NineBolts

No full throttle might be why your AEM is quieter. I've done a lot of runs and from the outside world the AEM is louder. Perhaps from the cabin with the hood up it's quieter due to the filter being located further away.

MB

Potentially, but not something I want to do right now. I have been looking into itbs again though but doubt I will do it. I'm all about reliability!

NB, it could be the location of the filter. At 5000 rpm with the throttle planted, the K&N sounded like a CSL! AEM is really quiet...

Ultra_Nexus

Raising the rev limit will get you bottom end issues, although a couple of hundred more revs is doable.

The trick with having new cams is you can fine tune the VTEC. Off VTEC now optimises 5500 to 7500 and VTEC now does 7500 to 9000.

Below 4000rpm would be dog sh1t, but who cares Especially when your power under curve increases a fair whack.

Oh and as for exhaust weight, my BC Spec IV was a single, flowed well, sounded ace and wasn't crazy loud. It came in at 5kg so for less than £500, it was tough to beat.

MB

Yep. Although these cams are quite mild and don't really affect the low rpm. They generally give 10-15 bhp peak, which will be nice combined with the gears.

Dixon Motorsports

With those cams you don't need springs as it won't need to raise rpm limit. But is always safe to get the springs upgrade, there is no harm at all and the head won't need to come out either. It just for a peace of mind.

eSeM

When I had my cams installed some of the retainers were slightly stretched.

There were some issues in earlier cars with the retainers letting go and the design of the retatainers was changed around 04 for a slightly thicker, heavier retainer.

It seemed to be common practice to swap to using lighter titanium retainers with a cam upgrade but they have a lower life expectancy and need to be replaced every 20k miles.

I ended up replacing mine with newer OEM retainers.

Ultra_Nexus

Yeah, the 04 newer retainers are the preferred choice for the 'cammer'.

MB

Indeed. I've done my homework on this. It's not a cost issue, I just don't see the need unless I find they are damaged. I have an 05 engine, low miles and spot on compression readings.

OldDogmeat

Mark, Why don't you just stop messing around, grow a pair and get yourself involved in some form of competition.

You clearly have the means to do so and I expect if you did it you'd wonder why you hadn't done it a while ago.

I mean that as friendly advice btw and not criticism

I could see you doing sprints/hill climbs or perhaps if Dixons idea of an S2000 series takes off..

If only I had the disposable that you seem to have..

(like I say, not having a pop, just planting a seed.. go for it lad, you only live once)

MB

So the only thing to really do after this (yeah right!) is the battery and I will possibly look at Dixon doing a cage for me.