Which cam is fitted??

[paul4be]

Ok, I realise nobody can say 100% without looking, but which cam is likely to be fitted to my 1984 240 with B21A engine? Found a couple of different answers (A and L) and am a little confused. Is there an easy way to id a Volvo cam?

Need to know as it has an effect on future plans.

Thanks all.
Paul.

[ravennexus]

for 84 the compression went up but the power dropped so likely the L cam...

the letter is stamped on the back of the cam, so pull the cam cover. get a little mirror and have a look

[paul4be]

Will have a look, thanks very much.
Looks like I can add a cam swap as well as head swap now. So that's a cam as well as 531 and everything else I'm looking for now, oh joy
RavenNexus, are you still pleased with the engine mods you made now its been running for a while? Looks like I'm going down a similar route.
Paul

[ravennexus]

Originally Posted by paul4be

Will have a look, thanks very much.
Looks like I can add a cam swap as well as head swap now. So that's a cam as well as 531 and everything else I'm looking for now, oh joy
RavenNexus, are you still pleased with the engine mods you made now its been running for a while? Looks like I'm going down a similar route.
Paul

yeah i'm happy, i'm running the cam from a 1981-83 B23E, it's coded K i think it's a 11.9mm lift and def interferance with my 1.5mm skimmed 531. i'd be quite partial to getting this thing on a B230F block which should push the compression upto 11.5-12:1. or onto a B230FT (turbo) which would give 9.3:1 and still allow lots of boost. i'm really thinking of fuel injection now as the carb can't seem to keep up, (bit ****ed about being outbid on those R-sport carbs on ebay)

[paul4be]

I don't really want to get into a full engine swap to a B230. Looking at carbs, I am thinking of getting a cut and shut manifold made up to use something like a pair of 1.75" SU's. Not ideal, but it should flow well enough for a 2.1. There are a couple of interesting Penta manifolds, but its finding them!!

Recon I'll keep am eye out for a K (or even A) cam nice and cheap, just have to see what turns up.

[ravennexus]

one of the things i have been looking at is getting a simple mani made up to run a set of big bike carbs, like stuff of a R1...

if you want a A cam i have 2 here in the house. how about £15 + postage for one.

[davebslater(uk)]

i dont think the carb is the restriction !!

think exhaust before anything else , that will gain more power than swapping to big carbs.

you could always try a 2 inch SU also .

unless the bike carbs are bigger than 45mm bore they will be a restiction since thats what the inlet port measures .

since you only have only one induction pulse at a time the 1 3/4 carb isnt going to restrict flow is it ? , youll gain by a better manifold design , but you cant use it unless you do something with the exhaust side .

[ravennexus]

Originally Posted by davebslater(uk)

i dont think the carb is the restriction !!

think exhaust before anything else , that will gain more power than swapping to big carbs.

you could always try a 2 inch SU also .

unless the bike carbs are bigger than 45mm bore they will be a restiction since thats what the inlet port measures .

since you only have only one induction pulse at a time the 1 3/4 carb isnt going to restrict flow is it ? , youll gain by a better manifold design , but you cant use it unless you do something with the exhaust side .

why would fitting 40mm bike carbs be bad when foggy's 40mm R-sports freed up so much power

[paul4be]

Running bike carbs, each cylinder would directly "see" a carb to itself, rather than say a 2 inch carb feeding 4 cylinders. I know that only 1 cylinder is actually drawing air in at any 1 time, but given the manifold etc, the single small carb as standard will be a restriction, even for a standard engine, but even more so thanks to tuning work. Thats why throttle bodies etc are now the way lots of tuners/ manufacturers go for performance with modern stuff.

None of this is to say that the exhaust won't need looking at as well, that goes without saying.

[paul4be]

Originally Posted by ravennexus

if you want a A cam i have 2 here in the house. how about £15 + postage for one.

Can you please confirm condition? I take it there's no significant wear to lobes or journals and no surface rust/pitting??

That sounds like a deal as long as it's still in decent condition. Let me know and we can sort out payment.

Thanks, Paul.