Everyone always talks about how if your going to have an NA engine you want high compression, why is this? I have an intake, header and exhaust, i want to go NA is getting high compression pistons and stronger valve springs something i should do if i want to get high power cams? or how about without the cams? will these parts make a differnce?
Thanks
MacLean
PS- pardon my ignorance

 

Cams and valve train will allow air to get into the combustion chamber....agressive cams and what not will allow air to flow in and out of the combustion chamber at very high speed, however, at low speed they wont be too good because air could escape...thats why often times you'll see the power band shifting upwards, this is why you want to make a higher redline too (and accompanied by stronger valve train) because you need to take advantage of the ability of these cams to flow air.
Doing this allows you to keep the torque up when the engine is spinning fast, which translates into higher horsepower...higher horsepower which is a function of torque and speed, will give you benefits and options...depending on how you achieved it and what you can do about it...gearing is a wonderful thing Example is LS vs GSR vs ITR torque in these cars arent varied that much, but HP and 1/4 mile times are. Gearing....and power curve..

the pistons however, are use to compress the chamber's stuff and make a harder boom...the compression level increasing will get the contents to be very dense which will blow up with a bigger bang....which will result in more torque....thats why with FI cars, when someone goes to 8.5 : 1 CR in a 1.8 liter engine, you arent going to get torque before boost hits...


IMO, if your gonna get cams like from a CTR, you are gonna have to move the redline to get full benefit....high compression piston (CTR) will make it even better ...higher compression is also more efficient and clean burning look at the CR of the Insight and Prius.

Hope this helps.


[Modified by Ricehornet, 11:30 PM 9/1/2001]