XFI Cam installed tonight and WOW!!!!

[C3Killer]

Just got done with my install, fired her up, and took her around the block and all I can say is wow. I think this will definitely help my mileage! I can shift 500rpm sooner! If anyone has any questions, just ask, but one recommendation, make a more permanent mark on your timing belt. When I was taking everything apart, I made a line on my timing belt with a carpenters pencil, and when I slipped the cam out, I noticed that my hands took off the pencil mark!!! So I had to eyeball where I 'thought' the timing mark was on the cam! Luckly, I put it in exactly in the right spot!! So I didn't have to redo anything, she fired right up, no pinging or anything. Tomorrow I will put her in time more accurately with my timing light. I will list the mileage improvements in my fuel log, but I just filled up so it may take a couple weeks. I definately recommend this mod to anyone who is wanting extra mileage. Not even tuning it I can feel a big difference! Thanks for everyone I have been asking questions to! With your knowledge everything went very smoothly!

[pint]

Congrats on the new cam. How big of a job was it to swap out?

[MetroMPG]

Sounds like pretty much the same reaction I had when I installed my XFi cam. A noticeable change in the character of the engine - much happier to work lower down in the rev range.

Glad it went well for you.

[SVOboy]

It's mpguino time.

[Johnny Mullet]

I am wanting to swap in an XFi cam on my Metro, but basically been wanting to drive it for now since it's finally all fixed up. I suppose I could locate a cam somewhere and do it for a winter project.

Does an advanced cam sprocket give you a similar change on these cars or is it better to just do the cam?

C3Killer, I am glad you got one and like the improvements! I have heard no negative posts about doing this swap. Be sure to find the letters "X, F, and i" and put them after your Metro label on the back

[C3Killer]

Originally Posted by Johnny Mullet

C3Killer, I am glad you got one and like the improvements! I have heard no negative posts about doing this swap. Be sure to find the letters "X, F, and i" and put them after your Metro label on the back

I was going to find a pinstriper, and have him free hand an XFI after my Metro decal in back.


pint: Congrats on the new cam. How big of a job was it to swap out?

It wasn't a big job at all. I am pretty mechanically inclined, but the only tools needed were a dremel, pair of pliers, and a 10mm wrench. Thats it! Its basically remove the valve cover, take out the 7 bolts holding the cam in, mark the cam timing mark on your belt in something other than a pencil so that if you touch it you will still be able to see it, slip the belt off the cam, remove base cam, replace with XFI cam, put everything back and your done! It took me longer because my valve cover was STUCK! Those 4 acorn nuts on top of the valve cover have these rubber lockers or something, when the nut is tightened, the rubber locks around the bolt to seal it. Those were a pain, but definately a DIY mod! My cars idle has increased also. I figure its because I have a lot more torque now, the engine is running a little easier. I need to adjust the throttle a bit to slower down, and the timing is around 12 degrees now, I will try advancing it a bit and see how she sounds.

[Will]

Dude, congrats. It will be pretty sweet to see what the actual numbers look like. How did you come across the cam?

[C3Killer]

teamswift.net, someone posted in the for sale section that they saw one at their local craigslist, I contacted him, and he was willing to ship so badda bing badda boom. Got it in on the 12th, put it in on the 13th. Easy as pie! Not bad for $125 + shipping. I was looking to get mine reground 'to xfi specs' but hesitated too long. SuperF1y over on teamswift.net has the connections to get 'economy' cams. Good luck!

[Noel]

someone had XFI decals on ebay last week.

hope noboy is too devious to re-badge and sell a car.

[C3Killer]

If you are looking for an XFI, make sure to check the VIN and engine to make sure what your getting is what is advertised! That would be devious. I was trying to think of something clever that would let everyone know its not a true XFI, but rather a wanna be. I thought the pin striping was a good idea. Everyone knows that the factory just used decals, and if the XFI was just a little oversized. Yeah, something like that.

[Johnny Mullet]

If I were to do the swap, I would definitely add "XFi" to the end of my logo, but it would not look factory at all, hell, mine's a 1998!

Or, "XFi cam" or "XFi modified" would be sweet also!

[Hacksaw]

I'm considering doing some freehand work...Maybe, "XFi'd" or "XFi'ed", and would like to add the HP below it. Which sounds good to you all?

Congrats to all who have made the cam swap. I've been pleased with my XFi grind also, and continue to track my increase before permanently adding any mods or changing ignition timing. Factory spec for timing is 5 degrees advanced for my '95 and I kept it there after the XFi swap. Taking into consideration that there is 6 degrees advance ground into the baseline of the XFi cam already, where should my ultimate sweet spot be when I finally do advance the ignition timing? Any proven settings on otherwise stock engines?(no advanced cam gears..)

