Thread: correct procedure for adjusting cam timing with cs cam gears

Hey, did some searching but there seems to be no step by step procedure to adjusting your timing using cs/jwt cam gears for the sr20. Could some one chime in with a step by step procedure to adjusting from +0/-0 to for eg +5/-5 with gears.

Even including the info regarding the fact that when retarding the exhaust cam and how it affects the intake and what to do next to adjust the intake cam correctly. How to ensure the dizzy is correctly adjusted after to compensate.

Assume the valve cover is off and I know how to remove and reinstall eryting associated.

Really appreciate the help! I know I have a vague understanding but I need to have it outlined.

This is what I do.

1. First, rotate engine to TDC on the compression stroke for cylinder #1. The lobes for the intake and exhaust should be facing away from each other. Also verify by looking at the TDC indicator on the crank pulley.

2. The cam dowel pins should be at 10 oclock for the intake and 12 for the exhaust.

3. Use a marker or whiteout and mark the chain link corresponding to the indicators on the cam gears.

4. Remove the tensioner

5. Change the one gear at a time. Put back the cam gear to the position you want and make sure the cam gear indicator is put next to mark on the chain link, the mark that you made with the marker or whiteout.

6. Make sure there are 20 links/rollers between the chain marks and camshaft indicators.

7. Compress the tensioner, lock it and reinstall.

8. Once everything checked out, release the tensioner by pushing on it with a long wrench. You need to release the tensioner before turning or cranking the engine in order to avoid the chain from jumping.

9. Crank over by hand and you should hear the tensioner ratcheting outward and taking up the slack.

10. You will need to retime the ignition if you moved the exhaust cam.

Done.

thanks... can anyone confirm this procedure?

reading it again steps 5 & 10 seem ambigious, how is it i adjusted the exhaust cam? isnt the dowel still pointing up at 12 oclock and the crank at TDC? arent the cam lobes still in the same position?

reason i ask is if you read instructions on slider cam gears they state that you pull the set of bolts on one gear and turn the crank in adv/ret till desired timing is set, that way def moves the crank from tdc, so itd make sense the exh cam has moved relative to tdc.

with the jwt/cs all you do is take off the cam gear at 0* and put it back on at 5* could someone explain how that simple process actually changes anything? the crank is still at tdc and the gear is in the same exact position it was before, only now the cam gear reads 5*

I do the same procedure with my CS cam gears. When adjusting the Exhaust cam gear you ALWAYS have to retime the ignition/distributor. If you don't your timing will be retarded.

When changing from the degree from 0* to 5*...if you look closely when putting the gear back on; Yes the dowel is in the same position but the teeth will actually be shifted causing the timing degree change.

I've adjusted my cams many times so I know this to be true and always have my timing gun to verify.

Why are you trying to confuse yourself?

You asked for instruction for CS and JWT(non-slip cam gears) and that is exactly what I gave. You are confusing yourself by bringing in the slider cam gear into the conversation. The slider cam gears require different procedures.

The CS and JWT cam gears work by precision drilling the dowel pin holes. Each hole is offset drilled relative from the cam gear teeth. The offset is around .010" or so, that means you can not eyeball the camshaft relative position to the crank. To you, the camshaft has not moved when you changed from 0* to 5*, but infact the camshaft has moved. It only takes a small amount movement from the cam gears to change the cam timing.

Lol thanks 5speed for bringing me back! I guess paranoia took set, and no significant change in Dyno results was to blame. I guess I'm good and I hope this thread was helpful to someone else out there.