bradyg

hey everbody well i did finally get the head off of ebay took me almost 2 months but it is in good shape except it needs a new cam and i was wonderin if anyone has used the stage one or two cams from msa....the turbo ones. and how you like them thanks

lww

The factory turbo cam is good for nearly 300 hp. I don't know of anyone that's used the MSA "turbo" cams in either "Stage".

Unlike an NA cam, you don't have to hold the intake valves open longer or 'higher'. Since the turbo engine is working off a positive pressure (boost) rather than a negative pressure (vacuum) the duration and lift of the cam isn't significant until you get to much higer HP levels.

Bleach

The stock NA L28 cam is just barely longer duration on the intake. I've heard people say they run those and they work fine. Seems ok to me in theory.
Pick up a used NA cam that looks to be in good shape. New rocker arms, and then isntall it.

or, if you must be cheap and use used rockers, make sure you take them off in order, label them, and install them in the exact same order so all the rockers are resting on the same cam lobes that they used to be. (the ones from the NA head)

hoov100

i had isky custom grind me a cam for a 280z once, i dont remember the duration, but it was some high quality work.

bradyg

oh alright so you can use a na cam on a turbo....what kind of head do i want the cam to be off of

bradyg

and are all rocker arms the same for 280s or what kinds do i need

Bleach

stock rocker arms are the same on all the L-series engines. If you look around enough, you can find them for as low as maybe $12/13 each rocker. rockauto.com mrautoparts.com ... expressauto?? do some searching. The price moves around a bit.

Oh, get the cam from an L28 head. N47 or P79 will do. Just find a 280ZX and grab it. Find one in the wrecking yard that looks like it hasn't been there for 10 years... no surface rust or very very minimal amount.

And the thing is you DON'T want a bigger duration cam like an NA custom grind from Isky or Crane Cams. You'll have major problems. LWW mentioned that... basically.

NismoPick

Brady... what is your hp goal? (within reason)

Bleach

800hp plus a 150hp shot of Nitrous, right?

NismoPick

Pshh! 800hp... that's sissy talk! 2399892350238745230hp with a 393530 shot of NOS!

veyenyl

A few people are having success with a Isky cam. Intake 276*, .490 lift, Exhaust 268*, .480 lift. 44* overlap.

If you end up going with a custom cam, it's important to match the cam with whatever turbo you're running.

bradyg

im thinkin 200-250 around there

lifegrddude

MSA's camshafts are made by Schneider. Schneider offers 3 "stages" of camshafts for the turbo motor. Their customer service department is a bit vague on descriptions via email so it's best to call them for help.

NismoPick

Keep the orig cam... If your goal is 200 - 250, it's not worth your time & money to buy a performance cam. Like L-Dub said, the stock turbo cam will work into the 300hp range.

bradyg

well the cam on the head right now is in bad shape and the machine shop said i need to replace it......and i know that in the junk yard there is a 79 280zx na, the cam will work out of that right?...........well and the rocker arms i am wondering if these rocker arms will work on a p90 head http://www.carpartsteam.com/NI_280Z_...r+Arm_019.html
thanks guys

Bleach

ya, use the NA cam from that 1979 Z.
Yes, you can buy those rocker arms. 12 of them x $40 ea That price is not for a set, that is EACH!`like I said, they can be found for as little as $13 each.

veyenyl

Why don't you just take the rocker arms off the same head that your getting the cam from. Make sure you keep them in the same order though as mentioned earlier.