Kelford camshafts, Honda K20C1 2.0 Turbo (2015-2026)

Kelford camshafts, Honda K20C1 2.0 Turbo

Kelford is a New Zealand camshaft manufacturer with roots in Christchurch dating back to 1968. Its profiles range from upgrades for street-driven cars to fully built race engines. Choose the cam around the rest of the engine and its intended use, rather than simply picking the longest duration.

This selection is for the Honda K20C1 2.0 Turbo engine. Profile differences, spring recommendations and required modifications are detailed below.

Technical specifications – available profiles for this engine

Profile 279-A

For a K20C1 Civic Type R street or track-day engine making over 450 hp with a 54–66 mm turbo upgrade. Adds mid-range and top-end pull. High lift requires upgraded springs, KVS279-BT is recommended up to 9,000 rpm. Check piston-to-valve clearance. Low-speed exhaust lobe: 240° / 9.9 mm.

Manufacturer profile information

Profile 279-B

Circuit, roll racing or drag profile for a built K20C1 making over 700 hp with a turbo of at least 64 mm. The high lift requires upgraded springs, with KVS279-BT recommended up to 9250 rpm. Piston-to-valve clearance must be checked. Low exhaust lobe: 256° / 9.90 mm.

Manufacturer profile information

Profile 279-EZ

A drop-in K20C1 Civic Type R profile for street and track-day use. Designed to be gentler on the valvetrain with standard springs and increased boost. Adds mid-range and top-end pull while retaining smooth idle. Suitable for the stock turbo or a 48–55 mm bolt-on upgrade with ECU tuning. Retain the factory rev limit with stock springs. Low-speed exhaust lobe: 234° / 9.8 mm.

Manufacturer profile information

Checking heights are shown with the duration figures. Net lift is the net valve movement specified by the manufacturer, while cam lift is listed separately. IVO/IVC denote intake valve opening/closing and EVO/EVC exhaust valve opening/closing. BTDC/ATDC mean before/after top dead centre, and BBDC/ABDC before/after bottom dead centre.

Installation and profile selection

Confirm the exact engine version, valvetrain design and the modifications required by the profile. Check cam timing and valve-to-piston clearance during installation. Springs, lifters and other supporting parts mentioned with a profile are not included unless the profile explicitly states that they come with the kit.

Examples of related vehicle applications

• Honda Civic Type R FK2 (2015–2017)
• Honda Civic Type R FK8 (2017–2022)
• Honda Civic Type R FL5 (2022–2026)

The list covers versions with the specified engines only. Exact fitment and required modifications depend on the selected profile, cylinder head, lifters and timing system.

Kelford Cams