How to advance your cam with the timing gears

Got a big cam ya need to advance or retard on your timing set? The easy way by Greasy Glenn's Garage.

[@benrodeheaver701]

Been looking for this. With limited resources and an engine that's sohc, I was thinking about two widths of the key way for 2 degree advance on cams. Thanks and rock + roll !

[@JimTMcDaniels1]

Say Glenn! For replacement timing chain kits with 3 keyway crank sprockets: So on an oem cam, if we choose the 4 deg(equates to 2 deg cam) position, then will we experience more power and mpg without any obd2 trouble codes? Ref: 1996 Ford 351w Thank you for any experience on this subject! Jim

[@starbattles1]

Hey man. Maybe you can answer a question regarding the need for this? I have had to set my timing at 2 degrees btdc to get it to run on 93 octain. Something between 9.5 and 10:1 compression. 290/300 dur, 536 lift cam. Does my need to draw it back to 2 degrees mean I should advance my cam 4 degrees? And then set my base timing at 6? Or maybe even 8? If I set it any higher it sounds like I am running on 87 octane (pre det) marbles in a can. But at 2 degrees it it very happy. EVen has a lot of power. But not quite as much as it should based on the build. There is basically no one I can ask about this. Just a lot of time, trial and error on my part. You can hear it idling on my page.

[@72DONKRYDER]

nice info.

[@micthegreasemonkey2918]

hi glen, ive got a supercharged 3800 2000model BY GM with the ignition coil set up,now they came out with a cam thats 2 degrees adv from the factory but in going with a newer performance cam & double row timing chain so my question is what should i set the timing at also the pushrods r longer & tuffer springs. what do u think glen?

[@mtnman6278]

Adding to my question I have an RV cam and 9.7 to 1 compression ratio.

[@restosandrevivals4597]

Couldn’t you just use the stock cam gear set and do this by counting 2 teeth for 2 deg or 4 teeth for 4 deg then mark that tooth and install the timing set to that new mark?

[@will7its]

Thats what Im thinking. Nobody seems to know and everyone spends big bucks on adjustable cam gears and belts. Guess I'll have to try it on a motor......

[@DirtMonkey625]

No, because 2 cam gear teeth is about 16 degrees. Double that for crank.

[@Grarder]

Thank you so much for posting this! I suspect my cam timing might be too advanced and I never realized some sets were adjustable this way. Sadly I didn't build the engine originally as it would probably run right if I had.

[@jessesyfie7067]

Did your cam already have 4 degrees ground into it? Then you advanced it another 4 so you have a total of 8 degrees advance. Did you degree it?

[@jeremytaylor4576]

So when you turn the crankshaft 1 turn. The dot would first be at 6 o’clock then one full turn plus a half to put the dot 12. Is that what you’re saying?

[@davidvonanderseck8649]

Good to know

[@mechanic383]

So im trying to understand this you just put crank sprocket on in that position and it does the work? Im lost on how it actually works unless the sprocket isnt round..

[@benrodeheaver701]

I think he had a degree sprocket with multiple slots for the key way to advance or retard cam timing. I don't have that luxury on my 4.0 ford engine but this vid helped me find what I needed.

[@jayrockblas-pyka2195]

Can you build adjustable cam gear?

[@bluedemon79]

Yes they make an adjustable cam gear.

[@swettracing]

Good video! 👍

[@joker2712005]

Why would you intentionally advance ur camshaft? Like what benefit would it have?

[@TheSteelBlinds]

William penrose the general rule of thumb that I’ve been told is that if you advance your cam timing, it creates more low end torque. Retarding cam timing creates more top end power.

[@joker2712005]

@@TheSteelBlinds gotcha... Very interesting...

[@craphittingthefan9445]

Do you have any idea what 4 degrees is going to do?

[@stevenroden743]

You know you only degreed the cam 2 degrees right

[@cfmechanic]

How do u mean. Im curious I think i retarded my cam today not sure i did it right though. Comp cam 3 key 0 square and triangle. I pulled crank gear moved to square key way and lined square with dot on cam.

[@justinvasauez3252]

hey can I do this on a interface engine with soch timing belt

[@josephmcgovern1055]

Where is your distributor at this point

[@mellow7me]

That’s what I am puzzled about... If you are at TDC and you rotate the engine it’s at top dead center any longer !!

[@mikeellert6981]

@@mellow7me when your dot to Dot on your timing chain on a sbc you are not at tdc firing at #1!!!! Your number 6

[@ruthnoemimorlesdecastellan5303]

Greetings friend, I'm from Venezuela, I would like your council to put the engine in time, getting the best that I can with what I have installed, I thank you for your help, a hug brother. Engine ls2 6.0 camera l92 70cc Here we use 95 octane gasoline -Competencia Cams 13702-kit mm Series LS retro-fit Trunion Kit -Computer Cams 7106 Adjustable Keyway Billet Timing Set for GM LS -Brian Tooley Racing pr7400312 - 16 piece of Cromoly Pushrods 7,400 "Long 5 / diameter of 16" .080 " -Chevy Gold Dual Valve Kit 660 Max Lift - BTR LS1 / 2 STG IV Cam 235/242 .621 "/.592 111 + 3

[@cfmechanic]

I would install it retarded 4 degrees this will make duration longer hold valves open longer which will increase air/fuel flow filling cylinder more efficiently at mid to high rpm. Get the most duration you can should be fun. Should also disturb idle some might scare small children and women too.