I have been planning on upgrading my standalone setup to sequential injection, to this the engine will need a cam sensor installed. There is various ways to do this, the cleanest install without a doubt is the KLG4 Cam sensor.
Here are the following pros/cons I’ve come up with for various options I’ve researched
KLG4 Cam Sensor
Pros: 1. Cleanest install. The sensor is mounted on the rear head and detects the rear cam pulley.
Cons:
1.To install the intake manifold will need to be remove to access the rear valve cover. The rear valve cover will need to be removed to access the camshaft caps. The existing end camshaft cap will need to be replaced with the KLG4 Camshaft cap that has sensor mounted to it.
2. The Timing belt will have to come off to remove and replace the rear cam pulley. The KLG4 cam pulley is deeper and has a notch built into it for the senor to pickup.
3. Availability. Finding the KLG4 cam sensor parts on eBay or Facebook is not possible.
4. Cost. Of the few sale post I’ve found on Facebook, people want in excess of $350 + shipping. You could find this at a junk yard, but thats time, travel and cost determined by your junk yard. The junk yards near me do not allow you to pick your own parts, instead charge you labor for them to do it on top of the part cost. A person can only imagine the labor to get these 2 small parts.
KLG4 alternatives, I have discovered that the camshaft cap on a KLDE can be machined to hold a KLDE crank sensor in the exact position that the KLG4 does. However the KLDE camshaft pulley poses to be the next problem. Its mounting depth is to shallow to allow a notch the be welded on and picked up by the sensor. Either a shorter sensor is needed or a different type cam pulley to be made.
The next option was to utilize a OEM distributor for cam sensor, However this really is my last resort option. I really prefer a clean install and the idea of having anything resembling a distributor on this car again is off putting.
I discovered a early model Miata Mx-5 used a cam sensor that has a input very similar looking to the OEM distributer input. After some digging for information on Facebook I learned it is possible to use, however requires modification.
Pros:
- Compact and small install.
- Will install in OEM location
Cons:
- Cost . $100 used on ebay, $250-400 new
- The input shaft needs light machining down to fit in the KLDE head.
- The internals of the sensor are not useable and will need to be gutted for internals from a DE distributor.
- Requires a new pigtail connector that is not easily economically sourced.
My last option was to utilize a 1995-1997 Distributor for its internal cam sensor. I decided on the 1995-1997 distributor because it looks as if it has less material that id have to machine if I decided to completely customize this sensor to make it as compact as possible.
I decided against fully customizing this distributer and instead I gutted it of the parts that were not needed and 3d Modeled a filler to replace the coil pack and a cap to replace the sparkplug wire cap. While this solution is not compact as possible. Its the easiest and most cost effective solution that anyone else can do that doesn’t have a milling machine/lathe.
What is required to utilize this setup is a 1995-1997 distributor. The coil and all coil related parts will be removed. All screws from the distributor will be reused for the filler and end cap. The only modification needed is the rotor nut will need to be ground down to allow the cap to fit on.
- Pros:
Inexpensive $50-90 on ebay brand new - OEM like install, no mods need and doesn’t require dissembling major parts of engine
Cons:
- Big and Cluttery install
- Coil pack needs relocation







If you would like to download the print files to gut your own distributor for Cam sensor only use, please visit our downloads section.
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