Questions for the AWD members who've had 380 cams fitted.
I'm considering this as an easy way to improve performance.
Already did the HM headers and a better exhaust. Not looking for "hot" cams or a special ECU tune, just a simple 380 cam install.
I'm just not sure whether the benefit will be significant or not and I want to hear from the owners who have them.
So for those who have them; was there a useful improvement in performance? Were they worthwhile ? And any negatives?

No AWD owner here did this? Will I be the first?

There are plenty of people who have done this with great success, but, going to a 3.8 is the best bang for your buck

Also, don't expect an answer straight away now days, as only a handful of people visit the forum. It's not like the old days pre Facebook pages.

There are plenty of people who have done this with great success, but, going to a 3.8 is the best bang for your buck

Also, don't expect an answer straight away now days, as only a handful of people visit the forum. It's not like the old days pre Facebook pages.
Nw, thanks maggie3.5. Hopefully someone will reply soon.
Well, going to a 3.8 motor is certainly an option, but my 6G74 is in top condition and running very well. If I can have the cams fitted with the regular timing belt change for a reasonable cost then it seems to make sense to do so.
I just want to hear about others experience who've done this on the AWD!

No AWD owner here did this? Will I be the first?



Me. As per PM discussion. Only worth doing if you are doing the 90K service or where you need to open the engine up. I had the water pump, belts etc all replaced.

Me. As per PM discussion. Only worth doing if you are doing the 90K service or where you need to open the engine up. I had the water pump, belts etc all replaced.
Oh yes, u have provided info already thanks vlad. You were saying that with all your mods its hard to say what the cams did. Mals given advice too about doing with timing belt.
I'm thinking of doing the cams and belt at the next service although the belts not due for another 15k's...

Yes. I did not dyno it after each mod so could not tell you how much of a difference the cams made.

I got some 380 cams in my TWII VRX AWD, but got the rest of it too.

For my 270,000 service I got Mal to fit a 120,000 km 3.8 motor. Its more than the sum of the parts and I'm very impressed. Its more economical, and has significantly more get up and go, I'm very pleased with the result.

My 3.5 was fine, but the incremental cost wasn't huge. I trailered down a bike that I could ride around on for a few days while the job was done, and reckon going home it used half a tank less fuel and had more grunt overtaking with the trailer and bike on, than without it when it was 3.5 stock.

Best bang for buck performance investment ever.

I got some 380 cams in my TWII VRX AWD, but got the rest of it too.

For my 270,000 service I got Mal to fit a 120,000 km 3.8 motor. Its more than the sum of the parts and I'm very impressed. Its more economical, and has significantly more get up and go, I'm very pleased with the result.

My 3.5 was fine, but the incremental cost wasn't huge---

---Best bang for buck performance investment ever.
When u say u got the cams and 'the rest of it' what did u mean?
And how was the improvement with the cams?

A 380 motor is a good idea, except my motor is still perfectly good.
Is about to hit 100k mark and still performs like new because i've looked afer it since the 25k mark. Even the KH's motor at 250k's is doing extremely well although i've replaced the seals. I think these engines go a long way when looked after.

I dont tow in the AWD, just mixed driving. I find its performance is very good, especially at lower speed with the better traction, but a little less powerful than the KH at higher speeds when wanting to overtake trucks and such more quickly. From about 90kmh up its slower to haul ass. Im hoping the 380 cams will be enough.

He was being cheeky. He means he has the engine with the cams.

My experience isn't with 380 cams (#15) but Ralliart cams (#7), which I'm told are the same lobe profile but with different ground-in timing: the #15s are about 3° retarded compared to the #7s at about 6° retarded (measured in crankshaft angles relative to TDC).

Because of the extra weight of the AWD and wanting to boost low end torque as much as possible, as well as having been able to obtain a set of Fidanza vernier cam gears when the AU$ was near its peak against the US$, I had the #7s installed 8° advanced (+4 on the cam vernier, which is half the angular displacement on the crankshaft). This achieved what I expected, with the top end still holding up well to close to 6000rpm.

I won't say the result was chalk and cheese, not least because I also had an major exhaust system not long beforehand which was in itself a source of noticeable improvement and this made the cam changes less noticeable than they would have otherwise been, however there was a noticeable improvement particularly at low revs (1000-2000). Now, when cold the car will upshift to 2nd gear at idle within about 3 car lengths on level ground and will still pull away positively from a standstill at idle when hot. While I do have a 95RON tune to complicate that assessment, I believe most of the improvement is from the cams and exhaust as I can switch back to the stock tune with only a barely perceptible reduction in response...

