IPD 'Street Performance Cam Kit'

[Mcloud]

Simple, straight forward answer, because they know people that know very little about engines will buy them. IPD has sold all kinds of products over the years that are absolute, dismal junk. Why? Because they make money doing so. I bought a 1993 240 that had a VX3 installed in it and had a free flowing exhaust as well. Other than having a lumpier idle, there was almost no difference between a stock 240 and that particular car. It might have made 10 more hp once it was way up in the RPM band. It felt no different accelerating than a stock 240. Somebody wasted over $200 on that 'mod". IPD still sells the MTC ignition switches that last anywhere from one week to one year, even though they have had many failures. I recently bought their guaranteed fit 240 wagon sun visor clips. $2 vs. $3 for OE. I thought, give them a try, how can anyone F-up a simple part like that? Well, they can. Whoever made the mold made the opening where the visor slips into the clip too small. Way too small. Attempting to lock the visor in place would result in ripping the vinyl off of the visor. I called them about it. The rep played dumb. "What is it about the clip that isn't correct?" I explained the problem. His response, "If you file material off of the opening they work fine". Caught lying to the customer. They knew exactly what they were selling. Pure junk. The point of this? I've been very dissatisfied with IPD for many years. There is a reason none of the original staff still work there. I have plenty of stories about their current culture and customer service that does not line up with what earned IPD a decent reputation in the Volvo community in the past.

Simple, straight forward answer, because they know people that know very little about engines will buy them. IPD has sold all kinds of products over the years that are absolute, dismal junk. Why? Because they make money doing so. I bought a 1993 240 that had a VX3 installed in it and had a free flowing exhaust as well. Other than having a lumpier idle, there was almost no difference between a stock 240 and that particular car. It might have made 10 more hp once it was way up in the RPM band. It felt no different accelerating than a stock 240. Somebody wasted over $200 on that 'mod". IPD still sells the MTC ignition switches that last anywhere from one week to one year, even though they have had many failures. I recently bought their guaranteed fit 240 wagon sun visor clips. $2 vs. $3 for OE. I thought, give them a try, how can anyone F-up a simple part like that? Well, they can. Whoever made the mold made the opening where the visor slips into the clip too small. Way too small. Attempting to lock the visor in place would result in ripping the vinyl off of the visor. I called them about it. The rep played dumb. "What is it about the clip that isn't correct?" I explained the problem. His response, "If you file material off of the opening they work fine". Caught lying to the customer. They knew exactly what they were selling. Pure junk. The point of this? I've been very dissatisfied with IPD for many years. There is a reason none of the original staff still work there. I have plenty of stories about their current culture and customer service that does not line up with what earned IPD a decent reputation in the Volvo community in the past.

Got a similar response about IPD from Rich Kushner at SWEDISH MOTORS, Marietta, PA. Be careful what you order from them. Hilarious about your visor clip episode! Well, may just leave in the stock cam for now, as gains over the powerband seem minimal. Guess the 'Turbo' cam would be the one to install when the time comes; ... want to see how Spock345 makes out with swap into his B31, K-JET. Have already learned much as a 'newbie' reading these posts.
Thanks.

 

[spock345]

Got a similar response about IPD from Rich Kushner at SWEDISH MOTORS, Marietta, PA. Be careful what you order from them. Hilarious about your visor clip episode! Well, may just leave in the stock cam for now, as gains over the powerband seem minimal. Guess the 'Turbo' cam would be the one to install when the time comes; ... want to see how Spock345 makes out with swap into his B31, K-JET. Have already learned much as a 'newbie' reading these posts.
Thanks.

That isn't to say that IPD doesn't have some good stuff. Their sway bars are good (although I think the rear bar is a bit much), the upper and lower chassis braces are clones of the OEM ones, etc. Really their best stuff are copies of the old competition service or R sport parts. You'll see the good ones are the things that sell quickly in the classifieds here and that people commonly put on their cars. The VX is not one of those things.

