Degreeing a cam.
Thread Starter
9 Second Club NA
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From: Houston, TX
Degreeing a cam. Is it really necessary degreeing a cam? Whats the purpose(s) of doing this? How is this done? If a cam has been verified that there is no need to check piston to valve clearance on stock heads, is there any reason to check if you have completely stock heads? I didnt do this with my C2 cam, I just lined up the 2 dots and was done with it. I figured a cam with lots of lift and minimal clearance needed to be degreed.
TECH Junkie
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Los Angeles
Unless you have an adjustible timing set, degreeing isnt going to do anything for you except tell you if the cam was ground properly. If you received your cam from a place like thunder racing, they've already checked the cam on a cam doctor to verify the cam was ground properly. Other places, its up to you. If you do have an adjustible set, then its really just up to you if you want to make sure its dead spot on to where it should be. Ive never bothered myself.
I would highly recommend degreeing your cam even if you have the stock timing set, I will tell you why. When my engine builder and I were putting my new shortblock together I had a new stock timing chain on it. When we put the big Pro-degree wheel on it with the stock timing set the cam was retarded a degree. We loosened the stock timing set bolts just a hair and turned the cam sprocket and re-tightened it and it was dead-on after that.
Most people wouldn't even care, but if you going to do something you minus well do it right.
Cheers.
Most people wouldn't even care, but if you going to do something you minus well do it right.
Cheers.
Thread Starter
9 Second Club NA
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From: Houston, TX
So if I have a non-adjustable timing chain/set, then the only thing that degreeing will do is tell me if the cam was ground properly? If it wasnt and I didnt have an adjustable chain/set, then Id be screwed? If certain companies cam doctor all cams before selling/sending them out, then theres no reason to degree a cam?
Originally Posted by BlackBeaSSt
If certain companies cam doctor all cams before selling/sending them out, then theres no reason to degree a cam?
With that said, for wide powerband cams (street grinds) a degree doesn't make that much of a difference. It becomes more critical for someone who is camming for a particular shorter powerband (race grind). For typical street grinds, off-the-shelf cams usually come with a couple of degrees advance to address the possible retard from chain slack. For street grinds, it is usually better to err with more advance than retard since lowend power is needed for driveability. That's my 2 cents
Thread Starter
9 Second Club NA
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From: Houston, TX
Well I plan to install the T-Rex and a new chain. Not sure if Im going to get a single or double one. All new valvetrain will be going in as well. What else will affect the degreeing of the cam? I mean is degreeing a cam a big deal, is it a long process? Ive never done it that is why I ask. Thanks.
