I said I wanted to use a SW5. His reply was to go for a Piper BP 270 instead.
He said they are virtually identical with the same lift, dwell etc.

It seems there is plenty of choice available.

he was prob right... it is said they are very similar....i can only comment on use and observation as i am not an engineer !!! my piper 255 billet is a work of art.. the whole engine,gearbox twin h4,s,all the lightening and balancing that was done before i finally had it rolling roaded by peter baldwin speaks for itself.. 98bhp on tap in a fast useable road car....... it is very quick 0-50 and wheel spin is easily attained in 1st and 2cd because of the power avail.... a true testament to black-mamba on this forum a true pro in engine building etc for cars in the mini and super mighty,top hat racers also.....he also holds the 1/4+1/2 mile class sprint records in his 1293 mini race car in the brighton speed trials.......!!... i only wish i was that gifted to be able to do stuff like this myself !!! trusting in others and getting the right adv is the key...... foxy52