Both cams installed (J-Spec and Mazdaspeed). Bumpy idle...
 

Well, I finally got the Mazdaspeed exhaust cam installed too. Now my idle is bumpy. Not so much and exhaust sound, but the feel at idle is bumpy. Everything is installed very precisely, so I know that is not an issue.

Anyone else have this with the J-Spec intake and Mazdaspeed exhaust camshafts installed?

I do, idle is glass smooth. Sounds like you may be a tooth off. I can't tell a difference in the cams until you get up above 4500rpms. They drive like stock for me.

I sear I don't have a tooth off, but I am taking her down tomorrow to check again. Any tips on lining that shit up? BTW, this is one of those Shaneracing re-pinned intake cams on the exhaust side. Could that be a problem. I notice power everywhere, but have a shitty idle. I wonder if it could be the plug wires? I have had them on and off the car so much with changing plugs that they could have been pulled on and moved around too much (that is actually not good to do to plug wires too much).

Well, I ordered new plug wires just incase, but i am checking the cam tormorrow just incase (hope I can re-use a 2 day old cam cover gasket :) ).

BTW, my idle has always been shitty with this car, even when completely stock. I have tried adjusting it up as much as the computer would allow me, but it hasn't helped much. I wonder if I took it back to my dealer, which is okay with the mods, they could adjust it better? Also, would I have to take the MP3 computer out for that?

I was thinking about gettting the J-spec cams for my car but want to do the install my self instead of paying somone $200 to do it. Is there anyway one of yall that has it installed could do a write-up on it?

Well I fixed it. First off, I know what I am doing. I have built engines for years, and although I may ask for advice from time to time it is because I am a chronic second-guesser and I figure why not ask someone else what they did; just in case. So yea, this stuff is not rocket science. I know what a cam lope is, and this problem was not a lope. I called it a bump because I was hesitant to call it a miss, but that is really what it felt like just without the exhaust sound most misses make.

Now, I went back and checked every thing: TDC-yes; Marks lined up-yes; new timing belt and tensioner spring-yes.

So since I have changed spark plugs numerous times in order to find just the right ones, my wires have been bent and twisted a lot. Not a good thing for ignition wires. So I went to Advance and ordered some Magstar wired in red for it ($29). Guess what? Problem fixed. Kind of what I suspected, but I wanted to ask you guys to be sure. Now you can feel that these are bigger cams at idle, but it is a consistent feel not an irratic bump/miss.

The power is better everywhere, not just over 4500rpm. I guess I have a good combo (though I would like to try a 626 manifold eventually). Of course my butt-o-meter is very finely tuned :bt: .

Also, here is some wire info I found on a DSM forum:

But does it matter for our cars? The wires (only 2 of 'em/the other two are direct coil) are less than a foot?

I doubt it. I just wanted to show that the Magstar wires aren't too bad coming from advance. :bt:

ahhh... okay. Good info! Thanks!

there is a complete rite up on cam installation on Msprotege.com in the how to section. check it out it is good. And full of pics and numbered parts.

With just the j-spec intake cam, i only notice the power above 4000 rpm. It must be the exhaust cam that is giving you the power through out the power band, i wouldnt know I dont have one.

If you are interested in installing cams and doing it quickly with little hassle, go talk to a DSM guy, they have all kinds of fun tricks for installing them. i was able to get my intake cam completely installed in 35 min. with my only help being a few bungie cords and ten min. on the phone with a buddy of mine.

Thanks to mattsstang87 for those numbers on the ignition wires, I just hit 75k on my car so they are due for replacement

Yea, with just the intake it was all above 4000-4500rpm, but now I REALLY can notice it everywhere.

Where can i pick up an exhaust cam??

SR Motorsports should have them...

Is it the J-Spec FS ZE Mazdaspeed Exhaust Cam (If so, is it the Old version or the revised version?), Or is it the American FS DET Mazdaspeed Exhaust Cam?