Cam degree
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 141
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From: Greer SC
Cam degree
Is this truly a benefit? I have heard of this but have never done that much research. The reason I throw this out here is because I've already rebuilt the engine and installed it. Can the degree be done while the engine is in the car?
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,711
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From: San Antonio TX
Sometimes, ignorance is bliss. The reason to degree a cam is to discover if all of the specifications agree with the cam manufacturer's spec card. It's not uncommon to find the specs a degree or two off due to manufacturing tolerances in grinding the cam and the timing set. On occasion, there can be gross errors, but this is very rare.
So, what's the average guy like you to do? Nothing for the most part. Action depends upon application and expectations. If you were building a competetion or a high-end street engine where cam precision was critical to power goals, it probably goes without saying that you leave nothing to chance. For most other applications, you just line up the dots and call it good.
So, what's the average guy like you to do? Nothing for the most part. Action depends upon application and expectations. If you were building a competetion or a high-end street engine where cam precision was critical to power goals, it probably goes without saying that you leave nothing to chance. For most other applications, you just line up the dots and call it good.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
g72 is quite right ... with additional reason is to tune cam ... but if it ain't real hi-po it probably ain't worth bothering with.
& it will be difficult w/ motor in car... again, if it ain't real hi-po it probably ain't worth bothering with.
& it will be difficult w/ motor in car... again, if it ain't real hi-po it probably ain't worth bothering with.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
From your pic Mick it looks like you enjoy tearing up the rubber!!! I do too, so if your running highway gears (3:08, 3:23,ect) and you want that low end torque. You want to advance the cam 2 to 4 degrees in a mildly built sbc. This will give a nice low end grunt but limit the peak horsepower because the engine won't scream passed 6000rpm where most of us rarely go anyway
Somebody's gonna comment on that staement..LOL
Somebody's gonna comment on that staement..LOL
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 141
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From: Greer SC
Sounds like "If it ain't broke don't fix it." 
Thanks guys. It is just mildly built right now pushing maybe (no dyno test) 330hp. I may do a head and cam swap later down the road but for now running 3.55 gears that I just installed and haven't got to try them yet.
Thanks guys. It is just mildly built right now pushing maybe (no dyno test) 330hp. I may do a head and cam swap later down the road but for now running 3.55 gears that I just installed and haven't got to try them yet.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
There's two questions I see here: should a cam be degreed during installation, and are there real benefits to advancing/retarding the cam?
The answer to the first question is a conditional yes. I always - always - do it for two reasons. First, it's not that difficult and it's a good opportunity to gain experience in precision work. Second, every once and a while in engine building weird stuff happens. Not often, but it happens. So checking everything during a build is the best way to catch stuff when it can be easily corrected. I've run into only 2-3 issues in over 300 SBC builds where an off-the-shelf cam was off enough to require an offset key or other adjustments.
For the second question, there are reasons to do it but generally you're better off to buy a cam that's right for where you want to make power. It's pretty easy today to get the cam you want or to order a custom cam along the lines of "I want this cam from your catalog, but with another 2 degrees of advance" and get it in a couple of weeks.
Every 4 degree change moves the power peaks up (retarded) or down (advanced) about 500 RPM. But, there are other side effects as well so be sure you're making a good decision and checking everything.
The answer to the first question is a conditional yes. I always - always - do it for two reasons. First, it's not that difficult and it's a good opportunity to gain experience in precision work. Second, every once and a while in engine building weird stuff happens. Not often, but it happens. So checking everything during a build is the best way to catch stuff when it can be easily corrected. I've run into only 2-3 issues in over 300 SBC builds where an off-the-shelf cam was off enough to require an offset key or other adjustments.
For the second question, there are reasons to do it but generally you're better off to buy a cam that's right for where you want to make power. It's pretty easy today to get the cam you want or to order a custom cam along the lines of "I want this cam from your catalog, but with another 2 degrees of advance" and get it in a couple of weeks.
Every 4 degree change moves the power peaks up (retarded) or down (advanced) about 500 RPM. But, there are other side effects as well so be sure you're making a good decision and checking everything.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
People tend to get wound up about HP, but TQ is where the fun is on the street.
Not that a high-winding SBC isn't a riot - they are - but for a lot of folks low- and mid-range torque is king.
