I'm looking for a Cam that is legal in California. I've heard good things about the NS1 cam, and the RMW street cam. I'm lost as far as which one to get.

Help?

 

Is it really required to find a CA legal one? How would the smog shop know it's in there?

 

Technically NONE....
But how are they gonna find it?!

 

I guess I was just wondering if it would throw any big problems, but it sounds like its not going to.

So here's the question... Which one is a better cam? Any NS1 users out there? I'm going to be running the thumper tpr-2 head.

 

If the new cam is different enough to make the change worth doing, either the OBD will detect something or the smog Dyno will.

 

Not if you tune it correctly. They only plug into the OBD II port to check for codes and to make sure the monitors have run. Then as long as it runs clean it will pass the smog portion easily. My roommate mods Corvettes for a living and they can get them to pass smog easily even with modded heads, cams, and no cats. Sure the smog tech would fail them visually for no cats, but it passes the computer and dyno easy. You do run the risk that perhaps CO or NOX will be to high after, but a good tuner should be able to fix it. Or at least build you a smog tune that doesn't make as much power, but passes. Then you switch back...

 

^^ Absolutely true, smog will depend on tuning not the Cam, and basic rule of thumb is the milder the cam the more chance you have of having no issues with out tuning, either of those choices should be "ok enough" until you can get it tuned.

 

get an rmw cam. let jan tune it.

i have 17% / 2% pulley combo. intake, ignition, header, high flow cat, exhaust, w/m injection, and jan dyno tune.

i passed emissions/inspection in CT.

 

I passed smog in calif with several mods.

 

How does CTs smog check compare to CA ?

 

to be honest, i dont know the exact differences, but in CT, they plug into your obd2, do a visual check, and put a sniffer at the tailpipe.

so its the same concept and procedures, but maybe the acceptable levels are different?

either way, i just dont see any way a cam alone can cause a failed inspection unless it triggers a cel.

 

a cam will be fine, a bvh should be fine as well, not sure what the actual smog test is, but, i cant imagine you are going to be hammering on it in the test, around idle should be the same, if not even less since the valves in a bvh will have a tad less flow, cam will be worked in the ecu even without a tune. it will run the same, and they wont be able to tell, unless you have a super lumpy cam

 

The NS1 won't throw any codes, I have one in my car, as well as the thumper TPR-2. The RMW won't either.
As far as the smog shop is concerned well, they are checking for emissions. the visual check is rudimentary. once your car is tuned….

If your gonna get the TPR-2 You should get Thumper's cam as well, He will set up the cam perfectly in the head. the ported intake is also a good deal from him..