Hello,

My block is sitting on my workbench right now.
The thing never idled quite the way I wanted it and power peaked too low to my liking also. But it was assembled back then by a 'very experienced' engine rebuilder (who does this for a living and has his own company), the cam was timed to perfection he assured me.
Yesterday I clocked the cam, just out of curiosity. I haven't got the specs of the stick, since Kent doesn't make the B20 cams anymore. I know it is a fast road grind which they advertised as 280 degrees.
It was already getting late when I started measuring, the exhaust centerline proved to be at 119° BTDC ! I measured again, 119° !!! I was so frustrated and tired, my back was killing me, I simply didn't have the courage to measure the intake lobe center, but I am certain that it will be around 102-103°. This cannot be right, in my opinion the cam is mistimed by 8° or even more. If I look in the excellent cam data table of Ian Rankin where a large variety of B20 cam specs are listed I see that intake and exhaust lobe centerline and intake centerline are identical or very close together.

I think that once put back together, correctly this time, I will have a much snappier and happier engine.

Anyone has had similar experiences with cam timing ?
John, if you are reading this, in your experience, is it likely to be the cam key groove that is machined at the wrong postion or would it be more likely to be the crank key groove or steel cam gear ?

I will report back on my findings.

Best regards

Stefan