[prostcelica]

Im am pretty green on this process so I want to ask you guys because I know lots of you will know. Is this process done just to make sure you are getting what the cam manufacture is telling you you are getting?? What do you do if what you find does not match the cam card?? send it back?? or is there some kind of adjustment that can correct it??

Thanks in advance

[crussell85]

There is many variables that can throw a can off a degree or two. Cam bolt holes, cam gear bolt holes, crack key location, crank gear key location, cam gear indexing pin. The point of degreeing a cam is to make sure the timing events will be as described. If it is off a degree our two then you can make it up in the cam to crank timing with your timing gears. This is usually only done on high performance applications. I like to do it on all engines though, it adds to the building experience and then you know exactly what you have.

[Huneycutt]

Like crussel said, there are lots of variables that can affect cam timing and have nothing to do with the cam itself. Degreeing a cam isn't difficult and can really help both power and even idle quality--even on a mild engine.

If you are interested, I produced a video for Comp a short while back showing one method for degreeing in your cam after the heads are already bolted on:

Video: How to Degree in Your Camshaft | Horsepower Monster

Good luck!

[prostcelica]

Thanks guys. Much appreciated!!

[327NUT]

I just built my 507" Cadillac and had the dyno shop guy come out to degree the cam, we found it to be a whopping 6 deg. advanced....118 on a 112 centerline when the marks showed it to be straight up. After we reset the crank gear ahead 4 deg. it ended up at 113 centerline. Like the guys said lots of variables.......good luck.

[WesTex Hot Rods]

Very good video Huneycut! That's one of the best explanations on degreeing a cam I've seen for quite a while.

[Jimbo17]

I used to degree cams all the time and it really takes a great deal of work to do it right.

I used to check things like ramp speed, center lines, lift, and doing it all right and writing everything down is very important.

Guys would bring a cam that their cousin told them was a super great cam and after I had degree the cam they would look at all the numbers and ask me what I thought

I told them the cam was junk and would not work for their application.

It really takes some time to learn how to do it right and find the correct center lines.

Many guys just have a hard time finding a true top dead center position and when you had in cam dwell at the top they really get confused.

Cam manufacturers can take a lot of the guess work out of it if you tell them what you are going to use the engine for.

The cam that works on a short track will kill you motor on a longer track.

One of the best books I have ever read on cams was put out by Waddel Wilson and Reed Cams years ago and I still have mine all these years later.

Jimbo

[Huneycutt]

Originally Posted by WesTex Hot Rods

Very good video Huneycut! That's one of the best explanations on degreeing a cam I've seen for quite a while.

Much thanks!