alright im putting in a new timing set this week end and was wandering if i needed to set the timing gear to 4 degrees advanced to get rid of the factory retard or if i just need to set it straight up.i guess what im asking is is the 4 degrees built in to the cam or the timing geare from the factory

 

Everything I've seen from reading around here says to install it straight up to eliminate the factory retard. The only thing that seems to change this is when folks switch out to an aftermarket camshaft, that has a different advance from the factory cam. I'm just running off of what I've read all over here, haven't been able to do it myself yet, thanks to the California smog-*****...

 

Most cams are ground 4 deg advanced to offset timing chain strech and wear. I would just put it in straight up, esp if it is just stock.