sick620 Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 If I install the l20b cam in an L16 will there be performance changes? more torque? more horsepower? Will it be a pretty straight forward swap? Its a L16 out of a 73 620 it has a A87 head, not sure if its open or closed but its pretty peppy for a little l16. Has a weber dgav, matchbox dizzy, and good l16 exhaust mani. Not trying to find options for large horsepower gains or anything... its in my little old 521 parts hauler and I am not going for anything special just trying to get a little horsepower here and there for cheap/free... Quote Link to comment
sick620 Posted April 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 zalso which l20b cam will give me the most performance? I have a u67 cam... Quote Link to comment
Zeusimo Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 I've Been Told It's A Slight Upgrade.. And Same As l16 SSS Cam Someone Will Correct If I'm Wrong :D Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 Are they differant? I actually called the machine shop yesterday about the cam going in my head being worked on, I told him I wanted a L20b cam in the W53 L16 head, as I am putting the head on a Z22 block, and he said, "aren't they all basicly the same", I didn't have an answer, he seemed to think they are the same cam, his example was all the chevy small block engines from the early 283/327 to date use basicly the same cam, I don't know, someone that does know should enlighten me, are all the L series cams basicly the same? Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 The L20B cam is the hottest factory version. There was only one used in USA models. Quote Link to comment
Skib Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 there not all the same I had a chart somewhere........ L20B cam is like a 248? Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 13001-22000 CAMSHAFT L18 620, L20B 620, L20B A10, L20B 710, L20B 610, L20B S10, L20B 720 Quote Link to comment
Skib Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 IIRC the L20B cam specs are close to the SSS L16 cam specs? Quote Link to comment
sick620 Posted April 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 13001-22000 CAMSHAFT L18 620, L20B 620, L20B A10, L20B 710, L20B 610, L20B S10, L20B 720 explain yourself? Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 Now I am happy that I called and told him I wanted a L20b cam instead of replacing the L16 cam with another L16 cam. Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 explain yourself? If I understand him correctly, all the engines in them vehicles use the same cam. Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 Yes, they are all basically the same, they have like 16 lumps on a long stick. The USA-model L20B engines all use the same cam. It's the one used by the SSS L16 and L18 engines in Japan. Japan-market L20B used different cams. It's a very good cam. You can do better with an aftermarket cam though. Quote Link to comment
Skib Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 explain yourself? nissan part number and applications Quote Link to comment
Skib Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 whats the specs on the L20B cam? Quote Link to comment
sick620 Posted April 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 any idea what kinda horse power gain I might receive by adding the L20b cam? I understand that an aftermarket cam is where its at and everything but I am not building a motor or anything just looking for the best cheap option to upgrade a little... I already have a l20b cam... Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 248 degrees duration and 0.413" lift. Quote Link to comment
sick620 Posted April 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 also head ?..... the head that came on 1973 datsun 620's was a A87... is this A87 the closed chamber variant or open chamber? Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 also head ?..... the head that came on 1973 datsun 620's was a A87... is this A87 the closed chamber variant or open chamber? The A87 came in both versions. Quote Link to comment
sick620 Posted April 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 The A87 came in both versions. I know but what version was it in 73 Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 I know but what version was it in 73 I think it depends on if the engine came in a vehicle imported to the USA(open) or if it was one of the used imported engines shipped into the USA(closed), which 1000s were imported. Quote Link to comment
sick620 Posted April 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 any idea what kinda horse power gain I might receive by adding the L20b cam? I understand that an aftermarket cam is where its at and everything but I am not building a motor or anything just looking for the best cheap option to upgrade a little... I already have a l20b cam... ? Quote Link to comment
Skib Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 248 degrees duration and 0.413" lift. thats what I thought, Im running a 260 on my L16 Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 Good for 2 HP more is my estimate. But the mid-range power might pick up significantly. Stock L16: 96 HP L16T (SSS): 106 HP with the cam, cast header, twin carbs, modified timing, better head Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 If I install the l20b cam in an L16 will there be performance changes? more torque? more horsepower? Will it be a pretty straight forward swap? Its a L16 out of a 73 620 it has a A87 head, not sure if its open or closed but its pretty peppy for a little l16. Has a weber dgav, matchbox dizzy, and good l16 exhaust mani. Not trying to find options for large horsepower gains or anything... its in my little old 521 parts hauler and I am not going for anything special just trying to get a little horsepower here and there for cheap/free... Engine strength is in the block and how strong the components are. Engine power is in the head design and how much fuel and air you can pump through it. More fuel and air = more power. Theoretically if you double the RPM you will double your hp. In the real world you can't flow twice the air through the same size valve without the motor having to work harder to draw it in. What works fine at 3,500 is restrictive at 7,000. Your L16 was designed to run smoothly and economically and have usable power and torque from 2K up to say 5K. The head design, valve size and cam are tailored for this. To get more, you will need to increase the head's ability to breathe. More in = more out. The single best way is to change the cam timing events.... holding the valves open wider and longer. Keep in mind that this will benefit higher RPM breathing and power making but what works well at 6K doesn't always help low RPM power and torque. Generally for every 10 degrees of duration (time the valves are open) the power moves about 500 RPM higher. You can see that quickly you can have a motor that only begins to 'get going' above 3K and as most driving around town is below that, it will be balky and unresponsive and have a poor idle and only fun to drive out on the highway. The L20B cam is an excellent choice with moderate gains. I think you will notice a very slight low speed loss and a small mid and high gain. The A87 head (or the ones on the L20B) already have the L20B cam in them. If you borrow a caliper, measure the lobe diameter (widest bump) on the cam and record the width. Now measure the narrowest part and subtract. If the difference is about 0.276" then you likely have an L20B cam in it. See the square bumps in the middle of the cam below? If you have this on your cam it's from an L20B Quote Link to comment
banzai510(hainz) Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 Be honest I wouldnt waist the time. Bolt a L20 in then. If you do aca m swap you should have the rockers from the other cam and put the rockers in th same location where they came from. Ezest bolt on power is bolting a 38/38 weber downdraft and match porting your L16 intake to the head. and match port the carb to the top of the intake so no sharp edges and flow smoothly If anything build a motor on the side. and get a real cam. I have a Schneider 460lift and 260in/270 dur exhaust and that should be stock in thses motors!!!!! Most HP gain will be in your mind. cause youll drive it harder. You want extra lift tighten up the valve lash Quote Link to comment
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