Can you still buy high performance camshafts for n/a 850s?

philbegas · Post by **philbegas** » 07 Apr 2025, 07:45

As I'm continuing to shop for an 850 I've come across a few videos of naturally aspirated 850 2.4L that have high performance camshafts but I can't seem to find them for sale. Do they still exist? And how do you all think reliability would compare for a cammed 2.4L vs a stock 850 turbo/t5? I've been hoping to find a manual + 850 turbo but they have been few and far in between.

Post by **scot850** » 07 Apr 2025, 08:29

You may want to check out in Europe, especially Sweden to look for parts like that. There is a company in Sweden that still builds high performance engine for older Volvos. I don't recall their name. There was also a guy in Scotland who was building high performance engines for P80 Volvos. Again was a couple of years ago I read of them.

Neil.

V50M66 · Post by **V50M66** » 07 Apr 2025, 08:45

Following, also curious about NA performance stuff. TSP in Sweden makes high-lift cams for turbo cars, but not NA as far as I know. As far as reliability, it's probably a pretty bad idea. You'll get way more power reliably (and more cost effectively) if you just buy a turbo car.

philbegas · Post by **philbegas** » 07 Apr 2025, 09:52

Well in terms of cams for turbo cars my understanding is the 2.4 cam is a power upgrade in the 2.3 turbo cars for an OE+ power mod.

Post by **matthew1** » 07 Apr 2025, 11:19

I just looked on FB Marketplace, and didn't see much (any). Redblock cams are available in FB groups all day, but now that this question is posed, there is a marked difference between the two, I now notice.

I'll keep my eyes open.

V50M66 wrote: 07 Apr 2025, 08:45 ... just buy a turbo car.

This is usually the correct answer. This always comes to mind first when the Power question comes up. And turbos open so many paths to power.

Post by **Clemens** » 07 Apr 2025, 14:59

Remember that on a NA car the bigger cam will move the Power Band to higher rpms, so this only makes sense on a manual car.
Like the Jaguar XJS that had peak power at 6000 rpm, but the governor of the AT made it shift at 4500.

V50M66 · Post by **V50M66** » 07 Apr 2025, 22:41

philbegas wrote: 07 Apr 2025, 09:52 Well in terms of cams for turbo cars my understanding is the 2.4 cam is a power upgrade in the 2.3 turbo cars for an OE+ power mod.

Dyno proven single digit power gains! lol
It's really not worth it to mess with internals on these cars, especially turbos where it's so easy to get it tuned, upgrade the turbo, etc for major power increases