Jeff Doble

This past weekend I was running a race and got to talking to a guy running a Rabbit GTI with basically the same 1.8L motor as in my Audi (except he had the 2.0L ABA block on it and some other misc things like adjustable cam sprocket).

I asked him about the 272 camshaft that I had seen for $125. Specifically I asked him how it idled and ran with the cam. He made some remarks that it was a pretty lumpy idle and wouldn't recommend it for street use. I think it mostly improves top end at the sacrifice of low rpm drivability? That's exactly what I don't want to do in my daily driver. Instead, he said to try a 268 camshaft or a 'G' grind? Anyone hear of a G grind camshaft? What is that? He described it as a really mild cam.

Oh, and one important thing I learned about the camshaft - if you go with one of the more aggressive camshafts it will turn the motor into an interference engine. I guess I never thought about that but it makes perfect sense. Make a note if you plan on trying one! If I had one of those cams on while trying to start my car I may have ruined my motor considering setting the timing had me flumoxed for a while. Be careful!

JD

Jeff Doble

<ul><li><a href="http://www.techtonicstuning.com/cams.asp">http://www.techtonicstuning.com/cams.asp</a</li></ul>

chris grant

Jeff I ran a shrick 268/272 spit profile cam in my 2 litre 1990 and it was not a lumpy idle. It was her car and I can assure I'd never have got away with lumpy !!!

dB

I've seen the "G" stamped on my cam. I think TT suggests the 268 cam for street use.

Evilclown

The G grind - as it pertains to solid lifter engines - was the factory cam in Europe. It has a more aggressive lobe profile than the U.S.-spec solid lifter cams.

In Audi and later VW hydraulic lifter heads, the stock U.S. cam is stamped with a G. THIS IS NOT A PERFORMANCE CAM(and no, it won't work as a performance cam in a solid lifter head). Use a 268 or 272 from Techtonics in a hydraulic head.