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piper 285 cam in pinto
donut - 3/1/06 at 11:31 AM

Has anyone got a 285 Piper cam in theire 2 litre pinto? if so did it make much difference?

Any other cam suggestions for me Pinto?

mookaloid - 3/1/06 at 11:46 AM

Hi Andy,

I am using a Kent FR33 but I have a modded head.

If you are using a standard head I would suggest a FR32 might be the way forward.

I guess that these have piper equivalents but i'm not sure what they are

I think that for pinto performance, it is neccessary to look at a whole package of mods before you get the best out of it, the cam is only a part of the picture.

Cheers

Mark

mookaloid - 3/1/06 at 11:47 AM

Just had a look at Piper site.

285 piper and Kent FR32 look very similar.

Cheers

Mark

http://www.pipercams.co.uk/NewPiperWeb/redesign/PiperCamFrames.html

http://www.kentcams.com/



[Edited on 3/1/06 by mookaloid]

andyd - 3/1/06 at 01:18 PM

I had one in an old Mk4 Cortina years ago. I hated the noise the double springs made and to be honest it didn't really make that much difference to the power. It failed soon after due to oil starvation. Probably just showed a weakness in the engine which was already there i.e. old knackered oil pump.

I think Mark is right though, to get the best from it you'd need to think about other mods. Personally I'd start with lightening and balancing the crack/con rods. It'll rev more easily and higher which would probably get you more power than the cam change alone. Next would be some head work, polishing/porting etc. I found the cam alone to be annoying at idle and low revs due to the extreme (compared with standard) profile.

Also it's far better to spend money on extra CC's so how about a 2.1 overbore?

graememk - 3/1/06 at 02:49 PM

go on lads tell him .........

BEC lol

mookaloid - 3/1/06 at 02:50 PM

quote:
Originally posted by andyd


I think Mark is right though, to get the best from it you'd need to think about other mods. Personally I'd start with lightening and balancing the crack/con rods. It'll rev more easily and higher which would probably get you more power than the cam change alone. Next would be some head work, polishing/porting etc. I found the cam alone to be annoying at idle and low revs due to the extreme (compared with standard) profile.

Also it's far better to spend money on extra CC's so how about a 2.1 overbore?


Agree whole heartedly with the balancing and head work, however in terms of BHP per £ spent, the extra 100cc doesn't give much gain for quite a lot of cost. There is much more power to be had from spending the cash on headwork and getting the fuel/air mix in and exhaust out as efficiently as possible. So unless you have plenty of cash, (and if you have, why are you using a pinto?) your money will be better spent on the head etc. IMHO of course.

Cheers

Mark

Dusty - 3/1/06 at 02:57 PM

I had a piper 285 in my pinto with head mods done my myself according to the advice on Dave Andrews website. It was great, trickle around town at 30 in fifth but pulled from 1500 all the way to 7000 where the rev limiter cut in. Loved it!

mookaloid - 3/1/06 at 03:00 PM

quote:
Originally posted by graememk
go on lads tell him .........

BEC lol


I was waiting for that comment

As far as I am aware, This site is intended for CAR ENGINED builders too.

I have a lot of respect for BEC's and it is true that they are generally a bit faster on a track than the average CEC but they are not the final answer to everything so go and build your BEC if you want to, but live and let live is what I say.

Rant rant rant

Cheers

Mark

mookaloid - 3/1/06 at 03:02 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Dusty
I had a piper 285 in my pinto with head mods done my myself according to the advice on Dave Andrews website. It was great, trickle around town at 30 in fifth but pulled from 1500 all the way to 7000 where the rev limiter cut in. Loved it!


Another shining example of someone having fun with a car engine..

donut - 3/1/06 at 03:38 PM

Apparently the head has had some work done like polish, new valve seats and some other stuff (not sure what) I will be using R1 carbs which will sort the flow in and an MK exhaust which will sort the flow out.

Baring in mind all the above would a 285 piper or Kent FR32 still be the best bet? I was told that the 285 piper was progresive which sounds like what i want.

[Edited on 3/1/06 by donut]

Jon Ison - 3/1/06 at 03:50 PM

I ran a 285 cam in a grasstrack pinto, (yes Dev, pinto's where the dogs danglys in there time) I chose it over the 300 cam for drivability, i did have it cross drilled and did away with the primative spray bar, pinto cams last much longer and run quieter when cross drilled as the oil is delivered right where its needed.

285 cam, recomended.

Edit too add,
The head had been worked (Dave Brooks) downdraft, one last tip, dont polish the ports there also too big allready so dont go grinding metal away all over the place, best inprovements to be had by increasing flow behind the valve and where it turns 90 too the back of the valve, the head i had actually had material added not taken away.

[Edited on 3/1/06 by Jon Ison]

donut - 3/1/06 at 04:08 PM

At the mo i have no intention of touching the head as it is (hopefully) better than when it was made. I want to make sure i'm not waisting my money. If there is a few extra bhp to be had then in a light car such as mine it should make a difference. I have read that the 285 will add about 22bhp to a pinto, would you agree to this?

mookaloid - 3/1/06 at 05:00 PM

quote:
Originally posted by donut
At the mo i have no intention of touching the head as it is (hopefully) better than when it was made. I want to make sure i'm not waisting my money. If there is a few extra bhp to be had then in a light car such as mine it should make a difference. I have read that the 285 will add about 22bhp to a pinto, would you agree to this?


I think that you might even get a bit more than that with the carbs and exhaust

I would definitely get a vernier pulley to ensure the cam is timed up properly.

Good luck

Mark

donut - 3/1/06 at 06:17 PM

Thats a good bit of news!!

Cheers