Damit, don't you sleep? Was gonna edit previous post, but I'll do it here.

This would require relocating the hole in cam. IOW, a replacement cam. This would imply the cam timing error would be the result of the hole in the wrong position. This exception was noted above.

It is highly unlikely however, to expect the hole in the cam to be off location. Isn't the hole in the cam used to index core for lobe grinding operation? This then would imply any realistic error in cam timing adversly affects opti timing.

 

Going to sleep now...visions of dowel pins and optis dancing in my head...

 

Alright, I think I understand what you are saying Arnie. Barring any errors in the cam dowel hole position, it would be beneficial to either advance or retard the cam to correct for errors in machining of the cam or supporting hardware. Next, what if I decide I want to play with the installed ICL. (I think thats what it is, please correct me if not). Such as, straight up its on a 112 ICL and I want to try a 108, can I advance the cam with no adverse effects? Also, I've heard rumors of the injector phasing being off as well. Any info on that?

 

The main reason for degreeing in the cam, is to check the crank to cam timing relationship, and establish what this relationship actually is. What you are actually checking is how accurate the crank to cam connecting hardware is. Once this relationship is established, you can then correct if necessary, OR, as you noted, to change a cam's power characteristics, by either advancing or retarding as necessary. It is not intented to correct an incorrectly ground cam. My definition of incorrectly ground, is having an inaccurate intake to exhaust timing relationship. IF the dowel hole would be off, this would not qualify as incorrectly ground, cuz the timing is off an equal amount (for intake and exhaust) across the board. Any correction, (and I am using that word loosely, cuz you are not eliminating the errors) is basically dividing up any errors in intake to exhaust timing relationship. Correction, depending on the plus or minus tolerance YOU establish, usually requires replacement.

Oh, and yes, if the opti (ignition timing) is off, the injector timing (phasing) will be off also.

Based on the response given to this (or previous similar) thread(s), I'm convinced 'cam degreeing' is misunderstood and not given it's due attention. A guy spends reasonable effort to research and ask ?s here, in order to pick THE cam for his/her combo, but then neglects (for lack of realizing how important it really is) to install and/or adjust it (if I can use that description) properly.