Newbie Question about Cam Gears

[druid628]

My question is simply what are the benefits of installing a new cam gear like the AEM Tru-Time Adjustable Cam Gears?
I am still learning about engines and I figured being into racing, and Accords here would be a great place to start.
Thanks in advance.

[vasponger]

well they are lighter which frees up hp, they dont really give you extra hp like a intake does they just free it up, and you can adjust it i forget what that does, not bad investment, look on ebay i got one for 70bucs

[druid628]

I'm getting ready to install cold air intake, and was wondering if the cam gear would be worth the investment.
Thanks.

[vasponger]

definetly, if you ever decide to go turbo youll need one, and they help out anyways

[midnite racer x]

I'm getting ready to install cold air intake, and was wondering if the cam gear would be worth the investment.
Thanks.

it'll only help if u know exactly what ur doing...cam gears aren't really a bolt-on part, it should be properly tuned to provide the best spark timing BTDC. Its one of those parts i'd only put on with dyno tuning. And for a basically stock car or lightly modded car i think its a waste honestly because ur motor will most likely like the stock timing better than any advance or retard an adj. cam gear will give u.

[GrnnAccord]

I agree. Adjustable cam gears only provide ample gains in DOHC engines that run higher than stock power, such as high compression or turbo engines. By the time you've spent money on the gears, having them installed, and getting the engine tuned on a dyno; the power increase will not be worth the time and money.

[vasponger]

this is true, the shop i went to said id gain 12hp tuned, but its going to cost me 190bucs to install and tune, im gonna save up and do the timing belt and water pump at the same time though

[r33accord]

getting camgears installed is usally real expensive... since it's not a simple bolt on installation, it takes more work.
if you are gonna install a cold air intake, take the money and invest in
1. air bypass valve
2. header (if u dont have any yet)
3. exhaust (upgrade.. if u havent yet)
do those first before the cam gears...

but as for the cam gears, they do have their benifits. they are lighter so it frees up power that is used to turn the slightly heavier cam gear. also, they allow for proper tuning of the engine in the direction you would like it to be tuned... advancing, or retarding timing can really help or kill your engine. like everyone else has said, make sure you know whats going on.

first things first... what other mods do you have on the car?

[midnite racer x]

speaking of timing...Now suppose the engine reaches TDC when the crankshaft is turned at 40 degrees, when someone says the timing is set at 10 degrees BTDC...does that mean that the spark plug fires at exactly 30 degrees of the crankshafts rotation?? And TDC is taken at cylinder #1 right?

[druid628]

first things first... what other mods do you have on the car?

As of right now I have a cat-back exhaust system and working on getting some DC Sports Headers. The cold air is the direction I'm heading after the headers. So I was trying to see what direction after the Cold Air I should go.

What do you think?

[vasponger]

thats how im going....

[GrnnAccord]

For your question on Cam Timing go here:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/camshaft3.htm it explains your question pretty well
This is a very good website to go to for most general car information.

[96cordlx]

The only time a cam gear becomes important is when you turbo your car or install high perfomrance camshafts on your car. A cam gear is a must for these applications, but otherwise it is a waste of money on a car with just basic bolt on mods

[midnite racer x]

does the quality of the cam gear make a difference. I see some for $50 on ebay then i see some for like $200 also...which is the right choice for me since i'll be going turbo?

[96cordlx]

Personally I have never and will never buy any car parts off of ebay. That said quality does matter for a cam gear especially if you are planing to turbo it. You best bet is to go with one of three cam gears: the AEM tru time cam gear, the Skunk2 cam gear, or the cam gear from www.webcamshafts.com

[graphixdezign6]

Do people really buy cam gears for loosing a couple lbs?
I mean really, how much can a cam gear weigh.

