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1966 122s · Nov 15th, 2009, 11:10

I currently drive the set up you are listing for everyday driving. ( Skimmed head, twin SUs twin down pipe to Simonz exhaust. I am very pleased with it for everyday use and felt power improvements as below:

D versus K cam:
I took advice on the forum a year ago on this . Derek UK and others were very helpful and you miht want to search the thread. More than one member advised D rather than K in an 1800. I think they advised K really needed a 2 litre to run well. I fitted the D and am very pleased with the low end power and have enough top end power. The cam I took out was a more aggressive specialist cam. ? similar to but more aggresive than a K. It gave lumpy running and poor tick-over. I couldn't feel any more top end power with it than the D cam. It's possible that I would have seen a difference with the sports exhaust (which I didn't have at the time) to open up the top end running. Without knowing the answer to that, I would choose D again... at least I know it ticks over well and I'm not sure you need any more power top end... depends on your planned "usage".

Simonz exhaust:
I later changed to the Simonz exhaust and noted improvement in top end power / cruising. I kept the old exhaust manifold as Brookhouse Volvo suggested the Simonz one can be fiddly to fit and didn't give much more power. Again Brookhouse advising me not to spend the extra money... nice. I got a good discount off Brookhouse while buying a few hundred quids worth of odds and ends. I was advised that I wouldn't have got much power out the exhaust unless I had the twin SUs and skimmed head. I don't like the appearance of the non - standard tail pipe of Simonz exhaust. A bit too boy racer for me but it's what you get if you put one on. There was an interesting recent thread about one-off exhausts which I'd be tempted by if I was spending the money again.

I already had the twin SUs and skimmed head when I got the car so can't say how much improvement these gave, but previous threads say very wothwhile.

It might be worth keeping an eye on the 140 section for an engine... while I was doing mine a recently rebult 2 litre engine with a K cam sold in a 140 estate for little money.

Nov 15th, 2009, 11:10	#9
1966 122s Member Last Online: Apr 21st, 2013 20:05 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ireland	I currently drive the set up you are listing for everyday driving. ( Skimmed head, twin SUs twin down pipe to Simonz exhaust. I am very pleased with it for everyday use and felt power improvements as below: D versus K cam: I took advice on the forum a year ago on this . Derek UK and others were very helpful and you miht want to search the thread. More than one member advised D rather than K in an 1800. I think they advised K really needed a 2 litre to run well. I fitted the D and am very pleased with the low end power and have enough top end power. The cam I took out was a more aggressive specialist cam. ? similar to but more aggresive than a K. It gave lumpy running and poor tick-over. I couldn't feel any more top end power with it than the D cam. It's possible that I would have seen a difference with the sports exhaust (which I didn't have at the time) to open up the top end running. Without knowing the answer to that, I would choose D again... at least I know it ticks over well and I'm not sure you need any more power top end... depends on your planned "usage". Simonz exhaust: I later changed to the Simonz exhaust and noted improvement in top end power / cruising. I kept the old exhaust manifold as Brookhouse Volvo suggested the Simonz one can be fiddly to fit and didn't give much more power. Again Brookhouse advising me not to spend the extra money... nice. I got a good discount off Brookhouse while buying a few hundred quids worth of odds and ends. I was advised that I wouldn't have got much power out the exhaust unless I had the twin SUs and skimmed head. I don't like the appearance of the non - standard tail pipe of Simonz exhaust. A bit too boy racer for me but it's what you get if you put one on. There was an interesting recent thread about one-off exhausts which I'd be tempted by if I was spending the money again. I already had the twin SUs and skimmed head when I got the car so can't say how much improvement these gave, but previous threads say very wothwhile. It might be worth keeping an eye on the 140 section for an engine... while I was doing mine a recently rebult 2 litre engine with a K cam sold in a 140 estate for little money. Last edited by 1966 122s; Nov 15th, 2009 at 11:50.