Kelford camshafts, Nissan RB26DETT
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 Nissan RB26DETT engine. Profile differences, spring recommendations and required modifications are detailed below.
Technical specifications – available profiles for this engine
Profile 182-B
Short duration and high lift balance throttle response with power. Suitable for upgraded twin turbos or a 56–68 mm single turbo. Retains the factory base circle, but head machining is required for lobe clearance. Recommended springs: KVS15 or KVS1855-BT. Supplied with a spline/half-moon trigger as standard, specify a yoke-style trigger when ordering if required.
| Specification | Intake | Exhaust |
|---|---|---|
| Valve clearance | 0.25mm cold at the cam | 0.30mm cold at the cam |
| Cam lift | 10.25mm | 10.25mm |
| Rocker ratio | 1 | 1 |
| Net valve lift | 10.00mm | 9.95mm |
| Advertised duration @ 0.35mm | 260° | 260° |
| Duration @ 1.00mm valve lift | 226° | 226° |
| Timing IVO @ 1.00mm valve lift | 3 BTDC | – |
| Timing IVC @ 1.00mm valve lift | 43 ABDC | – |
| Timing EVO @ 1.00mm valve lift | – | 47 BBDC |
| Timing EVC @ 1.00mm valve lift | – | 1 BTDC |
| Suggested centre lines | 110° | 114° |
| Valve lift at TDC | 1.19mm | 0.65 mm |
Manufacturer profile information
Profile 182-C
A higher-lift profile with more top-end pull than 182-B. Suitable for upgraded twin turbos or a 64–76 mm single turbo. Retains the factory base circle, but head machining is required for lobe clearance. Recommended springs: KVS15 or KVS1855-BT. Supplied with a spline/half-moon trigger, specify the yoke version when ordering if required.
| Specification | Intake | Exhaust |
|---|---|---|
| Valve clearance | 0.25mm cold at the cam | 0.30mm cold at the cam |
| Cam lift | 10.25mm | 10.25mm |
| Rocker ratio | 1 | 1 |
| Net valve lift | 10.00mm | 9.95mm |
| Advertised duration @ 0.35mm | 272° | 272° |
| Duration @ 1.00mm valve lift | 234° | 234° |
| Timing IVO @ 1.00mm valve lift | 7 BTDC | – |
| Timing IVC @ 1.00mm valve lift | 47 ABDC | – |
| Timing EVO @ 1.00mm valve lift | – | 53 BBDC |
| Timing EVC @ 1.00mm valve lift | – | 1 ATDC |
| Suggested centre lines | 110° | 116° |
| Valve lift at TDC | 1.73mm | 1.05 mm |
Manufacturer profile information
Profile 182-C-R34
A higher-lift profile with more top-end pull than 182-B. Suitable for upgraded twin turbos or a 64–76 mm single turbo. Retains the factory base circle, but head machining is required for lobe clearance. Recommended springs: KVS15 or KVS1855-BT. Supplied with a spline/half-moon trigger, specify the yoke version when ordering if required. The R34 cam trigger differs from earlier RB26 versions. Select this version for the R34 sensor.
| Specification | Intake | Exhaust |
|---|---|---|
| Valve clearance | 0.25mm cold at the cam | 0.30mm cold at the cam |
| Cam lift | 10.25mm | 10.25mm |
| Rocker ratio | 1 | 1 |
| Net valve lift | 10.00mm | 9.95mm |
| Advertised duration @ 0.35mm | 272° | 272° |
| Duration @ 1.00mm valve lift | 234° | 234° |
| Timing IVO @ 1.00mm valve lift | 7 BTDC | – |
| Timing IVC @ 1.00mm valve lift | 47 ABDC | – |
| Timing EVO @ 1.00mm valve lift | – | 53 BBDC |
| Timing EVC @ 1.00mm valve lift | – | 1 ATDC |
| Suggested centre lines | 110° | 116° |
| Valve lift at TDC | 1.73mm | 1.05 mm |
Manufacturer profile information
Profile 182-S
A split intake-lobe design combining different intake-valve durations with high lift. Balances throttle response and top-end pull with a 62–72 mm turbo and E85. A ported head and 1 mm oversize valves are recommended. Reduced base circle, head machining is required for lobe clearance. Recommended springs: KVS1855-BT. Standard spline/half-moon trigger, specify the yoke version when ordering if required.
| Specification | Intake | Exhaust |
|---|---|---|
| Valve clearance | 0.25mm cold at the cam | 0.30mm cold at the cam |
| Cam lift | 10.80mm | 10.80mm |
| Rocker ratio | 1 | 1 |
| Net valve lift | 10.55mm | 10.50mm |
| Advertised duration @ 0.10mm | 274° | 274° |
| Duration @ 1.00mm valve lift | 236° | 236° |
| Timing IVO @ 1.00mm valve lift | 8 BTDC | – |
| Timing IVC @ 1.00mm valve lift | 48 ABDC | – |
| Timing EVO @ 1.00mm valve lift | – | 54 BBDC |
| Timing EVC @ 1.00mm valve lift | – | 2 ATDC |
| Suggested centre lines | 110° | 116° |
| Valve lift at TDC | 1.88mm | 1.18 mm |
Manufacturer profile information
Profile 182-S-R34
A split intake-lobe design combining different intake-valve durations with high lift. Balances throttle response and top-end pull with a 62–72 mm turbo and E85. A ported head and 1 mm oversize valves are recommended. Reduced base circle, head machining is required for lobe clearance. Recommended springs: KVS1855-BT. Standard spline/half-moon trigger, specify the yoke version when ordering if required. The R34 cam trigger differs from earlier RB26 versions. Select this version for the R34 sensor.
