G'day guys,

I recently fitted a wade 1604 cam to my EF XR6.
Since the profile is new, I need a rant and have read q's asking after the 1604 I thought I would write up a review of the product.

My car is a 1994 EF XR6, driven by a hoon and stock as a rock. It was in the garage for a head gasket change and I wanted to change the cam at the same time (as every cloud has a silver lining).

Giving the good people at wade a call proved to be most helpfull, as I explained my situation and what I was after. I didnt want the 1004, instead opting for something which would pull hard in mid range power. I also purchased a timing kit for the OG speed shop. The cam was bought new.

I have now done roughly 1500 k's since the new cam and head gasket, timing chain and gears. The car reached a happy medium (wearing in) after doing about 150 k's although performance keept increasing until about 750 k's.

Fuel economy is about where it always has been. Being young and using the car for all driving conditions fuel eco has never been good 'value' and the 1604 has not altered this.

Falcons have a little flat spot just after idle, and the 1604 didnt change this.
After about 1800 RPM you can feel the car really pull. The 1604 pulls as hard in the middle of the rev range as anything else, if not harder. However, prior to the installation of the 1604 top end power was good, not V8 style, but good for a I6. And the 1604 has cut top end power, the car feels *a little* sluggish just before redline.

To summarize the performance:

under 1800 RPM = the same

between 1800 - 4300 = goes very hard

between 4300 - 5000 = same

after 5000 RPM = loss of top end and 'redline' power.

Given most driving is done in the middle of the RPM range the 1604 proves to be very drivable, enhancing the cars feel and provides a real tourqy feeling. Throttle response is instant when you have a rolling start eg: changing lanes, merging lanes, catching lights etc.

Idle quality is also exceptional, with the car being as happy in [N] or [P] as it ever has been. There is a slight lump but remember: I have only a factory exhaust and manifold.

In conclusion to my 1604 review, the idle is good as is fuel comsumption both are not any different. Whilst being a very drivable mod for my XR6 top end power is lost. I cannot comment on how shims/ no timing gears would change the outcome, or if the 1604 would be the same on a GLi, etc.

I give the wade 1604 four stars. out of five. 4/5

good review, so ya rekon the 1604 is the way to go? how much did everything cost ya?

thanx for that, a well written and objective review.

having read this i would definetly consider this for my new wagon, sounds like a good option for something the mrs will be driving all the time.

thanks guys.
Good for the Mrs, yup.
I bought it new and I think the price (as advertised) for FM members is $396

The loss of top end power seems to match the gain in mid-range torque.

No cam will give you exceptional low, mid and high end power unless you've got a fancy variable valve timing system.

Sounds like the 1604 has less valve overlap giving more mid-range torque which sacrificed high end power.

Nice review.

$396 brand new? How much for trade in?

122 (IRRC) as per the wade forum.

sounds good but wat is the difference between 1004 and 1604

i have 1004 and my car goes harder than my mates car with 2.5' exhaust extractors and high flow cat i have standard exhaust we both have ef xr6

i am very happy with my cams performance.

1800rpm pulls hard 2500rpm even harder 3500rpm dies off a little and pullls evenly to bout 5000rpm.


nice even power

I think the 1604 has more low end torque

ok then, is the 1604 a more refined 1004, i read it some where

yeah, I think thats the idea.

If you threw a exhaust with some extractors and changed the intake you'd find it would go much much much better. Dont know if EF is the same as EB but on the older XR6's you also get more grunt swapping the tickford fuel pressure reg to a stocker.

yeah the ehaust has been a plan for a while no cash flow.

is the fuel pressure reg true in EF will it make a difference

do you have befor and after 1/4 mile times for the car???

that will be the real proving ground. as other cams that have been used, that are claimed to make more power on the ground that " it has to because it is bigger" have proven to be slower

It makes sense - the stocker runs lower FP than the ticker... so if you put the stocker reg on a ticker motor then fp should drop, lean mixtures and give you better afr, hence more power.

I wouldnt do it without a dyno tho, just to make sure afr is OK at high revs. ... my 2c.