Can I use newer stock cams to boost my 78 kz1000?

I have another idea for cheap performance. I see tons of stock cams on fleabay for giveaway prices. Would stock cams from a newer model give me more boost in the 3000-7000 rpm range? Maybe a police bike or GPZ? I don't want to make it into a revver.

Mine is 78 KZ1000 A2

Condition of your engine now? Good compression? Good strong spark?

Still have ignition points? Still have original ignition coils?

Even new the coils were marginal from the factory, add years of heat,vibration and just age, and they may be breaking down. Also replace the sparkplug wires and caps too.

that's all good. tuned well and runs great.

measure your cam chain for stretch,replace if needed.
once you know you have a good chain degree your stock cams to make sure theyre where theyre supposed to be

yeah I was planning to do that anyway. just wondering if the newer bikes have cams I'd like better.

Late GPZ cams may be an improvement. Not sure though, Larry will probably know. We make a sprocket for putting them into the early KZ motor, but only in 32 tooth. You would have to have the big center pin crank.

Jay

Nelson wrote:

I have another idea for cheap performance. I see tons of stock cams on fleabay for giveaway prices. Would stock cams from a newer model give me more boost in the 3000-7000 rpm range? Maybe a police bike or GPZ? I don't want to make it into a revver.

Mine is 78 KZ1000 A2

like Jay said it is a little work to do the conversions and the little parts start to add up......what carbs and pipe are you running....ignition...coils......if your "topped out "in quality there then the pistons and valve freshening is where i am headed next...even a mild port clean up.....a 1075-1045 kit and those things all put in order (good carbs pipe ect)with a stock cams will keep up with stock gpz1100 just about and be streetable in the real revs...from all my research..

by the time you get done mating an 81-82 gpz cam to your valves and crank....you may have been able to afford some cams ..if thats even where the next step lays...

imo

it's starting to look like something I don't want to bother with. unless somebody else chimes in with good news.

You can get the cam info from the service manuals. On the J motors they have an Identifying set of grooves on a un- machined bass next to where the gear would bolt up. Anywhere from 0-3 grooves to mark the cam configuration. Oh I believe only the CSR, which still has the mechanical tach gear on the exhaust cam if you need that as well. If you can tell the duration and lift from your cams by reading your manual, then you could compare to both the J cams as well as some aftermarket grinds. You really have to have an Idea where you want your powerband and match up components accordingly. This is what its all about.

Well this is interesting. This guy claims the shaft bike motors are sought after for performance. Maybe I'd like these in my '78? Anything to this? Larry C?

cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1979-Kawasaki-KZ...&hash=item5190705428

Nelson wrote:

Well this is interesting. This guy claims the shaft bike motors are sought after for performance. Maybe I'd like these in my '78? Anything to this? Larry C?

cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1979-Kawasaki-KZ...&hash=item5190705428

the engine cases ,crank and trans parts are mkII.
nothing special about the cams that im aware of

if all you want is some j cams than shoot me an address in a pm.
i have 3 or 4 sets from heads i buy.
you can have them for free.
they are just short steel for the scrap pile.
that offer goes to anyone.