Cam Timing-Advance Or Retard?

[JaJa Jr]

gonna replace the water pump tomorrow. while im at it i wanna know about adjusting the cam timing. replaced the gears and chain not to long ago and the gear is adjustable in 2* intervals advanced or retarded up to 4* eiter way. wat difference would it make either way and how much would be good? i want to make more low end power i dont need it up high. any tips?

 

[1985 Ford F-150]

Put it straight up no advance no retard. You can mess with the timing after by bumping the distributor.

 

[Alvin in AZ]

I don't know which engine you're working on etc so will just go general for
now and hope Paul shows up here and helps us both out.

Advancing the cam timing will shift the power band to lower RPMs.

What do you want?
What transmission type you got?

Ford etc retarded the cam timing on several engine types back in the early
70's and is one reason for the lower MPG everyone was complaining about
at the time and reduced the low end power too. Manual transmissions,
without a torque converter to help it out in the lower RPMs, had an
especially tough time of it. :/ Still having a tough time of it BTW. :/

For sure my '91 351w has a higher RPM power band than my '75 F150 360FE
with its straight-up 252/252 Comp-Cam but still, it's much better than the
360FE was back when it was brand spanking new in Feb of '75 tho.

Anyway, me too, I want to advance the timing on my '91 351w 2 degrees
and try it out. ('91 Bronco 351w +ZF)

------------------

Between the EGR (that came on as soon as the throttle was opened) and
the "smog cam" the brand-new-'75-F150 couldn't pull itself out of a level
driveway in 2nd gear (28" tires +T18 +3.25 gear) without revving it up and
slipping the clutch. Itsuckeddonkeydick None of the brand new 3/4 ton
pickups at work were that way but the two 1/2 ton we had were that way
tho, so, they were the last 1/2 tons the Signal Department leased from
GELCO because of the really bad reputation those two 1/2 tons got.

Alvin in AZ
ps- I've got the avatars and signatures turned off, YMMV?

 

[conanski]

It works the same as advancing/retarding the ignition timing, advancing the cam moves the powerband down in rpm, retarding it moves it up.

 

[Alvin in AZ]

...advancing the cam moves the powerband down in rpm, retarding it moves it up.

Anybody try a 2 degree advance on a stock cammed, Speed Density EFI 351w?

Alvin in AZ

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hey Alvin.... Would this work on my 88 300 I6 EFI? Right now I have a T-18 4 speed but planning on switching it over to a C4 Trans.