Camshafts
A camshaft is a length of metal with teardrop shaped lobes evenly spaced down its length. When the cam turns the lobes push and release lifters, which in turn push and release valves.
The valves control the entrance and exit of fuel into the combustion chamber of the engine, so in order to get more fuel in, you have to leave the inlet valves open longer. This is achieved by changing the shape of the cam lobes.
If you want to change the valve lift (actual distance the valve is pushed open) then you will need to have a taller lobe. Duration (the length of time the valve is pushed open for) depends on how fat the lobe is. Increasing either of these can increase the performance of your engine, but the timing between the cam and the crankshaft (which operates the pistons) must be spot on, or the pistons and valves could touch which will result in the engine going bang!
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