[vasponger]

my new ones pretty light, but its just that its also adjustable

[95AccordVTEC]

TDC is taken at cyl #1 - yes

And you can buy AEM cam gears from a reputable dealer on ebay - ebay isn't just junkyard owners trying to sell what they find in the dirt...I bought my AEM cam gear on ebay and it was cheaper and better quality than most retail shops around here.

Also - I bought mine for $80, installed it myself, but left the timing adjustments alone, because I have yet to find a dyno around here to have it tuned. Installation takes about 2 hours, and if you know what you're doing, it's really not that hard at all, and for the money you save - it's worth it. I found the hardest part about it was the tight work space. But all you have to do on a 95 Accord is undo the valve cover and remove it. unbolt the cam gear cover and take that off, then align cyl #1 to TDC (you'll see when you get here), and loosen the cam bolt, and take off the belt...after this point, try not to move the cam gear or shaft, because you need it at TDC as well as the crankshaft at TDC...next - remove the stock cam gear, place the new one on AT TDC, and carefully put the belt back on...make sure both cam gear and crank gear are at TDC before tightening cam bolt. Tighten everything, and put the valve cover back on - I left the cam gear cover off, because it said not to reuse it in the instructions that came with the gear. But it only took 2 hours (it took me longer than that to put my Cold air intake in.)...and I'm sure if I did it a second time, I could pull it off in about 45min to an hour.

The increase in power was minimal, but the engine dress up is very nice! Very good show peice. And like they said - you'll only really feel a difference if you have a turbo, or if you have high compression pistons, or something that increases engine crank to an extreme degree....including Nitrous.

so save your money and buy an intake, a throttle rotor, a turbo, an f20c...you know - the fun stuff that increases horsepower!

[vasponger]

an f20c is an s2k engine, thats not swappable, im still taking mine to a shop cause mine didnt come with instructions and im scarred to mess witht that shit for now plus the shop can tune it for me

[95AccordVTEC]

the f20c is entirely swappable...if it fits in the engine bay, it's swappable....it just requires quite a bit more modification than an h22. If I had the $15k for the motor and modification, I'd do it...I would love having a RWD accord.

[vasponger]

what i was saying is its not a swap, its an entire custom setup requiring more than mounts and wiring.

[birdman]

As of right now I have a cat-back exhaust system and working on getting some DC Sports Headers. The cold air is the direction I'm heading after the headers. So I was trying to see what direction after the Cold Air I should go.

What do you think?

Its okay. But if it rains a lot where u live and ur car is lowered than its not worth it. only for the tracks. I would stick to short-ram, 3" piping, and get a tornado managment system. A lot more hp/tq. than the cold-air although cold-air has its benefits. I wouldn't get the cam gears, especially for the current mods for your car. Grnnaccord is right. They work definitely in conjunction with dohc and turbos.
Aem pulleys would be most practical. 8-14hp as they say. The headers would be very good investment just as long your car is not too low, cuz you pipes can smacked by the ground, speed bumps, and any irregularities on the road. Like mine. what size piping do u have for your exhaust system? Many people go with the 2 1/4" piping but u lose bottom-end power with them. that's where the tornado, ecu upgrade, venom 400, pulleys come into place.

[druid628]

I would stick to short-ram... than the cold-air although cold-air has its benefits. I wouldn't get the cam gears, especially for the current mods for your car.
Aem pulleys would be most practical. 8-14hp as they say.

My car is not currently lowered any. If I do end up lowering it, it probably will not be very much.

You really think the short-ram would be better than the cold-air?
Would the pulleys really make much of a difference?

[5peedCoupe]

i hab AEM tru power pulleys.. i lob them... plus it adds colors to ur parts... and u look at the size differ. it is really a big differ. the one u have on the power steering is almost the same size as the aem one you put on the alternator.. aem dyno a 98 accord 4 cylinder.. which is almost the same as our 4 cyl. and it does give gain in hp and torque.. bout 5 on each.. i forgot.. but i notice a little differ. but the little stuff adds up u knoe.. shiz ...