Tuning Kelfords
Tuning Kelfords
I had a disappointing experience tuning an Evo 8 with stock ECU after installing Kelford cams. The car has a Green turbo, 90 Octane fuel, meth kit (100% meth.) etc. With Tomei poncams the car made about 455 hp at 30 psi.
After installing the Kelfords and road tuning (timing needed to be removed to keep knock at bay), a dyno wasn't needed to tell that power was lost. A dyno pull confirmed it, power went down to 430 hp, with losses right through the rev range.
This was surprising to me as everyone else seems to make power with the Kelfords. One thing though, they were installed without upgraded valve springs so the rpms were kept to 7000 to 7500 rpm. Looking at the AMS test, these cams only really start to shine above 7000 rpm, but I would have expected some improvement all the same.
They weren't degreed either but again according to the AMS test it wasn't really necessary. Then again, that is no guarantee that every example will be the same.
My real question (and the reason this is in the ECUFlash forum), for those running a similar setup with similar boost, what sort of peak loads are you reaching and what is your timing like on a full throttle pull from say 4500 rpm to 7000 rpm.
Also if anyone has any other ideas why the performance would be so poor.
After installing the Kelfords and road tuning (timing needed to be removed to keep knock at bay), a dyno wasn't needed to tell that power was lost. A dyno pull confirmed it, power went down to 430 hp, with losses right through the rev range.
This was surprising to me as everyone else seems to make power with the Kelfords. One thing though, they were installed without upgraded valve springs so the rpms were kept to 7000 to 7500 rpm. Looking at the AMS test, these cams only really start to shine above 7000 rpm, but I would have expected some improvement all the same.
They weren't degreed either but again according to the AMS test it wasn't really necessary. Then again, that is no guarantee that every example will be the same.
My real question (and the reason this is in the ECUFlash forum), for those running a similar setup with similar boost, what sort of peak loads are you reaching and what is your timing like on a full throttle pull from say 4500 rpm to 7000 rpm.
Also if anyone has any other ideas why the performance would be so poor.
Last edited by wreckleford; Jan 9, 2009 at 06:53 AM.
I don't know off hand but the Tomei's are definitely a less agressive cam. We had a minor issue that was resolved and were able to get the power up to the same as before (maybe slightly more) but it still seems low compared to what others are making.
Which Kelfords? The 272's ?
I switched from HKS 280's to the Kelford 272 and my midrange is about the same but peak power on my IX turbo (on an evo8) was at 6400 before and fell off 50whp by 7500. Now with the Kelford272's and GSC beehive springs (basic set) I have flat peak whp from 6300-7100rpms and then power starts to fall off. I am up 20whp at 7500rpm (but no change in peak power).
This is on a stock turbo though, on E85. 29psi peak, timing at 7000 is about 14' IIRC.
I switched from HKS 280's to the Kelford 272 and my midrange is about the same but peak power on my IX turbo (on an evo8) was at 6400 before and fell off 50whp by 7500. Now with the Kelford272's and GSC beehive springs (basic set) I have flat peak whp from 6300-7100rpms and then power starts to fall off. I am up 20whp at 7500rpm (but no change in peak power).
This is on a stock turbo though, on E85. 29psi peak, timing at 7000 is about 14' IIRC.
Also, 'big' cams are not such a big deal on stock turbos or an evo green. on a bbk or fp red or bigger, you'll probably see some serious gains, but the biggest thing that *any* aftermarket cam gives an evo8 is way more power in the midrange over the stock cam. On a mild setup, I wouldn't expect major gains jumping to even the most extreme cams. Certainly no losses though, perhaps there is some sort of a fueling problem? Knock resonance increased with these? Tough to say....did anything else change?
