Wich camshaft.. everlasting question !?

[RoninMax]

I think 272 In and 272 or 280 Ex with high lift cam. First of all, If you using Toda (The most complete selection of 4AGE cams in Japan), The type of duration is the same price, For example, 272 8.5mm Lift and 304 8.5mm lift are the same price. The high lift cam cost more but 264 10mm lift is the same price of 320 10.5mm lift.

If you want to drive the car on the street without a rough idle, The max on the intake should no more than 272. 160hp is easy to achieve in 4AGE. It is the torque that hard to achieve. If you want more torque, you need to have a higher compression piston, higher lift or oversize valve. In my opinion, I am against oversize valve. First, if you want to oversize the valve, it is recommand to change a valve seat. If you did not change the valve seat, most of the time your valve clearance will be way too off. Second, most of the time, you can only port 1mm bigger to the valve if you want to be safe since you are driving on the street. But if you choice a higer lift cams such as 10mm lift, you valve will go 1.9mm deeper than the HKS one. Why I want to spent all the money to oversize the valve and i only can get 1mm bigger instead of a 1.9mm depth gain on the the high lift cams? If I don't have a lot of funds, I will choice to buy a higher lift cams than over size the valve.

I know once you use the higher lift cams (9mm or above), you need to mod the valve train. On the other hand, you will only need a valve spring upgrade and a 1SZFE solid bucket to achieve. It is not that expensive (Toda valve spring - 120 USD), (1SZFE solid bucket - 268 for all 16). Also, The valve spring retainer, valve spring seat and valve guild should change to a new one. But is it also a nessary changing parts when you oversize the valve minus the oversize valves itself?

Finally, since you have a standalone computer, you have more possiblity to tune your motor to your driving habit. But remember one things - If your motor is meant to push 160hp max, the ecu tuning will not give you 161 hp. It is all about what you use on you motor and the ecu will help you to bring the potenial out of your motor.