Anyone considering this swap should just dive right in...I did it the long way, meaning I removed the crank pulley and timing cover, and it was only a two hour job. I couldn't bring myself to cut a perfect condition Timing Cover in half. Anyways, 2 hours...most of us waste that much time in front of the computer each night. I would be more than willing to talk people through it, if that's what it takes to motivate someone. Just PM me.

Parts You'll Need:
One XFi cam regrind (Through Superfly or Delta Cams)
One Valve Cover Gasket set that includes the 4 grommets (about $16.00)
One new O-ring Seal for your distributor that has been leaking anyway.
One Gasket for between the distributor adapter block and #3 cam cap. (take heed, there are TWO bolts that hold the adapter to the head and cam cap...one bolt is revealed once you pull the distributor.)
One camshaft Lip Seal that resides in #1 cam cap (behind the cam gear)
One Timing Belt if yours is near the serviceable mileage limit.

Tools You'll need:
One 10mm socket (I used a deepwell 3/8 drive
One 10mm combination wrench
One 8mm six-point socket with long extension to remove the 4 or 5 crankshaft pulley bolt through fenderwell in 5th gear (neutral to rotate engine)
One 17mm? 1/2 drive w/breaker bar and metal dowel to break loose the cam bolt (cam has hole for dowel to keep it from rotating, pad the valve covers' sealing surface!)
One Center Punch and Small Hammer to rotate the steel/rubber grommets that are under the acorn nuts holding the valve cover on. (tap in CCW direction to spin off. I would think a small, electric, handheld engraver would work perfect here, but didn't have mine handy at the time.)
One Induction Timing Light and a Paper Clip to jumper the diagnostic terminal when setting your ignition timing. (located on firewall behind driver's strut tower with rubber boot over it. Sticker on hood diagrams which two connectors to jumper.)
Some camshaft "break-in" lube would be ideal for cam lobes and lifters.
20 minutes at about 2000rpm!!! Tach would be nice here...

Loosening the alternator isn't necessary to remove the alt/water pump belt, just remove the water pump pulley bolts and tip it off its' pilot. When installing it, just stretch it back onto the pilot of the pump.

This is by no means an exhaustive guide...I'm sure I've forgotten something. Just trying to help you visualized the project to some extent.

EDIT: I wanted to add, that when I marked my timing belts' position, I used a black Sharpie. I made a mark on one tooth of each gear (cam & crank) and also colored the engaged teeth of the belt that meshed on ither side of the gear mark I made. Start by disconnecting the negative battery terminal!!! Also start job with sparkplugs out and #1 cylinder at top dead center with timing tag mark lined up. Have at it!!!

Hacksaw.

[pint]

Does anyone sell new XFi cams? Sorry if this is a dumb question! Just researching everything I need to buy/build a great Metro.

[MetroMPG]

Member "superf1y" (Mike) at teamswift.net sells them or re-ground "efficiency" cams with the XFi profile.

[Will]

Hacksaw-

Nice write up and good details. I may have to give it a go sometime, but I am sure I am not getting all I can out of what I got.

[Hacksaw]

Originally Posted by Will

Hacksaw-

Nice write up and good details. I may have to give it a go sometime, but I am sure I am not getting all I can out of what I got.

Thanks Will, If you need any help just give me a holler...

[kimer6]

I went ahead and put in my reground XFI cam. 3 hours from start to finish. It was as everyone described above. Torquier, better in lower rpm performance, smoother, suited to short shifting, and less throttle opening across the board. I like it!

The cam holds 2 valves open if you install it with the timing marks in line with the crank. This means that if the 3 cam bearings are not pulled down evenly, you are bending the cam. I noticed that if you turn the cam sprocket counterclockwise 1/6 turn, the cam lays almost flat and the hold down caps can be more easly pulled down evenly. Then turn the sprocket back to line up the marks for timing belt installation.

I put Redline Assembly Lube on the lobes and the cam journals for good measure. It started right up and I ran it at 1500 rpm for a few minutes to seat in. I also tweaked the ignition timing a little and dumped out the 90 weight transaxle oil after the first freeway test, and put in Mobile1 synthetic ATF. It shifts normally even though it is much thinner than 90 weight oil.

I got the reground cam from Delta Camshaft in Tacoma Washington (253) 572-2474. They said they are making a lot of cams for Metros. Mine came looking like brand new, hard to believe it was ever in an engine.

Somebody should make a short video "How To" for those back yarders who are nervous about changing cams. The hardest part was digging out the 4 little valve cover washers so I could see my cam!