It seems like all the focus is on the more popular B series Vtec motors rather than the B series non vtec. You literally have only a couple options when it comes to cams. From my research, its either Crower or Brian Crower. Do you guys know of any other companies that make cams for the b18a/b18b? I also know that OBX makes some but a lot of people say there dohc vtec cams are poor quality so idk if there non vtec B series cams would be the same or not.
Right now I’m running a b18a1 block with a 00’ b20z2 head, p75 intake manifold, b18b1 throttle body, jg edelbrock pro flo header, test pipe, HKS Hi Power exhaust to Magnaflow 2.5" muffler, custom ram air intake with ice box with a b16 cable j1 transmission. The car hauls ass as is, seeing that I beat h22 preludes and dc2 GSR’s. But of course, no one is ever satisfied so I’m looking to install drop in cams for an additional bump in power. What’s out there?
Crower and Brian Crower are about as good as you’re gonna get for non-VTEC camshafts. With my old LS setup, I had Crower 402s in it. It ran great, even on stock springs revving to 7,000. They aren’t too much more aggressive than stock, and idle silky smooth. If you’re okay with upgrading the springs and retainers, go with the 403’s. The 404’s are pretty aggressive cams, and you’d need more than just better springs/retainers to get the best out of them. Higher compression, better intake manifold/exhaust manifold, etc. Those require some tuning to get them idling correctly, too.
As far as dropping them in and going, you’re not going to beat the Crower 402 cams. You can get away with not tuning them, too. I never tuned mine and I never had issues after 20,000 miles before I swapped in my B18C.
What about the OBX stage 1 cams? I talked to a guy who ran them on stock valvetrain but he did not mention how the power was. From the specs, they have a lil less lift but more duration…