308 QV Hot Cams or Cam Blanks

Cat Cams will absolutely make a set of 4v cams. Or just take your existing 4v cams and send them to Webcams and they can hard weld the lobes and put whatever grind you want. That’s what I’d do but that’s just me

 

I'd also highly recommend you change the springs to match whatever more aggressive/performance based grind you go with. Would also suggest moving to valve lash cap shim over the heavy hockey pucks.

 

I have been looking high and low for a set of performance cams for my QV project and have not been able to find any available cams from any vendor in Europe or anywhere else. Lot’s of stories and good advise but no cams readily available. I guess someone can produce a set from scratch or modify your existing cams but cost is completely out of “control” and quality / end result somewhat unknown and you risk damaging your original cams beyond repair. Maybe using cams from a 328 is the easiest solution but these parts are not easily sourced either.

Best, Peter

 

Definitely try Newman cams as well. They custom make cams as well

https://www.newman-cams.com/contact-us/

 

We have custom grinds done on factory cams. Never had an issue with them getting ruined. Does require though that the customer has a set of cams. Donor cams are exceedingly difficult to acquire for the QV's.

 

Yup, no problem. It's not terribly quick though as they've got I think just one master cam grinder guy on hand.

Never had an issue with hard welded cam lobes.

 

Does a cam profile exist that can be put in a QV without modifications elsewhere and won't wreck your drivability?

Maybe 15 extra hp?

 

Off the top of my head, not sure. There's a ton of custom options, the tricky bit is that the QV cams are very mild in ramp rate, so the springs are on the lighter side. Increasing the ramp rate as would be needed to keep the duration reasonable and lift more aggressive tends to result in valve float at mid/high rpm.

I'd have to do checking and design analysis to really know. However given the cost of hard welding a set of QV cams.. it makes zero sense to be that mild with the profile. Better off with just dumping CIS for EFI, easy 30hp to pick up.

 

And that conversion worries me a bit. Once you remove a simple analog bulletproof system and install something dependent on computers and software that needs constant updates and support... How long before nothing exists that can communicate with it any longer because you need "Windows X" etc. I have a friend with a GTBi and something on the ignition from so long ago that no ones laptop would work with it anymore.

I have a Scirocco with an Electromotive system. I'm dead if it fails - and it has before. It has reset to default twice in the past few years and only one person here in town can talk to it and he is in his mid 80's now and in poor health.

 

I hear you Dr Tommy and I have two words for you: Weber Carbs.
I know, go ahead and laugh, but you think K-Jet is simple, analog, and bulletproof? Brother, I've got news for you...
It's literally one of the reasons I swapped my QV for a carbby.
But seriously, as far as the obsolescence problem with EFI is concerned, I think you have to think about it like you would your laptop: it's not going to last forever, and when it gets to the point where it's no longer supported, it's upgrade time.
- Dave

 

I am saying it is bulletproof because I have owned 5 cars since 1985 with K-Jet, and one with L Jet since 1996. I have never had to make one single repair to any of them on their system. None. Zero.

That 1980 Scirocco that was my only car from the age of 16 until I was 29. THAT was the car I swapped systems for more HP in 2010. For those 25 years it was never EVER a problem. Now it is and I wish I had never done it.

The one on my 308 hasn't been touched and I have owned it since 1997.

I have miles and experience with K-jet and they all been and still are nothing but factory set unbeatable dependability.

 

Agree 100 %.
Why get rid of the most reliable, best supported and most understood fuel system made for Victorian era carbs that have belonged in museums since the 50's?

A case can be made for modern electronic systems. Buy a car made with them. The aftermarket systems are a bad joke.

 

Good day Tommy,

You do realize that your experiences flies in the face of the current business mantra These days the motivation for many businesses is to "keep you on the hook"... a subscription based model if you like... is what a lot of businesses want. Sadly, the days of having well designed, reliable, and longevity are no longer the goals.

Cheers,

Sam

 

I first understood that when batteries went from 5 year to 3 year

 

It's one heck of a slippery slope going to EFI on any of these things. Yes, one can build a far more potent engine as EFI allows all sorts of manifold options, far better cams/compression options due to the K-jetronic limitations, but my gosh the work it takes to get there. It's a long movie and you will be an expert by the time Thelma and Louise go over that cliff, but yeah, get a car already designed with and for it so you don't have so much downtime, unless it's just what you really want.

 

Why? Because the 250-ish horses provided by those Victorian-era carbs were more important to me than than the 200-ish horses produced by the most reliable, best supported, and most understood fuel system made.
I've owned Weber carb-equipped cars going back 40 years; year-round daily drivers here in the PNW. Maybe I'm the one exception, but I never had an issue with a Weber carb's reliability, support, or lack of understanding of its operation.
Dr. Tommy wanted more power along with simplicity and reliability. I merely offered a suggestion. I think it was @Ferraripilot that posted about carb'd QVs and Scott was looking for hand-raisers for a QV/328 carb manifold project, so there's obviously still a lot of love for the Victorian era in 308/328 land.
- Dave

 

Carbs are a blunt instrument, they work and I love their charm and simplicity, but of course everyone has their preference! The market certainly prefers them more as well as all those 60s-70s cars with a bunch of Webers are going crazy in value now.

 

Not nearly as crazy as their contemporaries with fuel injection. Both are stupid statements.

 

Carbs are great for those incapable of understanding fuel injection.