Gasngo

I know this has been a off and on subject whether you can bump tooth on the cam or use a key. Im going to put on belts so I thought I would quiz. I understand the purpose for adv and retard and 4 degress adv seems to be the optimum and thats including big block fords Etc. Im asking 5 degrees offset key? Would that 1 degree hinder or improve or do nothing different? Just curious on thoughts. I guess unless you have a LIndsey gear with that much room to move there might not be much feed back but I thought I would ask. Back to the shop Ill drop in a few.

Gasngo

I wasnt sure where it would but the Mercedes keys will go to 5 degrees. I need to order some stuff so Ill add a 4 to my order.

walfreyydo

I believe a tooth is 9 degrees (360/40 teeth) and a cam key maxes at 4 degrees. 9 degrees is too much, so best stick with the key.

If you want to try it, move it one tooth and then turn it over by hand (plugs removed) to see if you get valve to piston contact. Although I wouldn't run the car this way personally, but a cursory forum search says 1 tooth will not result in piston/valve contact (I would want to verify that though as its heresay).

If you are looking for more power though, you may want to look into a MAF conversion. I think thats the best bang for the buck on the NA

odonnell

I think it needs to be several teeth off before there is valve contact (4 teeth is what I think I read somewhere). A few years ago I ran my car accidentally with the belt off by 1 tooth for quite a while. 100% do not intentionally misalign the cam via belt timing, the 4deg key is great.

V2Rocket

you could get 5 by moving the gear 1 whole tooth advanced and then using the 4 degree key set to retard.
not sure if it would make much difference over just 4 deg advanced though.

Gasngo

Good morning back with ya. Unless you dyno it then I doubt you could tell the difference. V2 you led my down the rabbit hole when you commented about the 928 guys using Mercedes keys. I happen to be a certified MB Mech. from years back if you want to call it that. I looking at ordering some stuff and the 4 degree was out of stock but had a 5. Now let me back up I did some chasing around the 928 forum and found the guys where using them on the early cars that had a half moon cut in the cam. Later cars had a square cut like our 44s hence going to the square cut key. One guy commented he had the round keys and would look at making them work. I did not see anymore on it. So I thought what the heck had my buddy at the MB dealer get me a 4 degree and Ill do a comparison / can it be modded and fitted if you will without compromise regarding cam gear slip. More to come.

V2Rocket

This chart is from my car years ago, the only difference between the runs was the cam was set to +2 degrees advanced.
+4 should be more better...