I've been lookin into getting cams for my G. I'm thinking about the JWT C-2's. Anyone have any recommendations? Also, how much in labor for a good shop to install these??

 

install is pretty expensive - I'm considering it too... as for where to install, you should post in the region your from and ask around...

 

Thanks, I do most of the work on the G myself, but I dont really wanna ef with the internals. I'd rather have a shop do it. I keep hearing its a small fortune for install. I think it'd be worth it though

 

Buy a used vortech kit.

 

+1.

 

 

It's alot of money for the power gains. But at the end of the day, im sure it feels great knowing that you're one of the fastest NA VQ35's out there (assuming you have full bolt-ons + tune).

I guess its more of a personal accomplishment.

.

 

As long as u are faster than a E46 M3 and still can say BTW I am NA. Besides My car doesn't need to be at the shop 6 months out of the year.
I got my flamsuit ready.

 

a cam install requires the motor to be removed from the car. remove all pulleys, accesories (AC , PS, ALT, etc) front and rear timing covers, cam gears, timing chains, intake manifold, valve covers.

basically, it falls just shy of a full engine tear down.

 

Might as well throw some pistons and rods in at the same time!

 

Like everybody else said, either build it up or go Forced Induction

 

IMO cams are not worth it unless you boost it anyway.

 

I agree.

There are some gains to be had but I don't think the newer people realize that they aren't as great as they might expect from other motors. Plus it's not as simple as removing the rad and water pump and swapping out. I'd rather build the entire motor before I swapped cams out while the engine is in the car.

 

I agree that cams really aren't worth it, but I don't know if I'd say they're better for boost unless you buy cams specifically designed for boost. NA cams on the boosted motor often results in worse power numbers than the OEM cams.

Cam install is not for the faint of heart and they must be done the right way or you're going to potentially have a slower car (keep reading). The job can be done while the motor is still in the car, but it's quite a easier to do it when it's out. Guys that have done cams on VQ30s and VQ35s tend to spend around $1200-1500 for install. The cams themselves are $1,100-1,400 plus you'll need valvesprings ($300+), assorted shims ($50), and tuning ($400+). The tune is needed to adjust A/F ratios in the high rpms and to also increase idle rpm and the rev limiter. Install isn't hard, it's just labor intensive. When it's all said and done, you're probably looking at $3000-3,200 and that's just the tip of iceberg (continue reading).

You need to understand the implications of cams though. Cams will trade low and mid rpm power for higher rpm power. Around town, the motor will feel far more docile and weaker. The cams will trade anywhere from 15 to 20whp from idle to 4500rpms for some serious power gains from 5500rpms to 7500rpms+. You're completely changing the powerband of the motor therefore two other things really need to happen to make use of this new power.

1) Change to deeper gears
2) Improve high rpm reliability of the motor

The additional torque multiplication of the deeper gears is needed because you're low rpm power is weaker and you need to get the motor into the higher rpm powerband quicker. Without the gears and an extended rev limiter, the car will be slower in the 1/4 mile. With a 6MT, you'd need at least 4.08 gears and with that comes a reduction in mpgs. The VQ35DE is not designed for high rpm (7000rpm+) operation therefore you're going to need to at least add the VQ35DE RevUp rod bolts and oil pump. Ideally, you should add stronger rods too because the stockers are pretty weak. With the gears, rods and oil pump, the VQ35 should be happy living in the 7500rpm range, but now you're talking about another $3K. While you're at it, you might as well install the Cosworth intake plenum ($1,000) because now you have a motor that can breath hard enough to make use of the killer plenum. And if you've gone that far and the motor is out, why not clean the heads up a little for $1000 and gain a few more HP? Taking the motor out could save little in overall labor and it's my understanding that removing the motor isn't super labor intensive.

So, in the end you'd have a pretty dang reliable 7500-7800rpm revving VQ35 making probably close to 300-310whp and probably have put the NA G into the 12.7 range on DRs. Now the question is, for $8K is it worth it to you?