I would agree with the others who've said it is only economically justifiable if done as a DIY or as part of a cam belt replacement. Not having been in an AWD with a 3.8 conversion I can't assess the relative merits of that option.

WytWun, if youre ever in Adelaide, contact me & i'd be happy for you to have a drive of mine, if its of any interest.

WytWun, if youre ever in Adelaide, contact me & i'd be happy for you to have a drive of mine, if its of any interest.
Thanks for the offer zero! Sadly I don't like my chances of being able to take you up on it :(

Yes, I got the whole engine. As I said, there was nothing wrong with the 3.5, zero oil consumption @ 270,000 kms. Just a major service due, which was achieved with the 380 conversion.

What sparked the swap was interesting. Its basically the missus' car. She had been down the coast for a few days work and visiting her mum. Got home one Friday night and said the gearbox was on the blink, swapping up and down and generally not happy. She'd babied it up Brown Mt and eventually home. I'm thinking the notorious wave washer, and thinking maybe a 3k fix on a car that is worth may 5k operational. Perfectly good TWII VRX AWD, with dodgy gearbox is worth what? I opened the back door to go out and have a quick look and from 20 m away could smell burning oil. Hmmmm, ah well leave it till tomorrow and daylight.

Then got thinking, its worth so little as is, maybe its time for a new car. She just needs a commuter, so maye a Mazda 3, Kia, whatever. I have my toys and rarely drive the VRX. So next day we went car shopping and decided that maybe a Peugot 308 was in the future. Sunday she went to work and I went to have a good look at the VRX. Started it up and limped around to the shed with box locked in 1st gear. Seemed to have a misfire, maybe, and gearbox felt fine in 1st. Hmmmm.

Opened the bonnet and almost immediately spotted a plug lead on the front bank not on properly. Pulled it off and it wasn't on the plug. Leaking rocker gasket had pooled some oil, which got hot, and the gas pressure popped the lead, which sat close and then arced occasionaly to the plug burning the oil, and creating the smell. I syringed the oil out, pushed the lead back on and gearbox was fixed.

The misfire had been upsetting the gearbox......

So after some thought, we decided to spend 5k for a 380 conversion and some new suspension and other bits and bobs on what is still a very tidy car which she really likes, and I do too.

Mal did a great job, and the basic cost of the 380 conversion must be the best bang for buck performance upgrade known for anything I reckon. We're very pleased with the outcome, significantly improved performance everywhere, and better economy.

Didn't need a 380 conversion, just some superficial maintenance on the 3.5, but if you ever try one, you'll want one, recommended.

---
Mal did a great job, and the basic cost of the 380 conversion must be the best bang for buck performance upgrade known for anything I reckon. We're very pleased with the outcome, significantly improved performance everywhere, and better economy.

Didn't need a 380 conversion, just some superficial maintenance on the 3.5, but if you ever try one, you'll want one, recommended.
That makes sense BergDonk. The 380 conversion is both tempting and yet very hard to justify for me. The engine seems to be as good as new, its very clean and really only broken in at 97k's. I know the past 4 years of its service history and the timing belt isnt due for another 15k's. I cant imagine it would need a new water pump yet, or anything else spent on it.

Whats the cost of the timing belt change versus the 380 conversion - 1:3? And who knows what condition the replacement 6G75 would be in? Its a bit of a gamble.
If the KL's engine had significantly more k's I'd definitely consider it. Maybe I'll do it at the next timing belt change, if I still have it then.

Have you thought outside the box a little, had a customer, is on these forums as well in a similar situation to yourself

Had a KL AWD and a TF wagon. KL was clean car but wanted more go, low k's as well

End result was 3.8 into the KL, motor for the KL in to the fairly high K TF and he never looked back.

Have you thought outside the box a little, had a customer, is on these forums as well in a similar situation to yourself

Had a KL AWD and a TF wagon. KL was clean car but wanted more go, low k's as well

End result was 3.8 into the KL, motor for the KL in to the fairly high K TF and he never looked back.
Actually its a great idea Mal. I wish I'd thought of it before we did the last timng belt/water pump, rocker covers, plugs and seals a few months ago! KH continues to drive strong and wont be due for a belt for a while, but that may be the best plan in the end. If u find a really good example with low k's and been looked after then i might be tempted early.

In the meantime i'm thinking the cams would be good at the next timing belt change, which is coming up.