| Specification | Intake | Exhaust |
|---|---|---|
| Valve clearance | 0.25mm cold at the cam | 0.30mm cold at the cam |
| Cam lift | 10.80mm | 10.80mm |
| Rocker ratio | 1 | 1 |
| Net valve lift | 10.55mm | 10.50mm |
| Advertised duration @ 0.10mm | 274° | 274° |
| Duration @ 1.00mm valve lift | 236° | 236° |
| Timing IVO @ 1.00mm valve lift | 8 BTDC | – |
| Timing IVC @ 1.00mm valve lift | 48 ABDC | – |
| Timing EVO @ 1.00mm valve lift | – | 54 BBDC |
| Timing EVC @ 1.00mm valve lift | – | 2 ATDC |
| Suggested centre lines | 110° | 116° |
| Valve lift at TDC | 1.88mm | 1.18 mm |
Manufacturer profile information
Profile 182-SE
A split intake-lobe profile with a larger exhaust profile for a 3.0-litre or larger bottom end. Suitable for a 64 mm or larger turbo and E85. A ported head and 1 mm oversize valves are recommended. Reduced base circle, requires head machining for lobe clearance. Suggested springs: KVS1855-BT. Standard spline/half-moon trigger, specify the yoke version when ordering if required.
| Specification | Intake | Exhaust |
|---|---|---|
| Valve clearance | 0.25mm cold at the cam | 0.30mm cold at the cam |
| Cam lift | 10.80mm | 10.80mm |
| Rocker ratio | 1 | 1 |
| Net valve lift | 10.55mm | 10.50mm |
| Advertised duration @ 0.35mm | 274° | 280° |
| Duration @ 1.00mm valve lift | 236° | 242° |
| Timing IVO @ 1.00mm valve lift | 8 BTDC | – |
| Timing IVC @ 1.00mm valve lift | 48 ABDC | – |
| Timing EVO @ 1.00mm valve lift | – | 59 BBDC |
| Timing EVC @ 1.00mm valve lift | – | 3 ATDC |
| Suggested centre lines | 110° | 118° |
| Valve lift at TDC | 1.88mm | 1.34 mm |
Manufacturer profile information
Profile 182-SF
A high-lift split intake-lobe profile for high-rpm, full-throttle racing with a 68 mm or larger turbo. Intended for E85 or methanol. A ported head and 1 mm oversize valves are recommended. Reduced base circle, head machining is required for lobe clearance. Recommended springs: KVS1855-BT.
| Specification | Intake | Exhaust |
|---|---|---|
| Valve clearance | 0.25mm cold at the cam | 0.25mm cold at the cam |
| Cam lift | 11.35mm | 11.35mm |
| Rocker ratio | 1 | 1 |
| Net valve lift | 11.10mm | 11.10mm |
| Advertised duration @ 0.35mm | 288° | 292° |
| Duration @ 1.00mm valve lift | 248° | 254° |
| Timing IVO @ 1.00mm valve lift | 12 BTDC | – |
| Timing IVC @ 1.00mm valve lift | 56 ABDC | – |
| Timing EVO @ 1.00mm valve lift | – | 67 BBDC |
| Timing EVC @ 1.00mm valve lift | – | 7 ATDC |
| Suggested centre lines | 112° | 120° |
| Valve lift at TDC | 2.29mm | 1.64 mm |
Manufacturer profile information
Profile 182-SG
A high-lift split-lobe drag profile for high boost and an 80 mm or larger turbo on alcohol fuel. A ported head and 1 mm oversize valves are recommended. Reduced base circle, requires head machining for lobe clearance. Suggested springs: KVS1855-BT.
| Specification | Intake | Exhaust |
|---|---|---|
| Valve clearance | 0.25mm cold at the cam | 0.30mm cold at the cam |
| Cam lift | 11.35mm | 11.40mm |
| Rocker ratio | 1 | 1 |
| Net valve lift | 11.10mm | 11.10mm |
| Advertised duration @ 0.35mm | 292° | 300° |
| Duration @ 1.00mm valve lift | 254° | 260° |
| Timing IVO @ 1.00mm valve lift | 16 BTDC | – |
| Timing IVC @ 1.00mm valve lift | 58 ABDC | – |
| Timing EVO @ 1.00mm valve lift | – | 70 BBDC |
| Timing EVC @ 1.00mm valve lift | – | 10 ATDC |
| Suggested centre lines | 111° | 120° |
| Valve lift at TDC | 2.66mm | 1.93 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
- Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 (1989–1994)
- Nissan Skyline GT-R R33 (1995–1998)
- Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 (1999–2002), select correct CAS trigger version
- Nissan Stagea 260RS Autech (1997–2001)
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.
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