Camshaft timing

[timbo]

Hey yall,

I've been trawling the net and DC but I couldn't find anything specific.

I popped some TRD 272 7.5mm lift cams in the car the other day. Rebuilt smallport, shaved head, TRD 0.8mm HG, TRD copy headers with 2.25' system, I think that's it. I have installed them at the same degree as stock cams, 110. I turned the motor over a few times before starting and fired it up until warm and died until I wound up the idle valve. Sounded great! Drove fine and I could feel the potential of the cams!

I've been reading up on cam timing from stuff floating on the net but it's kind of hard to get a proper idea without having a wheel in front of me.

Does anyone have an idea on where to get one and what price? Or anyone that can lend one or expertise? I went up to a local workshop that has a dyno to get an idea on price etc but got the old, high-and-mighty mechanic dribble. I asked how much it would cost to dial/tune the cams in and got a reply of what computer does it run... All I was after was some dyno time to find the best setting! Anyway, that idea is out from that experience.

Fang up any ideas, suggestions etc!

[Slimer86]

Google cam timing wheel, there's a link to one from club 4ag user oldskewltoy. He has also put up info on setting them up properly I think also on 4ag technical references.
Also believe kelfords have a degree ing instruction on their site.
My guess would be around 105-6 and 108-112



Free degree wheels are on the net

[timbo]

Ah! I didn't even think to look for a free one. Thanks for the links, I hadn't come across these before.

[Matt]

if you think they made a difference now, wait until you've dialled them in....

[DR86FT]

I don't even know what cams I have as I didn't get spec sheet is it possible to dial in cams without it

[timbo]

I guess you could measure lift and duration and find something similar. From what I've read on TRD cams, 272 and above are suited to IN ATDC 98° and EX BTDC 100°, give or take a couple of degrees. At least finding the lift and duration would give you a starting point.

Also does anyone reading this in Brisbane have a dial gauge?

[timbo]

I've confused myself. When cam timing what TDC do you use? As in TDC when all the cam and crank marks line up, cam lobes pointing out on #1 cylinder or pointing at each other, non-firing stroke?

[Frak]

I'd say that dyno shop doesn't have much of an idea, based on what you say, I'd find another one willing to help.

[dove grey 64]

how true is this, a friend of mine at work who used to work in v8 supercars with larry perkins said that if the cams you've fitted idle and run fine without adjustable cam gears then the difference of getting them timed with cam gears will most likely be 2-5hp at most depending on the type of cams.
i've always wanted to get my unknown cams dialed in but after he said that i wasnt sure it was really needed especially considering they run alright with the stock ecu.

[timbo]

Adjustable cam gears are the key. So far with light adjusting, the T3 gears work perfectly and are nice and smooth.

Still trying to work out the right TDC. I've over thought it and completely confused myself and really need to get the timing wheel in front of me and off the screen. I assume once I'm at TDC I rotate the crank clockwise for the EX cam as it is 100° BTDC then go back to TDC rotate anticlockwise to 98° ATDC for the IN cam. This is the timing wheel I found and cleaned up: