I've been thinking of modifying my car with a cam. I got this book, "How to Tune/modify engine management systems" In there it goes through lots of stuff, including the different types of EMS systems. How common factory ECU's are cracked, aftermarket stuff etc.

Anyway it says that. "Larger cams should definalely not be used on a speed density (MAP) EMS without modifying the fuel/ spark"

It's justification (many pages condensed) Is that the cam has a huge affect on manifold vaccum and where a car makes it's power. And the MAP based system has no idea about this so the tuning will be dangerously wrong. -It goes on to discuss spark and fuel requirements for big cam engines, the effect of exhaust in inlet manifold etc.

Although we know that many of us upgrade our cams without too many problems although we are probabily not getting the most out of them and just taking pot luck with timing and A/F ratios.

This means that companies such as wade must making very mild cams so as not to upset the ECU.
So if you are going to use programmable mangement or reprogram the Standard ECU (like me) what cam would be best? How wild could you go before even re-tuning would not get a smooth idle/ good power through the rev range?

ideally, with ANY change to your engines components, the fuel and spark mapswould be changed to make the most of the changes

anything up to a 'Stage 2' cam will work with a std ECU - any more, and you'll have real issues with idle etc without a chip/aftermarket ECU. a mate had a stage 3 crow cam in his manual EF - to get it to idle, he had to double-foot it at lights etc, until his chiptorque chip arrived. my stage 2 crow wouldn't idle well with the stock ECU, however an XR one did give me a stable idle, as the XR comps are designed to run a more agressive profile.

LSA of 110-112* is safe for factory ECU, and usually no more than 200* duration @ 0.050".