Question about cams

[Earth1]

How would new cams (.430-.440) negatively effect the engine without upgrading the ECU. I expect a difference in idle and that I will have to run at least 87 octane. Is it a bad idea to run those without mapping the ECU? Could it cause premature damage to the o2 sensor or anything else?

[wheel366]

I haven't found anywhere that says that you NEED to upgrade the ECU. 87 octane is regular, at least around me. I haven't had my new ones installed yet so I'm not sure what it will run like on 87. The LAST thing I am going to do, if I do it, is get my ECU upgraded.

 

I also have read anything about killing the O2 sensors.

 

Anybody else have any info?

[Spooled]

Cams won't negatively affect your engine or o2 sensors at all. You may want to play with your timing a little bit, bump it up a couple of degrees. I've had cams in my 200SX with VG30E for awhile now, no ECU tune, and I run regular (87 octane) fuel with timing bumped up to 30degrees BTDC. I coupled the cams with headers and a free flowing intake and some mild head porting as well to get the most benefit. After dyno'ing my car at different ignition timing - 3 runs made at 22degrees, 26 degrees, and 30degrees - the A/F ratio kept getting better the higher I went with the timing, and as a result, so did power. I gained 8 horsepower at the wheels going from 22 to 30degrees timing advance. But really, to answer your question simply, you'll be fine with cams.

[Earth1]

Thanks. That's interesting about the timing.