[simsb52]

I will have a standard length and a .004" length timing set ready in a few days.

I have been asked several times what I think of the bronze bushing timing sets that are on the market now. Well here is my 2cts....The bronze bushing is a great idea, but the bronze that is suppose to reduce the wear and friction is on the wrong side of the cam plate. At wide open throttle, the cam is trying to push foward under the load from the oil pump drive shaft and the distributors helical gear. Using a roller cam increases this foward motion because the cam lobe is ground parallel to the cam C/L and on center to the lifter bore for the roller lifter contact. The standard flat tappet cam has a slight offset to it to do 2 things, spin the lifter and to keep the camshaft in position. With a roller cam this is lost and the cam is able to move more freely that the flat tappet style. When we dyno tested the roller cam plate, we were shocked to see that the new cam plate had a .004" step in it after only 13 pulls. Some thing else to consider.... Have you ever put a timing light to the engine while running at 1500 rpm and noticed that the "mark" is moving around a little? That is the camshaft endplay at work. The cam is moving back and forth and changing the timing ever so slightly. With the roller cam plate installed, I set the end play at .004 to .007" to control the cam endplay. Controlling this variable is on of the reasons for the increased HP and torque on the dyno test. The timing stayed where we set it and the friction reduction from the bearings came together to make the extra grunt. The roller bearing camplate has bearings on both sides to hold the cam in place and to greatly reduce the friction.

In other words, the bronze bushing only works when you let off the throttle. The roller bearing camplate also works when you let off the throttle, but it really shines when you are at w.o.t. and that is what counts!

thanks...Scott