If the turbo goes well that might be the one to go for. But also the Enem V15 NA is very nice. Especially if you give it some more ignition advance and play with the cam timing with an adjustable gear. I'd go with one of those two pending what happens with my swap, since we have practically the same engine. I hope to have it installed and going through break in on Friday evening or this weekend. Depending on if I have the right shims in my parts supply to set clearances right.

 

[spock345]

Installed the IPD turbo cam last night. Overall the result compared to the B is meh. It certainly revs more freely from 4-6k. Decent torque on the low end. The idle is very smooth compared to the B. I'm going to double check the ignition timing and monkey with it a bit.

I should know more about power later this week as I am hauling some heads and an engine block over some hills this weekend, which is where I am hoping it shines.

 

[Radtap]

Simple, straight forward answer, because they know people that know very little about engines will buy them. IPD has sold all kinds of products over the years that are absolute, dismal junk. Why? Because they make money doing so. I bought a 1993 240 that had a VX3 installed in it and had a free flowing exhaust as well. Other than having a lumpier idle, there was almost no difference between a stock 240 and that particular car. It might have made 10 more hp once it was way up in the RPM band. It felt no different accelerating than a stock 240. Somebody wasted over $200 on that 'mod". IPD still sells the MTC ignition switches that last anywhere from one week to one year, even though they have had many failures. I recently bought their guaranteed fit 240 wagon sun visor clips. $2 vs. $3 for OE. I thought, give them a try, how can anyone F-up a simple part like that? Well, they can. Whoever made the mold made the opening where the visor slips into the clip too small. Way too small. Attempting to lock the visor in place would result in ripping the vinyl off of the visor. I called them about it. The rep played dumb. "What is it about the clip that isn't correct?" I explained the problem. His response, "If you file material off of the opening they work fine". Caught lying to the customer. They knew exactly what they were selling. Pure junk. The point of this? I've been very dissatisfied with IPD for many years. There is a reason none of the original staff still work there. I have plenty of stories about their current culture and customer service that does not line up with what earned IPD a decent reputation in the Volvo community in the past.

Ipd once sent me the wrong product and the rep denied it, even with pictures and everything, gave up. They list backordered product as in stock. If you order today they might ship it tomorrow if it's a really slow day, but expect 2-4 days until it's actually shipped, even if you pay for overnight. I try not to give them any more money unless I can't find what I need elsewhere. I wouldn't be surprised if I found out their shipping prices were marked up, I refuse to believe it costs as much as they charge to ship things.

 

[dl242gt]

Installed the IPD turbo cam last night. Overall the result compared to the B is meh. It certainly revs more freely from 4-6k. Decent torque on the low end. The idle is very smooth compared to the B. I'm going to double check the ignition timing and monkey with it a bit.

I should know more about power later this week as I am hauling some heads and an engine block over some hills this weekend, which is where I am hoping it shines.

Is this in the kjet B21F? If it's in an EZK car it really woke the motor up with a chipped box. I think with kjet you'd want to bump the compression a bit to help add power with using the cam n/a. With the V15 in my 93 it always felt like it could use a bit more compression. A flowed head and up near 10:1 and it probably really pops. That's my plan for the next one which I pick up tomorrow. a 91 5spd wagon.

 

[spock345]

Is this in the kjet B21F? If it's in an EZK car it really woke the motor up with a chipped box. I think with kjet you'd want to bump the compression a bit to help add power with using the cam n/a. With the V15 in my 93 it always felt like it could use a bit more compression. A flowed head and up near 10:1 and it probably really pops. That's my plan for the next one which I pick up tomorrow. a 91 5spd wagon.

Yep, K jet lambda with Bosch breakerless ignition. 9.3:1 compression, so stock for a late B21F. The lower overlap from the IPD turbo vs the V15 NA or the B cam definitely boosts dynamic compression up a bit. I'll have to do some math to see where it sits. Then play with the ignition advance. Clearances are good, although on the looser end of the spec.

