All Small Six Factory Cam Timing

[Maverick57]

I have a 1974 Maverick with a 200, I'm fixing to replace the water pump, and timing set. I read somewhere that the factory cam degree setting for the 1974 200 was 8* retarded. I wanted to verify this because I was leaning towards advancing it back to 0* or possibly 2* advance when I replace the set. Is -8* the actual factory cam setting in 1974? Thanks

 

[awasson]

I’ve never heard that cam timing was detuned from the factory but I have been advised that they are never “straight up” when they are dot-to-dot and the variance is unpredictable. You might have one engine that is +4 degrees advanced at dot-to-dot or you might have one that is -6 degrees retarded. My aftermarket cam was nearly 10 degrees advanced at dot-to-dot. I bought a double roller chain with an adjustable sprocket set with 16 degrees of adjustability; +/- 8 degrees.

Can you get the cam timing specs from Ford? I’ve never checked but that would be useful. Otherwise you can do all the measurements yourself and then dial it in.

 

[Maverick57]

I’ve never heard that cam timing was detuned from the factory but I have been advised that they are never “straight up” when they are dot-to-dot and the variance is unpredictable. You might have one engine that is +4 degrees advanced at dot-to-dot or you might have one that is -6 degrees retarded. My aftermarket cam was nearly 10 degrees advanced at dot-to-dot. I bought a double roller chain with an adjustable sprocket set with 16 degrees of adjustability; +/- 8 degrees.

Can you get the cam timing specs from Ford? I’ve never checked but that would be useful. Otherwise you can do all the measurements yourself and then dial it in.

I've seen a tremendous amount of factory cams that got detuned, especially during the smog era in the early '70s. Most aftermarket cams have advance ground into the cam (2-4*), but little, if any, factory cams did so.

I have a 1970 Cadillac Coupe Deville with a 472, and the factory cam degree was at +2* advanced, 1968 472's were +4* advanced, and 1971 472's were at -4* retarded. I've seen mid-70s 460's as high as -6* retarded.

When I read the possibility of the 74 200ci being -8* I could totally see it. I just wanted to verify this because if it was, I was going to move the cam back 1 tooth and get it back to +1*. A 40-tooth sprocket should give 9*/tooth (360/40 = 9)

 

[alwill923]

The only true way to know is to degree the cam.

 

[bmbm40]

I've seen a tremendous amount of factory cams that got detuned, especially during the smog era in the early '70s. Most aftermarket cams have advance ground into the cam (2-4*), but little, if any, factory cams did so.

I have a 1970 Cadillac Coupe Deville with a 472, and the factory cam degree was at +2* advanced, 1968 472's were +4* advanced, and 1971 472's were at -4* retarded. I've seen mid-70s 460's as high as -6* retarded.

When I read the possibility of the 74 200ci being -8* I could totally see it. I just wanted to verify this because if it was, I was going to move the cam back 1 tooth and get it back to +1*. A 40-tooth sprocket should give 9*/tooth (360/40 = 9)

That is a nice Cadillac you have they were fantastic cars. Large, powerful and comfortable.

 

[drag-200stang]

The only true way to know is to degree the cam.

X2

 

[drag-200stang]

Because cam degreeing is in crank degrees. One cam tooth is 360/38=9.473 x2=18.947 crankshaft degrees.
These engines need to be degreed, to know for sure, what they machined them at.