general cam timing

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Jul 25, 2004 | 09:01 PM

innecity4wheelin

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From: St.Paul, MN

general cam timing

i was searching threads and have a pretty good idea of the advance the timing for torque and retard it or go zero up for rpms,
i am running a 351 cleveland in a 55 f100,

it has the stock low truck gears, has a 3.98 rear ratio i think., c4, tci breakaway stall converter, stock heads and pistons, 2v heads, 4bbl edelbrock performer with a holley 650, and a ssi cam with 204/214 duration @.050. with almost a .5 lift probaly 112 lobe sep.
my question is should i advance it to keep my torque, or ???? i am not into running high rpms all day long. i like the power in the driving range, 2000-4500, then it goes if i am revin it to 5.5-6 g's to the boards tops, i see no reason to push it any more. but i dont want the power spent by 2500 -3000 rpms either. i got a really nice chain with 6 or so keyway slots on the lower gear so i can get up to 8 degrees either way. if i advance it, i just line up the keyway with 2a 4a 6a etc, then go with the dot above it i think. i got it gently used.

Jul 25, 2004 | 11:29 PM

monsterbaby

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From: iowa

with the numbers you posted for your cam your power range is probably in the 1500 to 4000 range so why would you want to advance it and lower it more, that cam is not a real high rev cam, so put it in straight up, it will match the rest of your combo pretty close, and with 112lsa it should have a pretty wide torque range

Jul 25, 2004 | 11:38 PM

Torque1st

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Joined: Sep 2001

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Usually if you have to advance or retard the cam timing you have the wrong cam for the application. You can usually find a better cam that will work straight up.

Jul 26, 2004 | 12:01 PM

innecity4wheelin

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From: St.Paul, MN

ok thats what ill do. i just was thinking if there was a trick to get more umph out of it now would be the time to ask. i want a cruzer that has plenty of throwback from light to light if i want it, i have made the mistake before of putting the power range too high, and it seemed like it wasnt much fun to cruise inless the pedal was to the floor. thats why i like to keep the torque where i need it, in the driving range, the stock cam was spent by 2500 rps it seemed. i rarely or never hardly push it past 5000, 5500 tops if i really want to tromp on it. but for a cruzer that typically is 2500-4000 on the street i want some torque there. i cant drive over 70-80 at best on the highway anyways in this town. i dont really care to go 140 mph in a old truck. lol
thanks