Replacement camshaft

[Atle_323i]

My engine is out for an overhaul. During the teardown my mechanic found that my cam, rockers, and all bearings needs to be replaced due to worn out.
I´ve been thinking about using Schrick cam 272 or 284, not sure if 284 would be suited for regular road use on my 323i.
https://store.vacmotorsports.com/schri ... -p966.aspx

Anyone else here that can recommend using Schrick cam?
Or is there another brand that would be better?

[Wilmo]

First thing that comes to my mind is whether the bearing surfaces in the head are still alright...


I have a 292 degree Schrick in my M10 and that is already rather brute. At 4000rpm it is like a turbo kicks in and after that it just keeps going. In combination with the K-Jet inlet manifold (controlled by EFI) low rev power was not so good and idle running was a bit crap. Now with ITB's idle has improved a lot, but pulling away with low revs is still not very good. Following a campervan uphill in second gear at 30kph kills the engine so I find myself in first gear and massive revs.

[Atle_323i]

First thing that comes to my mind is whether the bearing surfaces in the head are still alright...


I have a 292 degree Schrick in my M10 and that is already rather brute. At 4000rpm it is like a turbo kicks in and after that it just keeps going. In combination with the K-Jet inlet manifold (controlled by EFI) low rev power was not so good and idle running was a bit crap. Now with ITB's idle has improved a lot, but pulling away with low revs is still not very good. Following a campervan uphill in second gear at 30kph kills the engine so I find myself in first gear and massive revs.

I´m not a mechanic, so the guy that is working on my engine, has long experience with engine, and mechanic things. So my engine is in good hands. If there is something he can´t do, we´ll hand it over to a specialist.I just ask about the schrick cams because I don´t know which is the best to use with my M20 engine.

So using a high degree cam isn´t worth using, since you have to use high revs to keep the engine alive, so I guess a 272 should be ok. But I don´t know what degree a stock BMW cam is.

[Wilmo]

That is 252degrees I believe, but I'm an M10 guy And an M10 uses a 264 as standard, next is 272, 284, 292... But the internet should be filled with advice about a 272 or something in an M20.

One extra tip, don't look for a regrind. Another advantage of a Schrick is that the valve opens further than standard. While a regrind decreases valve lift. So when looking for a Schrick, check the valve lift and of course whether there is enough clearance in the engine for that extra lift. It is wise to install stiffer, or double, springs to help close the valve, because of the longer opening. I installed the Schrick valve springs as well. Sometimes they have nice discounts at Walloth&Nesch or Schmiedmann.

[uwbuurman]

I have the 272 degrees in and out on my 323i. But that is a 2.7 stroker. The sharper cam allows it to pull between 4000 and 5700 rpm like a rocket. Very drivable in normal roaduse, but for funtimes lots of rpm fun. In the lower rpms it doesn't do a thing different from stock.

[Atle_323i]

I have the 272 degrees in and out on my 323i. But that is a 2.7 stroker. The sharper cam allows it to pull between 4000 and 5700 rpm like a rocket. Very drivable in normal roaduse, but for funtimes lots of rpm fun. In the lower rpms it doesn't do a thing different from stock.

Do you have 5 speed transmission?
I got a 4 speed, and with the stock cam the 4 speed is very driveable in 4th gear even at low rpm, and I wonder how the 272 cam would do compared to stock at low revs in 4th.

[uwbuurman]

Have the dogleg, mate. So my 5th is the same as your 4th gear

[Atle_323i]

Have the dogleg, mate. So my 5th is the same as your 4th gear

Thanks for the feedback. I think that I'll go for the 272 cam, since it closest to stock spec, and hopefully give good drag with high rpms

[uwbuurman]

Nice!