is it worth the time/effort? also what wheel will clear with the engine in the car...last question will any wheel work or is it ls1 specific?

 

Definitely, degreeing the cam is the only proper way to install a cam. It is time consuming but necessary. Cam degreeing is necessary to check the cams position in relation to the crank, just a few degrees off and it can make a big difference on how the engine runs. Check out comp cams,they have a degree wheel kit that will work with the engine in the car

 

I have seen as much as 12rwhp just from degreing a cam to the right VEs.
Grind can be as much as 2*+ off

 

ok so its definetly worth it...are the wheels specific to ls1 only

 

last cam we installed was like 8* (IIRC) off won't say which cam it was as it has nothing to do with the company selling them.

 

my cam was exactly 4* off. supposed to be on a 110 icl and came in t a 114. makes a huge diff in the valve events and dcr.......after that i will always degree a cam.

 

the degree wheels are not engine specific.

 

Agreed, do it right and make sure the valve events are where intended. The quality control at the cam companies is human (AKA: mistakes happen), and even when inside their specs/limits can be several degrees off. THEN, you also have to consider the differences from one timing set to another and how far they can be off.

 

on a related note...

In order to degree a cam, you must have an adjustable timing set, correct?

 

Correct: To adjust the VE's you must have an adjustable timing set.

 

So on a stock timing set you cant degree a cam? confused.
You just set it dot to dot

 

the dot there is intended to be the as ground setting. BUT, when they machine the cam, crank, timing chain, sometimes they can be off a tiny bit can equal a noticible diff. of the exact spec the cam in installed at. the stock timing chain is not adj.. older eng.'s you could drill out the 3 cam/timing bolt holes, install offset keys, and move the gear around on the end of the cam to get what you want. just google cam degree adn Im sure tons of article's are out there that explain the theory and practice. when I did mine, I found tons of pics online and articles. its ont that hard, but it'll cost a couple hundred bucks to buy the stuff and some time to do it. you'll need the small diam. wheel to do it in the car.

 

im little confused 2, so ur sayn if you line it up dot to dot it might be off???

 

oh and btw, Ive only degree'd a few cams. one was off 4 deg. the other 2 were right on.

 

yes. but it would still run. not off as much as one tooth would be. it would still run fine. just not goin to get what the cam is supposed to give you if its not installed on the right intake center line (ICL). you cant change the LSA, but you can change the ICL with the adj. timing chain. for the most part, you'll just want to make sure its perfectly straight up as designed IN YOUR ENGINE. but if you were to be doin testing on a dyno you could advance or retard the cam timing (ICL) to move the power band around.

 

http://www.gmhightechperformance.com...cam/index.html

Here ya go...

think im gonna degree my cam when i get it.... lol

 

So does anyone know of any good deals on a degree wheel kit.

 

Definitely should degree the cam. Last 2 cams i've purchased were both 6 degrees off. Sadly my keyways were @ -4, 0, and +4. Would've been ideal to have at +6, but better than @ 0 without degreeing it to check.

I scratched my head a couple times the first time i did it, but once you see what's going on it's easy, and kinda fun. Or i could just be easily ammused..

 

You can still degree a cam after its been installed and driven on, right?

 

Yup, anytime.