 

[shoestring]

Happy anniversary here, Spock! Live long and prosper and stuff like that...

 

[volvosruinedmylife]

V cam is the truth.

Have a v cam in my 740 +t I like it ether than my ipd turbo cam in my b21ft, but totally different beasts.

 

[spock345]

Another update on the IPD turbo in a B21F. One particular hill in town that used to give me trouble isn't anymore. The car was actually accelerating while I went up the hill. Might be a bunch of other factors involved, and the car was empty other than me with only a quarter tank of gas. More testing is needed.

 

[Mcloud]

I bet a VX would do worse than the stock B you have in your car.

OD, can you explain why? The IPD VX3 is a billet cam, improved from older cams, with more 'grunt' in lower and midrange, where I want it.
Thanks.

 

[Mcloud]

Yes, it'll work fine with your valve train. Are you doing the cam change yourself, or having it done? If you're doing it yourself, check your valve lash. You may, or may not need to change a/some puck(s)/shim(s).

Will have PRECISION VOLVO, Schenectady, NY, do the cam install. They specialize in older Volvos, unlike a dealership. Leave it to the pros, lest I miss a detail and screw it up. Am still thinking of the IPD VX3 Kit, a billet design, with more 'grunt' low and midrange, where I want it.
Thanks.

 

[Mcloud]

Because the "VX" (VX3) is a stock grind from Volvo, reproduced by IPD even though you can still order it from Volvo. It's a split pattern cam that was offered with a different head as a tuning package for the LH2.4 B230F's in Europe. It's better than an M for making power above 3k rpms, and probably makes emissions on LH injection cars happy, but the exhaust profile is just way too small. IPD's HP gains they show with the cam are from the B230FB, which would have different ecu tuning, a big port head, and I think even an exhaust. Look at the profile of your B cam, and the VX. The VX will have more lift on the intake, but less duration on the exhaust, If you want something hotter than a B, then you're going to want something with near 12mm of lift.

OK, thanks. This answers my question. My car is a 1980 GT, M46, all stock. What cam is in the car? Thanks.

 

[dl242gt]

OK, thanks. This answers my question. My car is a 1980 GT, M46, all stock. What cam is in the car? Thanks.

You should have a B cam in a US model GT with lambda Kjet. The hotter cam that was used in the B21E cars is called the D cam. A B21 with the D cam and some raised compression will be a more fun car. They show up once in awhile here in the US.

 

[OVERDRIVE]

OD, can you explain why? The IPD VX3 is a billet cam, improved from older cams, with more 'grunt' in lower and midrange, where I want it.
Thanks.

Look at specs for the B and VX, both the intake and exhaust profile. The VX is not "improved from older cams" it's an emissions stop gap for the LH B230F that Volvo sold for the European markets paired with a 531 head. You can look at these dyno results from different cams. The VX3 has the least torque of these cams, the X exhaust profile really hurts the VX3, comparing it to the V, and the T cam makes more HP below 4k rpms. The VX3 is really no good anywhere in the rev range. My V cam was $150, save your money.

 

[dl242gt]

If you want to spend money on a good aftermarket cam. Check out an enem V15 n/a version. It's a street performance cam with a combination of cam specs that Volvo used on various cams. It approaches the power of the Volvo K cam but not quite. However, the cam is better below high rpms and is emissions friendly.

 

[DD Ranch]

If you want to spend money on a good aftermarket cam. Check out an enem V15 n/a version. It's a street performance cam with a combination of cam specs that Volvo used on various cams. It approaches the power of the Volvo K cam but not quite. However, the cam is better below high rpms and is emissions friendly.

I was already planning on a V15 N/A for my 91. But thank you, seriously, for the best summary, comparison and perspective I have read yet. I have really just got to pull the trigger. Very soon now.