LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

pro's and con's of retarding cam timing?

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Old Jan 21, 2007 | 11:25 PM
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Mighty Whitey's Avatar
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From: Catlettsburg, Ky
Default pro's and con's of retarding cam timing?

look at my sig, for all my mods. but:

I'm running a comp 503 and a cloyes double roller timing set. the crank gear has the ability to set cam timing up in -4*, 0*, and +4*...

seeing as I have a 4.11 gear and a 6spd, while at the track, my car RARELY ever sees under 4500rpm, maybe on launch (which is at 5k-6k) so low-end power is something that I can somewhat trade off for.

are there any adverse effects to retarding the cam timing 4* other than the loss of low-end power? any guess as to how it will help my top-end power?

doing this, would probably make a single plane (that I am already dedicated to) shine even better than it would with the cam set straight up (no advance, no retard)

if it hurts low-end, and doesn't help top end, it's only a water pump, and timing cover gasket swap away from the way it was.

BTW: BEFORE anyone says it, I know tuning would be in order, and I've already talked to my buddy about doing it, he says it wouldn't be a problem to re-tune it.
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Old Jan 22, 2007 | 12:51 AM
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There are almost no Pro's doing this.... Only time is when you want to shorten up the intake duration of a cam, keep the same exhaust events and the same IVC. Then you have to retard the cam to do this.

I referr to a retarded cam as being installed with a ICL higher than the LSA.

Most times a single plane will not get help from this.

Bret
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Old Jan 22, 2007 | 01:02 AM
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Originally Posted by SStrokerAce
There are almost no Pro's doing this.... Only time is when you want to shorten up the intake duration of a cam, keep the same exhaust events and the same IVC. Then you have to retard the cam to do this.

I referr to a retarded cam as being installed with a ICL higher than the LSA.

Most times a single plane will not get help from this.

Bret

damn, shot that all to hell

well, atleast I didn't waste my time/money on doing it.
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Old Jan 22, 2007 | 01:35 PM
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Most the shelf grinds already have 4 degrees advance ground in, IIRC.
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