I'm in the same boat, I am in the middle of "Degreeing" my cam! So far it hasn't stopped raining long enough for me to get out there. I'm using an old Comp Cams degree kit (So old it has a VHS tape tutorial!LOL) so far. I bought the Mopar offset camkeys, a Comp Cams piston stop, and intend on either buying or making a better mount for the degree wheel. It may not be as comfortable but degreeing a cam in the car or on the engine stand is the same process.
I'm with you on wondering why my car hasn't picked up MPH and ET with the current changes. I swapped
"Cam, intake, headers, converter, and fuel pumps" last Fall and the car ran the same ET/MPH as it did before!
Went from a 12.59 @107.29 to a 12.58 @107.27!!! Something was not right as the changes were substantial.
What I found as posible causes:
1. I forgot to remove the sintered brass filters to each fuel bowl. (Holley carb).
2. Advance curve was not reliable (HEI now locked)
3. I left out the camshaft eccentric (Another cause of irratic timing)
4. I did not "degree" the solid cam on install.
JMO Having the cam at the proper advance is very important, maybe more so for your car because of the weight. My observation was with how poorly my car 60''s, even with a 3600 converter, 4.30 gear, and a relatively light car it's all time best 60' is only 1.864! Not good enough!
Please keep posting the results of your "degreeing" process every little bit helps! JD
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Good luck to the new owner of the Ventura II! Sold the car after 13+ years. Look for it on the Hot Rod Power Tour in the future as it's currently being re-configured as a Pro-Touring ride!
