Best "drop in" cam

[mrnate400ex]

There a quite a few drop in cams including hotcams. I am looking for a good mid to top end cam for my 426 11:1 JE piston. I have heard that the magnum stage 2 is very similar to the web 479 grind and I've thought about that one. But, I have no knowledge of reading the numbers on cams to get the best cam that would suit my needs. Curtis Sparks also has an aggressive drop in cam. Anyone use this?? Anyway, post your general thoughts on a good cam for what I am looking for. Thanks!!!

[04TRX400EX]

I would recommend a Stage 2 Hot Cam. There are some other manufacturers out there, like Sparks, Web Cams, etc. but Hot Cams is a widely-used cam for atv's and you never hear anything bad or negative about them. The numbers or designation of the cams have to do with where they give you power (based on the lift duration of the cam). Hot Cams for example, come in a Stage 1, 2, and 3. Stage 1 is for low to mid-end torque. Stage 2 is designed for increased mid to top-end performance, but you do sacrifice a little torque. With your engine mods though, the slight decrease in low-end won't be a problem. Stage 3 cams are made only for large bore kits over 440cc.

[GPracer2500]

This stage three business is confusing. I don't think Hotcams ever marketed anything as a "stage 3" (despite what some retailer's catalogue might have listed). To my knowledge there is a stg 1 cam, a stg 2 cam, a stroker cam, and there is an old stg 2 cam (slightly different from the current stg 2) that is no longer made by Hotcams.

[underpowered]

Originally posted by GPracer2500
This stage three business is confusing. I don't think Hotcams ever marketed anything as a "stage 3" (despite what some retailer's catalogue might have listed). To my knowledge there is a stg 1 cam, a stg 2 cam, a stroker cam, and there is an old stg 2 cam (slightly different from the current stg 2) that is no longer made by Hotcams.

Correct. Although on the stage 3 hotmcam, better known as the stroker cam, is listed as a stage 3 as well as the stroker cam. On the box it comes in it says "stage 3", but is marketed as a stroker cam.

[hondaboy400ex55]

would one of these stroker cams work in a stock motor with my mods below????

[GPracer2500]

The Hotcams stroker cam has got to be WAY to much cam for a stock motor.

[04'400ex'er]

I was under the influence that the new hc stg3 was just the old stg 2, and that they had a new grind cam for the stg 2.

Regardless, the old stg 2 is just what you want. KILLER midrange, with tons of top to go along with it. and very minimal loss on bottom. The best $130 you can spend on a 400EX

[mrnate400ex]

so you guys are all pretty set on the hot cams. i was hoping to be a little "different" from the rest of the pack. let me hear some other experiences with other cams.

[pmptrk]

I dont have any experience with it, but from doing a lot of searching I have seen the highest opinion of the HRC cam in comparison to others.

[mrnate400ex]

i have heard great things about the hrc cam as well, but i can't seem to find it anywhere. i also heard that it costs a lot!!!!

[pmptrk]

It is my understanding that the part number is: 14000-NKK-000 at servicehonda.com for $277.

[Rico]

I've ran a few drop in cams including the stage 2 and the HRC is what I run now and always will. Best drop in cam for the 400ex hands down. But yes it's a little on the expensive side.

[NCexRider]

Originally posted by pmptrk
It is my understanding that the part number is: 14000-NKK-000 at servicehonda.com for $277.

So this is the part # for the 400EX cam, right?

[pmptrk]

I'm 95% sure that is the part number for the xr400 HRC cam, which is a complete drop in on the 400ex. They don't make an HRC listed for the 400ex, but the xr400 one is what all the hype is about. Anyone 100% on this part number?

[NCexRider]

Originally posted by pmptrk
I'm 95% sure that is the part number for the xr400 HRC cam, which is a complete drop in on the 400ex. They don't make an HRC listed for the 400ex, but the xr400 one is what all the hype is about. Anyone 100% on this part number?


bump. Anyone?

[GYOGI65]

DID A LOT OF READING WHEN I WAS BUILDING A 2000 400EX AND A LOT OF THE OTHER WIDLY ADVERTISED CAMS NEEDED GUIDE REPLACEMENT AND HARDENED ROCKER ARMS AND WAS TOLD THAT RACERS CAN WEAR HARD FACING OFF IN A SEASON WITH OIL CHANGES AT EVERY RACE SO FOR A INEXPENSIVE MOD THAT IS A PURE DROP IN HOT CAMS IS THE ONE

MAYBE I AM WRONG WILLING TO HEAR OTHER OPIONS

[NCexRider]

Originally posted by pmptrk
It is my understanding that the part number is: 14000-NKK-000 at servicehonda.com for $277.

Is this the correct part # for the 400EX HJC cam? Anyone?:confused:

[Rico]

I can't remember what the part number was for my HRC cam. There's a few versions of this cam out there, a copy cam, hop up XR400 cam and then the true HRC cam.

Contact GT Thunder, Laz has them in stock.

[pmptrk]

I talked to laz and he said that honda discontinued it. Though service honda shows a part number, he said it is discontinued. I called service honda and they verified that it WAS recently discontinued. ANY ideas on where else to find one?

[pmptrk]

after talking with a lot of people, the HRC is no where to be found. xrsonly.com does have a "copy" of the HRC. Anyone had experience with the copy cam?

I also had a recommendation to talk to this (www.crowerpower.com) guy about his cams, and his knowledge and experience makes me feel pretty confident in his. The person at xrsonly was very unhelpful and almost rude, which makes me not want to buy anything from them.

With all the positive that I have heard about the HRC, I want something similar. With feedback saying that it blows away hotcam, I would rather not go that route knowing there is something better.

[coryatver]

This is dissapointing! :mad: :mad:

[GPracer2500]

The GT Thunder or the WB Track or the WEB 450/451 cam (they are copies of one another) are pretty darn close to the same grind as the HRC cam. I'm not sure on the availabilty those either though.

Cam spec info (http://www.exriders.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=224516&highlight=camshafts)

[pmptrk]

wow, i bet that took some time. Thats a great comparison chart, thanks for posting it. After reading up a little more and looking at that chart, I think I am leaning towards the new stage 2 hotcam.

[coryatver]

Has anyone used the GT thunder/ wb one? How is it for Cross country compared to the HRC?

[GPracer2500]

I used to have the WB Track cam in a 406 at 10.5:1. It worked nicely for everything I did. Rarely did I ride quads on the MX track--mostly trails and dunes. I wish I still had that cam so I could swap it out with the HC stg 2 (old version) I have now in my 416 just to compare and see which one I liked better.

WB use to sell engine kits which included a new piston, one of their cams, and their CDI box. The stage 1 version was the 406 piston and the Track cam. I wouldn't hesitate to use the Track cam for any type of riding.

The only thing about the WB cams is that they are re-grinds of stock cams so you have to have a stock cam available as a core to send them. Or maybe you can just pay the core charge but then that would add on significantly to the price of the cam. Either way, that's one very nice feature of Hotcams products--no core required.

I bet if Hotcams made a copy of the HRC grind they would sell a whole bunch of them--I know I'd like to try one.