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"A" CAM[200/88] posted by Brenton on
Thursday, 8 March 2001, at 10:18 p.m.
Hello everybody,
Someone on ebay is selling a A-cam for 240 cars. Is there any difference in this cam and the K-cam. Presently I have the b230f engine in Brick.I would like to bid on this cam but just want to be sureit will give me more mid and high end torque. All info. is appreciated.
Brenton
Re: "A" CAM[200/88] posted by Michael on
Friday, 9 March 2001, at 2:42 a.m.
I don't have experience with either the A or K cam, but personally I wouldn't bother with the A. The lift (int/exh) on the A cam is .413/.413, compared to .374/.413 for the M cam (stock cam in your B230F), so there isn't a huge difference. I'd rank the following cams from best to worst by performance, based on the specs and what I've read:
M (B23F) - lift .374/.413
A (B21A) - lift .413/.413
VX3(ipd) - lift .452/.424
K (B23E) - lift .471/ n/a
I'd wait and find a K cam if you're looking to save money over an IPD or Unitek cam. The last K cam that sold on ebay went for $50, and before that, $71. However, just to be clear, the A cam is a step up over the stock cam and will give you a bit more high end power without sacrificing as much low end torque as the K cam would, so it may the right choice for you.
The camshafts section at turbobricks.org gives some useful info, but all of those trials were done using a turbo engine, so take that into consideration. There's also a bit of information, and a chart of specifications at this site:
--Michael -- 1987 244 DL
Re: "A" CAM[200/88] posted by Andrew on
Saturday, 10 March 2001, at 2:02 a.m.
Actually, the VX3 sold by ipd is a replica of the Volvo VX3 grind used on B230FB of B230G engines.
Re: "A" CAM[200/88] posted by Michael on
Saturday, 10 March 2001, at 3:48 a.m.
Thanks. I knew it was very slightly different, but I didn't know what engines it was used on.
VX3 - .448/.419 (lift, int/exh)
IPD's "VX" - .452/.424 (lift, int/exh)
--Michael -- 1987 244 DL
Re: "A" CAM[200/88] posted by Andrew on
Saturday, 10 March 2001, at 4:28 a.m.
Also, while the B230FB/G engines were fitted to 940 series cars with the output of 131hp, the Volvo 240 green book says VX3 was also used on 91-93 240's with B230FX engines producing 136hp.
At the same time, there are indications that B230FX was equipped with VX rather than VX3 - otherwise I find it hard to explain the 5 hp difference.
Above all, it's a very rare find.
Re: "A" CAM[200/88] posted by Jason Kneier on
Friday, 9 March 2001, at 9:15 a.m.
Michael's ranking is right. The A is better than the M but worse than the K.
The A cam was used in carbureted 240s in Canada.
Here's the most thorough compilation of Volvo camshaft data I've ever found.
--Speed Racer '83 240 R, '74 164 E, '93 940 OL1, '64 544 Sport (Smithfield, NC)