QUOTE (CRXdan @ Dec 8 2004, 06:05 PM)
zc cams suck because theyre not much diferent from stock cams.
teh zc makes more power because in japan they get better gas, the zc is tuned for more power, it has a better flowing intake and exhaust manifold, the slightly better cams and head. but its only a 12hp gain over stock (all of those things)
with a set of lumpy regrinds u could easily see a 10-12hp gain with those alone. plus wayy better topend
Are you referring to the "Browntop ZC"?? If so, I'm not so sure you are correct.. I have had 2 "browntop ZC's" and an 87 D16A1 so I have something to compare it to.. First off some of the power does indeed come from the cams.. Another possibility for the increase could be from the ECU, and I believe that is the case.. The cams and the ECU allow the engine to get the 128hp (130ps) advertised for the "browntop ZC" which is 15hp more than the 86-87 D16A1 and 12hp over the 88-89 D16A1.. In japan the higher grade gas (approx. 100 octane IIRC) also allows the engine to be tuned more agressively so that helps too.. The intake manifold is pretty much the same as the 86-87 intake manifold but uses the TB from the FI EW/D15A motors.. So this wouldn't help in the power department, it might hurt it.. If the compression was raised to the 9.5:1 then a couple of hp would pop out.. The ZC cams made my car fail the smog check as well.. A simple swap to my D16A1 cams and everything passed with flying colors.. I did see a post somewhere that the someone measured the ZC cams and found they have a higher lift than the stock cams.. I will try to find it.. It wasn't a whole lot but it was different..
I have found that the head doesn't look to be any different but I didn't measure it... The blocks are the same between the "browntop" ZC and the 86-87 D16a1 and have the same compression at 9.3:1 so I doubt that the head is any different at least in the combustion chamber size.. I also doubt that Honda would match port the older ZC heads since it was so widely used unlike the head from the Type-R Civic and Integra for example.. I'm not sure so a measurement would be in order to know for sure..
The exhaust manifold is different and that would help to make power as it is a 4-2-1 manifold so it would be close to the addition of a good header.. So in order to explain the additional power of the "browntop ZC" I would venture to say that the cams, ECU, exhaust manifold, and the better gas all equal to make the increased power of the ZC.. The ZC cams don't "suck" at least to me.. They do help to make power and they are relatively cheap.. Also since it is not easy to attain cams for this motor it is a nice alternative to getting "lumpy" grinds that would cost more than than a used set of ZC cams.. Agressive cams will make power but make sacrifice drivability.. You may get the 15hp at the top but the ZC cams most likely give a better overall increase because they were designed for a street car.. For all out power, then yes regrinds are better.. But for some cheap fun, ZC cams are a nice buy..
My .02 cents..
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