Overboost.com - How To: Install Type-R Camshafts Page 1 of 4 How To: Install Type-R Camshafts PLEASE READ OUR DISCLAIMER 2/20/2001 by: Scott Croughwell Or SE When Honda released the hotblooded Integra Type R in the US, it caused a flurry of Y reaction in the motor press. Although Honda designed a taught, capable chassis, a lot of the Type R magic comes from the engine bay and many an enthusiast salivates at the mention of a factory stock 8,500 RPM redline. The Type R engine shares many things in common with the more common Integra GS-R, making for easy parts swapping to help put the GS-R's performance on par with the Type R. One of these things is the camshafts - Type R camshafts are a direct drop-in to the GS-R imparting a factory engineered performance boost. In addition to the Type R camshafts, we're installing a pair of AEM adjustable cam gears in our GS-R "while we're in there". In past dyno tuning we've seen that GS-Rs with Type R camshafts like a slight amount of intake cam advance and a slight amount of exhaust cam retard. Note that the Type R camshafts will also work in B16Apowered cars such as the Del Sol VTEC and older Civics and CRXs with a B16A1 (SiR) engine. AEM 1990(BLU Your AEM 1990(CLEA Your To ease the task at hand, start by removing the spark plug cover, ignition wires, and spark plugs. Removing the spark plugs will make it easier to set the engine to Top Dead Center (TDC) by hand. Remove the ground strap, breather hose and 10-mm nuts holding the http://www.overboost.com/story.asp?id=340 07/30/2001 Overboost.com - How To: Install Type-R Camshafts Page 2 of 4 valve cover to the cylinder head. The stock cams are held in place with five bearing caps each and topped by extruded oil spray bars. The spray bars keep the valve train happy at AEM 1990(RED Your extended high RPM intervals. DC S Steel INTE PIEC Your Next, use a 17-mm socket to rotate the crank pulley by hand. This will make it easier to realign the new cams once they've been installed. The idea here is to bring the Number One cylinder to TDC on the intake stroke (not exhaust) and this is identified by the "UP" DC S markings on the cam gears. You can be sure you're precisely at TDC by lining up the lone Steel INTE white mark on the crank pulley with the timing mark on the lower timing belt cover. Since Your timing belt tension is reliant on engine rotation, be sure to turn the crank pulley counterclockwise. Once you're at TDC, loosen the 14-mm timing belt tensioner bolt (just over the crank pulley) and slip the belt off the cam sprockets. You'll probably also find it helpful to remove the distributor at this point. If you're going to re-use the stock cam gears, remove them with a 14-mm wrench by wedging a few layers of old timing belt between them. If you're going to use aftermarket cam gears, you'll need to re-use the Woodruff keys on the stock cams, which requires removing the stock gears. Once the gears are off, remove the 20 12-mm bolts and four 10-mm bolts holding the camshaft bearing caps down, loosening a quarter turn at a time and in an "X" pattern. Note that the camshaft bearings are stamped with "IN" or "EX" for intake and exhaust, but the oil spray bars are not. The spray bars are not identical so be sure not to confuse them when reinstalling. http://www.overboost.com/story.asp?id=340 07/30/2001 Overboost.com - How To: Install Type-R Camshafts Page 3 of 4 Before laying the new cams into the head, be sure to clean off all the shipping dirt and grim that's accumulated on them. (Brake cleaner works well.) Then liberally apply camshaft break-in lube, new cam seals and sit the cams on the head with the Woodruff keyways facing up. Note that the camshafts look identical, but the intake cam is the one with a slash cut on the end to drive the distributor. Put the Woodruff keys into the new cams and slip on the cam gear. Honda B-series cam gears are identical for intake and exhaust. It pays to use extra caution here, because the Woodruff keys are small (and probably greasy) and if you drop one, it'll end up in the lower timing cover, necessitating removal of the crank pulley. Loosely thread in the cam gear bolt. Reinstall the bearing caps and oil spray bars. Again using the "X" pattern, torque the 12-mm bolts to 20 ft-lbs and the 10-mm bolts to 7.2 ft-lbs. Slip on the timing belt, tension it and then check the valve clearances. For naturally aspirated cars, use the stock specs (located on emissions control sticker under hood). Reinstall the distributor and set the ignition timing and you're set to enjoy Type R power. Driving Impression Once the engine on our GS-R was warmed up, we nailed the throttle to coax the ECU to switch us into VTEC mode. The engine still maintained its factory, linear demeanor, but with newfound snarl. (With no other changes, most GS-R's gain at least 11 horsepower to the wheels.) With the stock cams, VTEC was something only the driver would notice. With the Type R cams, VTEC is something surrounding drivers (pedestrians, etc) also notice. http://www.overboost.com/story.asp?id=340 07/30/2001 Overboost.com - How To: Install Type-R Camshafts Page 4 of 4 Partially because of the VTEC song and partially because a GS-R is quickly departing the scene! DV1:DB2 FEATURES | EVENTS | COMMUNITY | DIRECTORY | SHOPPING | ABOU Copyright © 2001 Overboost.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use http://www.overboost.com/story.asp?id=340 07/30/2001