So I installed my S4 cams in my NX this weekend. Let me tell you this guys....check to make sure ALL of the rocker arms are on both the tappets and the HLA . You'll make some horrible noises if they're not. My noise was the exhaust coming back through the intake. NOT pretty. Another thing, take your time, especially if you're angry cause you fucked it up the first time. I was an idiot and impatient and dropped a bolt from the chain guard down the front cover!!!! Luckily I found it when I was using my friends magnet (absolutely steaming at this point). After I fished it out, I realized how lucky I had been, and calmed down. Luckily I didn't screw anything up. It's not that hard of a job either. Now my question is, I have NO other mods, and the cams I replaced were Primera cams. It pulls a little bit harder top end, but not much. It doesn't die at 6500, but it's not that notibly faster. Does this sound about right? I was going to buy a header from around here (but the deal fell through, someone offered him more) and because of this I didn't get to buy Soopastank's header (really pissed me off). But, I am going to go turbo (like next year) and use these (S4) cams, but I just wanted to see what they'd do. So I want to get a CHEAP header, and motor mounts badly. So if you have either of these, and want either a 1991 intake cam (from the original bad motor),or a Primera cam, or a Avenir turbo cams in a trade/ trade+cash I'm game. But I would really like a header and motor mounts. I think I remember hearing someone wanted to sell their Place Racing motor mounts cause they're too harsh, I would really like those.

OH MI GOD..... you don't know how close you just came to blowing your engine. :eek: I shudder to think what would happen if you didn't notice that bolt had dropped inside! :eek:

It seems obvious, but ALWAYS make sure the rocker arms are properly seated. They can easily become loose or jarred when you're replacing the cams. Just good idea to double check your work.

Anyways, about the power issue, assuming you didn't mess up your cam timing, wait about 500 miles to feel the power. Remember the ECU has to adjust for the new cams. I myself was dissapointed in the SOTP impression after I installed both S3 and S4 cams in my 91 and 98, but sure enough after several hundred miles the power came on.

Chris,

Cool you got a set of cams. What header do you have now? WHen i went back to my stock header opposed to the hotshot gen4 i lost a ton of mid range and top end. YOu might be choking
the cams. Give me a call, i want a ride. Where is your timing?

Jordan- yeah I'm lucky as hell to notice where that bolt fell, even luckier not to have to rip the bottom of the timing chain cover off. I'd do this project again without a fear in the world, but experiencing it makes me a whole lot prouder of my car now. I *think* there is no way I messed up the cam timing, both gears were zip tied to the chain both times I did the cams. So I am just guessing to say they're on. I wonder why you didn't notice a real increase till a couple hundred miles after install?
JD- My timing is still at the factory setting that came on my JDM SR, so I (once again) guessing it's at the factory setting of 15 BTDC. Stock header, stock everything else. I pm'd you...

On another note, is I really like the little lop I have while idling at 800 rpm's, no hiccup when I hit the throttle, so I kind of like it. Makes it sound like it's a piece of crap, but hey I'm still running around with a black door and a messed up front spoiler.

The S4 stop making power pass 7,500, next mod u should do is Intake and Exhaust, and u would feel the biggest different.

Good luck

yeah you need to get intake, headers, and exhaust...your engine has to breathe to you know. and you'll see a hell of an increase in power after that

Originally posted by Chris Colburn
I wonder why you didn't notice a real increase till a couple hundred miles after install?


Did you get on it right after you installed your cams?? You're supposed to allow about 300-500 miles for the cams to break in properly, and being harsh on them before they break in can cause issues, that and like someone else said, your ecu needs to adjust.

According to Jim Wolf, idle between 1500-2000 for twenty minutes then drive 100 miles under 4K rpm at varied rpm. This is how I broke them in. It took me 2 hours, but I got it done.

Wow, I thought "I" was antsy when I got my S3's installed. I got my 100 miles in a few days-but you did it in 2 hours?!? This may have been a little rushed "break in.":D Give it a week or so and I'd guess you will be feeling it. I, too, at the time had no other mods, just a cat-back exhaust. But after my break-in, once the tach pasts 4K the car pulls like a MOTHA all the way to redline. And the S4's should be even more bad ass. On the ECU note, I installed my ECU a week after my cams and I never really noticed a SOTP difference even after it "learned" my engine. It did smooth out the idle, though.

Originally posted by ThomasSr20
The S4 stop making power pass 7,500, next mod u should do is Intake and Exhaust, and u would feel the biggest different.

Good luck


Stops at 7500? Are you sure?

Not saying you're wrong, I just thought I remember seeing dyno charts of the S4's making power till 7700.

Chris, did you get the JWT program with the cams. just wondering, cause I have $ for cams but not an ECU.
If you don't have the ECU, how rough is idle?
I just started a tranny swap last night and changed clutch and a 9 lb flyweel, so I'm looking at a header and cams next.

No, I don't have the ECU. The idle is alright. It is not nearly as smooth as stock, but I'm a freak, I wanted an even rougher idle. At 800 rpm, you can tell it's not idling right. Kind of makes your car sound like a pos, but I like it.

Welcome to the S4 club! Give them some time like Jordan said!!! My car ran a little rough at first but now it pulls nice. Get some other bolt-ons you will feel the car just wake up! I am going to dyno this weekend. Last time I went was without the S4's. I will let you know the outcome!