Cam gear timing questions
 

First, has anyone had any success with street tuning of cam timing? Was it pretty much an ass dyno type-thing, or did you have some special method?

Also, does light cam gear adjusting screw up your A/F? Dave/Leed got my A/F ratio looking real nice last summer, but we didn't touch the cam gears because it was a street tune. I've been reading around though, and while people say the dyno is the only real way to do it, lots of people have had some success with small cam gear adjustments.

As far as the adjusting process goes, just adjust the gears, then reset ignition timing right?

Re:Cam gear timing questions
 

I wouldn't bother without a dyno and technically it could adjust your A/F.

Re:Cam gear timing questions
 

I never felt a big enough difference in my cam gears to justify spending money on them. It's probably different for a DOHC though. I wouldn't waste my time on a SOHC cam gear. Even on a dyno I doubt you would get more than 1whp out of them. :-\
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Re:Cam gear timing questions
 

i messed around with it on my accord and it seemed to move the power band around nicely. Im running like 4 degrees retard and it seems to pull harder top end 5500+... dunno about actual power gain though

Re:Cam gear timing questions
 

Yeah, dont do any Cam adjusting unless you are on a dyno and it really helps to get help from a tuner who has had some experience with cam gear timing.

There are a lot of good threads on Boosted-Hybrid's boards about cam timing on the LS motors to help keep the torque curve flat and last til redline.

For an SOHC, i think it would only be used to shift where your powerband is in your rev range.

Re:Cam gear timing questions
 

Thanks for the input guys. Let me explain my motivation for doing this. I should've mentioned that I'm not boosted (yet at least!).

I've got an NA '98 GS-R w/I/IM/H/C/E and Toda Spec A cams. The cams have got a bit more duration and lift than CTR cams. The cams weren't degreed when they were installed. Typically, some overlap (accomplished by advancing the intake cam and retarding the exhaust cam) helps out. I was thinking only +2 intake and -1 exhaust just to get my car running a little bit more nicer. I know this process should be left for dynos, but it's been hard to get on a dyno with a tuner because all the shops around here (Everett/Seattle) require some type of AFC, but I'm convinced Uberdata is adequate for tuning. Unfortunately, I don't have the hardware needed to run it. It's a twisted cycle.

LoL, sorry this isn't related to boost, hopefully I'll have some questions like that by the end of next summer if you know what I mean :P

Re:Cam gear timing questions
 

I know we have some Seattle guys on here more than capable of helping you out with this on the dyno. You would just have to buy the dyno time.

Dave Lee is in Seattle right?

Re:Cam gear timing questions
 

Dave is actually in Bellingham, which is about an hour and a half north of my house. As mentioned, he did a good job tuning my A/F, but it's been really hard to coordinate being that we live so far from each other and have busy schedules (he works, and I go to school full-time). I think we're all supposed to get together for a group dyno-thing, but I have no clue when that would be, and I can't be missing school so even if it did happen, it'd have to be at a good time.

Another option I was considering was wiring up a VAFC that my friend let me borrow, or buying a VAFCII since some guy is selling one at a good price, and going out to this place in Tacoma (1.5 hours in the opposite direction) where they charge $40 or $60 for an initial run and $10 after that. I don't think VAFC's can tune spark, but I'd be covered if cam adjustments made my A/F fluctuate. Plus, that way I'd know what my gear adjustments were doing to my powerband. The only thing about that is the VAFC I've got right now is missing some things, not to mention I've never used one, and buying a new VAFC is still more expensive than dyno time with a knowledgable uberdata tuner.

Re:Cam gear timing questions
 

alfy, adjust your Intake cam 2 degrees advance (reset your base timing) and leave the rest for the dyno.

We are going to the dyno soon dude, no worries ;)

Re:Cam gear timing questions
 

Haha that's good to hear Jeff :)