Fiat 1608 Camshaft US vs European

[Racer51h]

Does anybody know if the Fiat stock camshaft profiles are different betwen he US and Europe for the 1608?

Will

[cthargiss]

Will , According to the information I have, The US and Euro 1608's had the same cams untill 1975 when the 1608 stopped coming into the US. Later euro only 1608's had several different cams depending on installation. FWD, RWD, AWD, FIAT, Lancia.

Craig

[Will]

I've profiled 1608 cams from Germany, Austria, and NZ. All matched the standard profile common to US spec cars.
The 1608 cam debate seems to have originated from FIAT changing the checking clearance they used for measurement. By reducing the checking clearance, the cam was quoted at a slightly higher lift and longer duration than other cams of the era. No idea why FIAT did thid, but in addition to FIAT's spec sheets, there's also a small note to this effect in the Chilton manual for the FIAT and X-1/9.
This confusion was further compounded when it was shown in a table in a well-known tuning book, and the author of that book continued to promote the "hot 1608 cam" theory.
For more on cams, and the resulting profiles, consult the photos section, Will Holding's album/ Cam Profiles
After I degreed out these cams, I had to take a lot of heat over standing up to a "leading expert", so I made the raw data plots available here. Evaluate them yourself.
There is one mistake in that graph, in that two of the labels on the SOHC cams have been transposed, I just haven't straightened in out yet (microsoft graph error).
-Will

[Allen Lofland]

Will , you might have taken the heat but I took the financial loss hehe.
Some guy in New Zealand sold me a doncumented set of 1608 Euro cams and then I sent them to you for measurement and we know the rest of the Story.
If there is anybody out there in Fiat Land that thinks 1608 Euro cams are something special,,,make me an offer, I have a bonified set from a Euro 1608 coupe that was in New Zealand. :)

[arc]

May I ask who that New Zealander was? It's just that I have recently purchased something, it could be the same guy! Thanks.

[Allen Lofland]

It is not important WHO it was, it is important that even HE thought the cams where better. :) No blame intended or implied :)

[arc]

Well it sought of is important considering dealers may be claiming extra performance in a pitch to sell them to unsuspecting customers, when they may very well know otherwise. But I don't want to know now anyway mate.