W-110 Camshaft, .430 Lift, 284 Duration, Hot Street

OVERVIEW

The Engle W-110 Camshaft is widely considered the gold standard for high-performance street Volkswagen engines. Whether you are building a spirited daily driver or a weekend canyon carver, the W-110 profile offers the perfect balance of aggressive power gains without sacrificing the low-end torque required for stop-and-go traffic. Engineered from high-strength billet blanks, Engle cams are legendary in the air-cooled community for their precise lobe profiles and long-term reliability. This camshaft is designed to wake up your 1600cc to 1914cc engine, providing a significant boost in the 2000 to 6000 RPM range, making it the most popular choice for enthusiasts looking for that classic VW "lope" and a noticeable seat-of-the-pants increase in acceleration.

Choosing an Engle W-110 means you are investing in decades of racing heritage and valvetrain expertise. Unlike generic "no-name" cams, Engle''s specific grind ensures that your lifters and pushrods work in harmony to reduce premature wear while maximizing valve opening speeds. This cam is specifically tailored for "Hot Street" and light off-road applications, meaning it plays well with dual carburetors and upgraded cylinder heads. It transforms the sluggish nature of a stock flat-four into a rev-happy powerhouse that still maintains enough vacuum for smooth idling. When you want the reliability of a factory part but the soul of a performance machine, the W-110 is the undisputed champion of the VW aftermarket.

FITMENT

This camshaft is designed for use in Type 1 based air-cooled engines. Please note that this is a 3-bolt style cam and requires a bolt-on cam gear (sold separately). It is compatible with the following models using 1600cc based magnesium or aluminum engine cases:

• Volkswagen Beetle: 1954-1977 (Standard and Super Beetle)
• Volkswagen Karmann Ghia: 1956-1974
• Volkswagen Bus / Transporter: 1954-1971 (Type 2)
• Volkswagen Type 3: 1961-1973 (Squareback, Fastback, Notchback)
• Volkswagen Thing: 1973-1974
• Custom Applications: Sand Rails, Dune Buggies, and Trikes using Type 1 VW drivetrain.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Grind Number: W-110
• Advertised Duration: 284 Degrees
• Duration at .050 Inch: 247 Degrees
• Valve Lift (with 1.1:1 Rockers): .430 Inches
• Cam Lift: .392 Inches
• Lobe Center: 108 Degrees
• Material: High-Strength Billet Steel
• Mounting Style: 3-Bolt (Requires bolt-on gear)
• Application: Hot Street / Off-Road Performance
• Recommended Engine Size: 1600cc to 2110cc

PRO TIPS FROM THE SHOP

1. The Critical Break-In Process

The first 20 minutes of your engine''s life determine the lifespan of your camshaft. You must use a high-quality break-in oil with high ZDDP (zinc and phosphorus) content to protect the cam lobes and lifter faces during the initial mating process. Once you fire up the engine, do not let it idle. Immediately bring the RPMs up to between 2,000 and 2,500 and vary the speed slightly for a full 20 minutes. This ensures that the splash lubrication from the crankshaft provides enough oil to the cam and lifter interface to prevent "wiping" a lobe. If you stop the engine before the 20 minutes are up, make sure you resume the high-RPM break-in as soon as you restart it.

2. Mandatory Component Matching

Never, under any circumstances, install a new performance camshaft with used lifters. Even if your old lifters look "fine," they have already established a wear pattern from the previous cam. Using old lifters will destroy your new Engle W-110 in a matter of minutes. We strictly recommend pairing this cam with a fresh set of high-quality Engle or similar performance lifters. Additionally, because the W-110 increases lift and duration, you must upgrade to heavy-duty single valve springs or dual valve springs to prevent valve float at higher RPMs. Ensure you also purchase a new 3-bolt cam gear and use high-strength thread locker on the mounting bolts.

3. Checking Valvetrain Geometry

When installing a high-lift cam like the W-110, you cannot assume your stock pushrods are the correct length. The increased lift changes the geometry of how the rocker arm contacts the valve stem. We highly recommend using an adjustable "dummy" pushrod to find the optimal length that allows the rocker arm to sit perfectly centered on the valve tip at half-lift. Furthermore, you must check for "coil bind" on your valve springs and ensure there is adequate "valve-to-piston" clearance. Taking these extra steps during the assembly phase will prevent catastrophic engine failure and ensure your VW runs stronger and longer.