Alfa Romeo Owners Club of Australia Forum

Technical => 116 Series (Alfetta Sedan/GT/GTV & Giulietta Sedan) => Topic started by: Anth73 on July 10, 2020, 01:27:42 PM

Title: 164Q/SZ/75 Potenziata camshafts - where to buy?
Post by: Anth73 on July 10, 2020, 01:27:42 PM
Anybody know of a reputable source for the "S" cams used in the Bosch Motronic equipped 164Q/SZ/75 Potenziata 3L motors?

Looking for a modest improvement for my 3L GTV6 conversion and aware of the Colombo & Bariani "road medium" spec camshafts. But unsure if they'll play nicely with Bosch Motronic. At this stage I'm not going down the path of an aftermarket ECU.

Thanks,
Anth
Title: Re: 164Q/SZ/75 Potenziata camshafts - where to buy?
Post by: bonno on July 10, 2020, 02:35:26 PM
Hi Anthony
Find attached links to O/S suppliers of performance camshafts. They all list the Colombo & Bariani Med and Max camshafts, with the Max for street use as detailed on Centreline website (pollution laws). NB The Gazzella Racing site details Road Max profile.
Gazzella Racing
https://www.gazzellaracing.com/cart.php?target=product&product_id=18439
Centreline (USA)
https://centerlinealfa.com/store?tag=Camshafts&model=119
EB Spares (UK)
https://ebspares.co.uk/part/A/EB8/EB8051.cfm
Title: Re: 164Q/SZ/75 Potenziata camshafts - where to buy?
Post by: Anth73 on July 11, 2020, 10:28:12 AM
Thanks Bonno I did see the C&B cams on those websites and read a few reviews on AlfaBB. Mixed opinions, as ever, and much discussion about their profiling. My V6 will have 10:1 pistons and a full CSC exhaust so unsure if the "road medium" or "road max" will be better. It's a road car so I don't want to kill bottom end torque.

The SZ/164Q/75P cams seem to be consistently referred to as the best all round "fast road" cam balancing driveability with modest performance gains. Jim K has a nice chapter in his book on cams too that I currently re-reading too.
Title: Re: 164Q/SZ/75 Potenziata camshafts - where to buy?
Post by: rowan_bris on July 11, 2020, 10:46:03 AM
Why wouldn't you ask Vin Sharp especially given you are in Melbourne?
Title: Re: 164Q/SZ/75 Potenziata camshafts - where to buy?
Post by: Anth73 on July 11, 2020, 02:43:33 PM
Quote from: rowan_bris on July 11, 2020, 10:46:03 AM
Why wouldn't you ask Vin Sharp especially given you are in Melbourne?

Yes good point! I'll reach out to Vin and see what he thinks.
Title: Re: 164Q/SZ/75 Potenziata camshafts - where to buy?
Post by: Anth73 on July 13, 2020, 09:09:02 PM
Camshafts are certainly a black art with countless opinions making it a real minefield. So I had another chat with Hugh Harrison regarding my V6 build and he recalled Wade Cams used to have a 164Q grind many years ago. Wade Cams ceased business in 2014 however, many of their cam profiles and equipment was bought by a former employee, Clive, who runs his own business called Clive Cams in Ferntree Gully.

I spoke with Clive late today and he's a wonderfully knowledgable gentleman, 50+ years in the trade and still has the Wade Cams 164Q cam profile in his collection.

So the good news is Clive can regrind my existing cams to 164Q specs at a significant cost saving to buying new C&B cams or aftermarket SZ/164Q cams from O/S.

Feel free to PM me for further details.