Cam Gear Info

I don't really know a lot when it comes to cams and cam gears, and how it all works, and i was wondering if i left the stock cams in my RS and bought some aftermarket cam gears:

-Possible?
-What to look for
-Would it even benifit me?
-What brand to go with, and/or type
-any other useful info...

The only thing i really know is that I am pretty sure aftermarket cam gears are lighter and that is always an improvement... correct me if im wrong.

Thanks

Actually that's not really true. Their not lighter because after markets are usually adjustable, which means then then 2 pieces and then have nuts and bolts holding it on. Mine are very close to stock, if not the same weight.

Cam gears: Stock, you don't need them. The only time you really need them is if you're built up. You're far from that right now. Unless you want to get an extra 1 hp out of the motor, it's not going to do anything. Sure, you can still adjust them, but it'd be completely pointless. I've seen people just get them and install them just because they look better than stock. Ya, they do, but unless you're building a show car, not needed.

When you get them on, if you wanted to make adjustments, you need to get on a dyno. That's the only way to really squeeze anymore power out of it. This will affect MPG too, as now your intake may be open longer or exhaust longer or what-not. Tuning is very important with this because you will lose power if you don't do it right. Not to mention, you can do some good damage if you adjust too far, such as bent valves or broken piston heads.

Cam Shafts: On the stock head, won't do too much good. You need to upgrade the entire valve-train system; lifters, springs, rockers. If you don't upgrade the rest, the cams will wear out the springs and everything quicker, as the components aren't built to handle cams with different lopes. Basically, you need the supporting mods to handle the cams, just like if you were to turbo, you just can't slap it on. You need the other mods to go with it.

Basically, a full head build would be in the works if you wanted to upgrade like that. Of course you can do what you want, but you will pay in the end if you just upgrade cams with nothing else. My words of wisdom are "No" to your cam idea unless you plan on a full rebuild.

It's always good to upgrade everything springs, retainers, etc. But, from what I've read, as long as you aren't going to be revving past the stock rev limiter, you don't need to upgrade everything. However, I could be wrong. In the description for my 272's it stated that the stock valve springs and retainers would be fine to use. However on the 280's, they said it was a must to upgrade them. On my car they made a nice, noticeable difference. But then again the turbo and non-turbo could be completely different. Also, from what I've seen, cams are one of the best power adders for a vehicle, except of course for turbos, superchargers, nitrous, etc.

Alright, thanks guys that was a big help. I'm trying to squeeze some more power out of my non-turbo car, i am looking to buy a gsx down the road as a full blown, re-done front to back project car, and i just want to do what i can to my RS to get as much power out of it as i can without having to rebuild my entire engine. I already have a full header to tip exhaust, CAI on the way, new plugs, wires, battery, and im looking to get a new bored TB before i get the intake so i can do that all at once. Besides that im really not sure what to do except the new UDP someone suggested. Anything else, im really not sure where to go... i know a clutch and flywheel will help out, but i dont want to do that quite yet, and i have heard most people say that when they upgrade those it makes shifting stiffer or just different in a bad way, so im trying not to do that for the time being untill i get it all figured out.

Anything else, thats not to major i can look into?

-I really dont want to get into nitrous with this car, and i have decided not to turbo it because i want to get a GSX down the road so i would want to save that money for then..... plus its always fun to have something like my RS which is a nice little semi-modded car to fuk around with.

Thanks

Upgrading your clutch won't make your "shifting stiffer". Shifting will be the same as the clutch doesnt affect the shifter. Depending on how hardcore of a clutch you go with, your clutch pedal will more than likely be stiffer than stock making the clutch harder to disengage. I really don't see the point in upgrading your clutch until you get to the point of making more power than the stock clutch will hold.